Loaded Chicken Skillet Nachos

February 3, 2017

Did I ever tell you how I used to walk, rain or shine, over a mile almost every single day to eat nachos in college? My friends are laughing after reading this question, because they know it is true. And, yes, you bet your booty that I Google Map’d the distance from my dorm to my Holy Grail nacho sanctum, Pepe’s. It is, in fact, anywhere from 1.1 to 1.6 miles depending on which streets you take. So there!

During my vegetarian, prepaid meal plan, college student days, I would do anything I could to avoid the awful salad bar and questionable orange grease coated food in my own dining hall. Most days I would eat at Subway. It was in the basement of my dorm building. It was on my meal plan. Why not?

But sometimes a girl just isn’t in the mood for a footlong…. THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID!!! Hahahaha! Perfect set up, Stef.

It started innocent enough. Once a week, a bunch of the girls from different dorms, would meet at the good dining hall because it was set up like a mall food court. It had many selections, but I was interested in only one! Pepe’s! An entire white styrofoam square of nachos all for me. And what would I get on these groundbreaking nachos? Refried beans, cheese sauce, lettuce, extra tomato, and shredded white cheese. Yep. That was my balanced meal in college.

Soon, I was asking anybody and their mother to go walk with me or meet me there. When I couldn’t find anybody, I stopped after class and walked back to my dorm with my box of nachos. I didn’t want to sit alone and eat. So, I ended up eating cold nachos. They were still good.

Once I moved into my sorority house, I would talk my friends into driving to the dorm for nachos. We had a car. we could go anywhere. I still chose nachos.

Now you understand when I post pictures of nachos on social media or comment on your pictures of nachos and I say, “I could eat nachos everyday.” I seriously could, because I already did in college!

Moral: I love nachos.

Loaded Chicken Skillet Nachos

A lighter take on loaded chicken nachos all cooked in one skillet! Perfect for your next game day snack!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 1 Skillet Full of Nachos

Ingredients

For the Meat:

  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 Jalapeno seeded and diced
  • 2 Tablespoons Diced Red Onion
  • 1 Pound Lean Ground Chicken
  • 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
  • 1/4-1/2 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

For the Nachos:

  • 7 Ounces about 1/2 a bag Tortilla chips
  • 12 Ounces Shredded Light Mexican Blend Cheese
  • 3/4 Cup Drained and Rinsed Black Beans
  • 2 Radishes diced
  • 1 Tablespoon Minced Red Onion
  • 1 Green Onion light green and green stem chopped
  • 1 Cup Diced Grape Tomatoes
  • Fresh Cilantro

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over a medium flame. Add onion and jalapeno. Cook until just about translucent, 3 minutes.
  2. Add chicken and dry seasonings along with plenty of salt and fresh cracked black pepper to skillet. Use a wooden spoon/spatula to break the ground chicken into small bits as it cooks. Cook for about 10 minutes until golden.
  3. Transfer the cooked chicken mixture to a plate or small bowl. Wash the skillet out.
  4. Place 1/2 the chips in the skillet. Cover with 1/2 the meat mixture along with 1/2 the beans. Cover with a light sprinkle of cheese. Add more chips, meat, and beans. Cover with remaining cheese.
  5. Set broiler to low. Place the skillet under the broiler. Leave the oven cracked so you can see when the cheese is fully melted. Once the cheese melts, carefully remove from oven.
  6. Top with diced radish, red onion, green onion, tomatoes and a few fresh cilantro leaves. Serve right away!

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  • Martine
    February 3, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    Pepe’s! ❤ These look as amazing as their nachos!

    • Stefanie
      February 4, 2017 at 7:16 am

      We have a Pepe’s out here and I tried Nachos there… sadly, not the same.