In this Mexican Pulled Chicken Nachos recipe, chicken is simmered in a spiced tomato sauce until tender and juicy, then shredded and served on crispy corn chips with fresh avocado, sour cream and all your favourite toppings.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Total Time40 minutesmins
Ingredients
CHICKEN
600gboneless, skinless chicken breast – can be substituted with boneless, skinless chicken thighs, see note 1)
Marinate the chicken – Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the cumin, paprika, onion powder, oregano, salt, pepper and olive oil. Coat the chicken breasts evenly in the marinade.
Brown the chicken – Heat a large, deep, heavy-based pan over medium–high heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and cook for 2–3 minutes on each side until browned. Remove the chicken and set aside.
Build the sauce – To the same pan, add the onion and garlic and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in the tomato paste, chipotle in adobo (if using), and cook for an additional minute.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, water and sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then return the chicken breasts to the pan.
Cook the chicken in the sauce – Cover the pan and simmer over low heat for 25–30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender enough to shred with your spoon or two forks. If it’s not, continue cooking. If the sauce begins to dry out and catch on the bottom of the pan, add an extra 60 ml (¼ cup) of water as needed.
Shred the chicken – Remove the chicken from the sauce and shred it using two forks.
Allow the sauce to simmer, uncovered, for a further few minutes so that it thickens.
Add the cheese – Return the shredded chicken to the pan, stirring it through the sauce. Turn the heat off. Sprinkle the pulled chicken with cheese. Return the lid to the pan for 1–2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Serve – To serve, spread corn chips on a large serving platter. Spoon the chicken over the corn chips and top with mashed avocado, sour cream, jalapeño, coriander, cherry tomatoes, red onion and lime wedges.
Notes
Note 1 – If using thighs, cook them for 5–10 minutes longer, or until they are falling apart and can be easily shredded with two forks.
Make Ahead
You can prepare the shredded chicken ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a pan or in the microwave before serving.
Leftovers
Store any leftover chicken in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a pan or the microwave.
Nutrition Facts
Mexican Pulled Chicken Nachos
Amount per Serving
Calories
808
% Daily Value*
Fat
55
g
85
%
Saturated Fat
15
g
94
%
Trans Fat
0.3
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
10
g
Monounsaturated Fat
22
g
Cholesterol
120
mg
40
%
Sodium
1269
mg
55
%
Potassium
1179
mg
34
%
Carbohydrates
45
g
15
%
Fiber
9
g
38
%
Sugar
8
g
9
%
Protein
39
g
78
%
Vitamin A
1274
IU
25
%
Vitamin C
25
mg
30
%
Calcium
441
mg
44
%
Iron
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.