Updated on September 15th, 2025
Ranch chicken nachos are a fun and flavorful dish that always brings people together. The crispy ranch Doritos layered with seasoned ground chicken, cheese, and fresh toppings make every bite exciting. The creamy ranch dressing and guacamole add richness that balances out the crunch of lettuce and tomato. Easy to make for game day or family night, this recipe is one you’ll come back to whenever you want a crowd-pleasing snack.
Why this recipe works
- Layered flavors: The ranch Doritos, seasoned chicken, and ranch dressing come together to create a nacho plate that’s bursting with different tastes in every bite.
- Perfect crunch: Using Doritos as the base gives the nachos a unique crispy texture that holds up well under cheese, meat, and toppings.
- Simple cooking: The chicken cooks quickly in one pan, and the nachos can be finished in the oven or microwave without much effort.
- Crowd appeal: It’s easy to double or triple, making them a go-to recipe for parties, game nights, or family gatherings.
- Balanced mix: With crunchy chips, juicy tomatoes, creamy guacamole, and melted cheese, each layer adds something special without overpowering the others.
Serving suggestions
- Game day plate: Serve it piled high on a big platter for guests to grab during sports events or casual get-togethers.
- Family dinner: Make individual plates for each person, letting everyone add their own favorite toppings like jalapeños, salsa, or extra ranch dressing.
- Party starter: Place small portions in paper trays or bowls for easy finger food at parties, where guests can enjoy them without needing utensils.
- Outdoor meal: Bring this recipe to a cookout or picnic, preparing the meat ahead of time so you only need to assemble and serve.
- Extra toppings: Try adding black beans, corn, or pickled onions to create more variety and give the nachos even more flavor and color.
Ranch chicken nachos recipe
Enjoy cheesy ranch chicken nachos made with Doritos and fresh toppings for a fun, easy recipe that’s great for family meals or gatherings.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Taco Meat-
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion (finely diced)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2lbs ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Other-
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1 bag cool ranch Doritos
- prepared ranch dressing
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 2 Roma tomatoes (diced)
- guacamole
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until starting to brown (about 10 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for one more minute.
- Add the chicken, paprika, chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and salt. Turn the heat to high and use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir and break up the chicken into small chunks until the chicken is partially cooked (about 5 minutes). Stir in tomato sauce, reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro.
- On individual plates pile some Doritos and top with some of the taco and a layer of shredded cheese. Microwave until the cheese has melted and top with ranch dressing, lettuce, tomato, and guacamole. You can also place the Doritos onto a baking sheet and top them with the taco meat and cheese and then bake at 350 degrees F. until the cheese has melted.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 4.5 g
- Sodium: 1160.6 mg
- Fat: 27.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 10.4 g
- Protein: 37.3 g
- Cholesterol: 152.9 mg
