Spicy Buffalo Chicken Nachos (Printable Version)

Crispy chips piled high with spicy buffalo chicken, melted cheese, and cool ranch drizzle—ideal for entertaining.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
02 - 1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce

→ Nachos

03 - 7 oz tortilla chips
04 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
05 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Toppings

06 - 1/4 cup sliced green onions
07 - 1/4 cup diced celery
08 - 1/4 cup diced tomatoes, optional
09 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, optional

→ Ranch Drizzle

10 - 1/3 cup ranch dressing

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - In a medium bowl, toss the shredded chicken with buffalo wing sauce until thoroughly coated.
03 - Spread tortilla chips evenly on a large oven-safe platter or baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
04 - Scatter the buffalo chicken evenly over the chips.
05 - Sprinkle both cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses evenly over the chicken and chips.
06 - Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbling.
07 - Remove from the oven and drizzle ranch dressing over the hot nachos.
08 - Top with green onions, celery, tomatoes, and cilantro as desired.
09 - Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under 10 minutes once your oven is hot, so you are never stuck in the kitchen missing the fun.
  • The tangy buffalo sauce and creamy ranch create that addictive sweet-spicy-cool balance that keeps people reaching for more.
  • You can make it with whatever you have on hand, from rotisserie chicken to leftover grilled breast, and it still tastes incredible.
  • It looks impressive piled high and golden, but the effort is almost zero.
02 -
  • Do not overbake or the chips will turn bitter and hard, pull them the moment the cheese is fully melted.
  • Toss the chicken with sauce before layering, not after, so the flavor soaks into the meat instead of pooling on the bottom.
  • Use parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup, melted cheese on a bare pan is a nightmare to scrub.
  • Add the ranch after baking, not before, or it will separate and look greasy instead of glossy and cool.
03 -
  • Layer half the chips and chicken, add half the cheese, then repeat for better distribution and more cheesy bites throughout.
  • Warm the ranch dressing slightly in the microwave before drizzling so it flows smoothly and does not clump.
  • Finish with a sprinkle of crumbled blue cheese on top for an extra layer of tangy richness.
  • Serve with extra buffalo sauce and ranch on the side so everyone can customize their heat level.
Go Back