Crunchy and spicy Doritos paired with seasoned chicken and melted cheese: This is the perfect game-day snack. It’s also a fabulous conversation dish. You and your guests can debate at length which ingredient is the star of this Doritos Chicken Nachos recipe: seasoned chicken or Nacho Cheese Doritos?
My vote goes to the chicken, but surely the Dorito enthusiasts out there will stand up for their chip. (Feel free to sound off in the comments if that suits you!)
In any case, if you’re up for making a flavor-bomb tray of nachos for your next gathering, this is your recipe.
Ingredients for Doritos chicken nachos
Here’s what should be on your grocery list for this recipe:
- 1 large bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 teaspoons chili powder
- 4 teaspoons cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 16 oz. tomato sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 to 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
What you can substitute in Dorito chicken nachos
1. Chips
You can make this recipe with regular tortilla chips. The Doritos just add an extra zing of flavor, but the chicken will stand out more with plain tortilla chips.
2. Meat
Chicken thighs would be terrific in this recipe. You could also swap in ground beef or ground turkey if that’s what you have on hand.
3. Seasonings
Try fresh garlic and oregano instead of dried. You’ll need 1 garlic clove, 1 tablespoon fresh oregano.
4. Butter and oil
You can use 2 tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil in leiu of the vegetable oil and butter.
How to make Doritos chicken nachos
Let’s talk about prep.
1. Cook the chicken
In a small bowl, mix the oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin, plus a dash of salt and pepper. This is your seasoning mix. Set it aside for now.
Next, melt butter and oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and leave them untouched for about 5 minutes. Flip and repeat. After 10 minutes, use a meat thermometer to confirm that the meat has reached an internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C.
Remove the chicken from the pan and let it cool slightly. Then, shred it with two forks. You should have some pieces with a nice brown cook on them from the hot pan — those add tons of flavor.
2. Season the chicken
Now reheat the pan you used to cook the chicken over medium heat, and pour the tomato sauce in. Mix in your dry seasonings too. Return the chicken to the pan and mix well. Let the chicken and sauce reach a simmer, then turn off the heat.
3. Compile and bake your nachos
Preheat your oven to 350°F or 177°C. Line a baking sheet with foil. Top the foil with Doritos, then the seasoned chicken, then cheese. Pop that baking sheet in the heated oven and let it cook for 10 or 15 minutes — you want the cheese to be melted and bubbling.
Serve family style straight off the baking sheet or use a spatula to scoop portions onto plates.
Yield: 4 servings
Doritos Chicken Nachos Recipe
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 large bag Nacho Cheese Doritos
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 teaspoons chili powder
- 3 teaspoons cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 16 oz tomato sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 to 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
- In a medium skillet, melt the butter with the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breast and let it cook for 5 minutes. Flip and repeat. Use a thermometer to check the temperature. It's done when it reached 165°F or 74°C. Remove the chicken from the pan and let it cool slightly.
- Shred the chicken using two forks.
- Now preheat your oven to 350°F or 177°C and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Reheat the pan you cooked the chicken in over medium heat. Add the tomato sauce and the spice mixture and mix well. Stir in the shredded chicken and until well combined. Heat on the stove until simmering, then turn off the heat.
- Cover the prepared baking sheet with Doritos. Top with chicken, then cheese.
- Place the sheet in the hot oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbling.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 438Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 1168mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 35g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Doritos Recipes
Stuff you can make with Doritos!
Doritos Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
Why use breadcrumbs to coat your deep-fried cheese when you can use Doritos?
Doritos Chicken Bites Recipe
Chicken tenders, upgraded with Doritos.
Doritos Taco Salad Recipe
Doritos add crunch and spice to a taco salad.
Doritos Chicken Strips Recipe
Another chicken strips recipe that relies on Doritos as the coating.
Dorito Chicken Casserole Recipe
Total Time 40 minutes
Chicken, gooey melted cheese, and everyone's favorite tortilla chip is a no-fail combo. This recipe comes together in a few minutes and cooks for 30.
Doritos Chicken Nachos Recipe
Total Time 10 minutes
Nacho cheese Doritos, pan-fried chicken in a seasoned tomato sauce, plus cheese! You and guests can debate over which ingredient is the star of the show here -- the chicken or the Doritos.
Doritos chicken nachos FAQs
Can I add toppings to Doritos chicken nachos?
Absolutely. Add fresh toppings after baking. If you’re serving the nachos onto individual plates, also do that before you add toppings. Some ideas are: lettuce, tomato, sliced green onion, fresh jalapeno slices, black olives, fresh cilantro, and sour cream. You could also serve pico de gallo or salsa on the side.
Can I microwave Doritos chicken nachos instead of baking them?
Yes, you can. The result isn’t quite the same, since the cheese may melt unevenly and the chips may lose some of their texture. To microwave the nachos, plate them first into individual portions, then microwave each plate for 15 seconds at a time until the cheese is melted.
Can I use a different type of cheese?
Yes, you can use cheddar, Monterey jack, or Colby cheese. You could even use Velveeta if you’re into that. To use Velveeta, melt it separately, diluting with milk if it’s too thick, then pour it over your prepared nachos. Or serve it in a separate bowl for dipping.
Can I make Doritos chicken nachos early?
You can do everything but the baking step early. If you cook the chicken earlier in the day, store it in the refrigerator. Then add a few minutes to the baking time so the chicken gets hot.
Can I store Doritos chicken nachos?
Nope, nachos generally don’t store well. Too bad! You’ll have to eat all of it.
