These healthy nachos are just as delicious as the traditional nachos you love, but with the added benefit of some easy lean protein and veggies. The additions not only enhance the flavor and texture of classic cheesy nachos, but make them *a bit* better for you. More filling and satisfying, but still with all the amazing flavor and crunch you love nachos for!
Because man cannot live on nothing but veggies and lean protein all year long, we occasionally have to enjoy life and celebrate! So whether you’re cheering on your favorite football team or hosting friends for a game night, these nachos are a delicious but healthy-ish twist on the traditional.
Still same gooey jarred queso and shredded cheese, but with the added benefit of protein to make it heartier, and veggies to make it a bit more nutritious. What you end up with is all the great flavor and crunch you love about the classic, but with a serving built to satisfy. 28 grams of protein, well under 500 calories and lower in saturated fat and sodium thanks to some smart swaps.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love These Healthy Nachos
- Loaded Nachos Ingredients
- How to Make Chicken Nachos
- How to Cook Chicken for Nachos
- Healthy Nachos Recipe Variations
- Healthy Nacho Toppings
- What to Serve with Loaded Nachos
- How to Store Shredded Chicken Nachos
- Other important recipe tips
- FAQs for Healthy Nachos in the Oven
- More delicious appetizers
- Did you make this recipe?
- Healthy Nachos Recipe
Why You’ll Love These Healthy Nachos
- Healthier swaps but same classic delicious flavor. Low-fat cheese, no salt added tortilla chips, veggie toppings and the inclusion of all white meat shredded chicken, this take the traditional nacho and makes it 10 times better!
- Easy and fun to assemble, using the viral conveyor belt technique found all over social media! You may never make nachos the same way again after trying this easy trick.
- Affordable, one-pan meal. I’d normally never count nachos as a “meal” but when topped with protein and a serving of veggies, why the heck not?! Once you chomp down a serving of these nachos, you will walk away with not only your crunchy cheesy craving satisfied, but also your hunger!
Loaded Nachos Ingredients
- 300 grams jarred queso – we used salsa con queso for a bit more flavor, and you will want to use about ¾ of the jar. This will wind up being 2 servings of queso per 1 serving of nachos.
- 2 ounces of low-fat Mexican style shredded cheese (about ¼ cup). Most stores carry a low-fat version, which will help lower calories and saturated fat, and increase protein.
- 4-6 ounces of shredded chicken breast (about 1 cup). Feel free to use our super easy homemade 30 minute shredded chicken recipe, or purchase store bought. You do not want to use more than 6 ounces because the cheese will get too loaded down and become hard to slide.
- 100 grams cooked corn kernels (about ¾ cup), frozen is fine, and if your store has roasted corn kernels like the ones at Trader Joe’s, even better!
- 2 tablespoons jalapeno, either thinly sliced or diced (about ½ large jalapeno).
- 125 grams no-salt added tortilla chips. This will be about 4 servings worth, which is 4 large handfuls.
- 100 grams bagged Southwest style salad mix like the ones from Taylor Farms or Trader Joe’s. This is about ¾ cup of salad mix, with about 1-2 tablespoons of the dressing mixed in. Do not add the toppings included in the package.
- Garnishes of choice such as sliced green onions, diced tomatoes, cilantro or jarred pickled jalapenos.
How to Make Chicken Nachos
Add cheese
Begin by spraying just a bit of cooking oil on a ¼ sheet pan and then add about ¾ of the jar of queso. Spread around in an even layer (does not need to go all the way to the sides). Add the shredded cheese in an even layer, then top with the shredded chicken.
Sprinkle with veggies
Add corn kernels and sliced or diced jalapeno to the top of the chicken. Bake in a 375 degree preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until cheese is melted and easily slides around on the tray.
Prep nachos
While the cheese bakes, prepare a second baking sheet with tortilla chips and prep the bagged salad topping by adding 1 cup of salad to a medium bowl and tossing with 1-2 tablespoons of dressing. Do not add any other toppings that come with the bagged salad mix.
Assemble nachos
When the cheese is ready, immediately remove from the oven and slide the cheese and chicken mixture over the tortilla chips. The cheese should easily slide onto the chips but you may have to use a spatula to add remaining bits of cheese mixture to the chips. Garnish with additional jalapenos, diced tomatoes and/or green onions.
Garnish and Serve
Garnish with additional jalapenos, diced tomatoes and/or green onions. Finish the nachos by sprinkling the bagged salad mix on top of the chips and serving immediately.
How to Cook Chicken for Nachos
To get perfectly flavorful and juicy shredded chicken, cook up a batch of my 30 minute shredded chicken. If you are really short on time though, pick up a package of store bought shredded chicken or a rotisserie chicken.
Because the nachos have plenty of flavor thanks to the cheese and other toppings, you can definitely just season chicken with a bit of salt and pepper, as well as some onion and garlic powder. However if you want to max out flavor, toss plain shredded chicken in your favorite green sauce like a jarred salsa verde.
Healthy Nachos Recipe Variations
- Swap out proteins – opt for a lean 93/7 ground beef or ground turkey cooked with a simple taco seasoning blend. Or use thinly sliced flank steak similar to carne asada.
- Bake or air fry your own chips! Lower calories even more by making your own tortilla chips by cutting corn tortillas in triangles and baking or air frying.
- Add other good-for-you toppings like Greek yogurt or low-fat sour cream, avocado slices or homemade guacamole, and sliced black olives.
Healthy Nacho Toppings
There’s a wide range of toppings to load on your nachos, but here are our favorites:
- Diced tomatoes, sliced radishes and green onions.
- Finely chopped cilantro and white onion is an often used street tacos topping, and would be an excellent flavor addition here.
- Homemade guacamole and avocado slices with sliced black olives for a healthy dose of monounsaturated fats.
- Crema Fresca is a smooth and creamy sauce similar to a light sour cream, but with a punchier flavor.
- Pepitas and/or sunflower seeds for more crunch!
What to Serve with Loaded Nachos
As noted above, a serving of these nachos really does feel like a meal in one! It’s satisfying, has plenty of protein and carbs to fill you up, and is just so satisfying.
You can also serve these with tacos if you think your guests will be extra hungry. Or serve with light, but fun game day foods like watermelon feta skewers or goat cheese stuffed peppers. Finish off with a piece of this game day bark for a fun little sweet treat.
How to Store Shredded Chicken Nachos
We do not recommend storing leftovers or making these ahead of time. The nachos are still delicious to munch on for about an hour after assembly, but much longer than that and they get too soggy.
Other important recipe tips
- Make sure you use enough cheese and queso to layer on the pan. The 2 should be about ¼″ thick. If too thin, they won’t slide off the pan well.
- Bake through and long enough for the cheese to slide around on the baking tray. You can test this by gently jiggling the pan or moving it from side to side.
- If you don’t slide the cheese on right after removing from the oven, it will likely chill and harden a bit. No worries, just pop back in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is heated through and easily slides around again.
FAQs for Healthy Nachos in the Oven
Whether a particular food is healthy is a relative question for each individual. If a person is told to greatly reduce sodium of saturated fat, this dish may not suit their dietary needs. But if someone is not on a special diet, these nachos should be able to fit in with their diet on an occasional basis.
As the recipe and ingredient amounts or written, each serving is under 500 calories, which should fit comfortably into an adult’s daily caloric needs, and there have been smart swaps made to reduce saturated fat and sodium when available.
Baking your own corn chips, or air frying them is the best alternative to remain as close to tortilla chips as possible. Other options include fresh raw veggie slices as a base for nachos.
More delicious appetizers
- Melon and prosciutto skewers
- Edamame hummus with avocado
- Loaded hummus dip with pita
- High protein savory cottage cheese dip
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Did you make this recipe?
If you gave this recipe a try, I’d love your feedback! Any tips or recipe additions you’d like to share, I’d love to hear it! Let’s connect down in the comments below.
Healthy Nachos Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 300 grams Queso about ¾ of the jar
- 2 ounces Low-fat Mexican style shredded cheese
- 4-6 ounces Cooked chicken breast shredded into small pieces
- 100 grams Cooked corn kernels frozen or fresh
- 2 tablespoon Jalapeno diced or thinly sliced
- 125 grams Tortilla chips unsalted preferred
- 100 grams Southwest bagged salad mix add just a bit of dressing, no other toppings
- Garnishes green onions, cilantro, tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees f.
- Lightly spray a ¼ sheet pan with cooking spray then spread out the queso in an even layer. You do not need to fill out the entire pan to the edges, but close to it.300 grams Queso
- Sprinkle with shredded cheese in an even layer, then add the shredded chicken breast and corn kernels and jalapeno.2 ounces Low-fat Mexican style shredded cheese, 100 grams Cooked corn kernels, 4-6 ounces Cooked chicken breast, 2 tablespoon Jalapeno
- Place cheese mixture in the oven and cook till heated through and cheese is melted and easily slides around on the tray, about 10-12 minutes.
- While the cheese is baking, place the tortilla chips on a second ¼ sheet pan, and take 1 cup of the bagged salad mix and add to a medium bowl. Toss with just a bit of dressing and set aside.125 grams Tortilla chips, 100 grams Southwest bagged salad mix
- When the cheese is heated through, remove from the oven and immediately slide onto the prepared tortilla chips.
- Garnish with the bagged salad mix and any additional garnishes you like, such as cilantro, tomatoes, pickled jalapenos or green onions.Garnishes
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