Build-Your-Own Chicken Nacho Bar with Homemade Queso

This Build-Your-Own Chicken Queso Nacho Bar is perfect for both a game day party or a fun and casual dinner with friends or family.

Nachos – Great for Any Occasion

Whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, having a Cinco de Mayo celebration, hosting a game night or just having a fun, little get-together, nachos are a tasty treat. They are definitely a crowd favorite.

In fact, there are times where my husband and I will pull together a quick plate of microwave nachos (yay, for nacho night!) using whatever cheese, meat and salsa we happen to have on hand. It’s a great late night snack!

Now, when we make nachos at home, we do have to compromise as we each have our favorite toppings as well ingredients we’re not that fond of. So, we either have to do without some of our favorites, split the nachos down the middle so we each have a side, or make two separate plates. Kind of a pain.

Of course, that wouldn’t happen if we had our own nacho bar! While it may not always be feasible to do that for just the two of us, it certainly makes sense for a larger group.

Everybody Wins With a Nacho Bar

As I mentioned, nachos tend to be a personal thing. Some people want green onions and not red onion, others want black beans and not refried beans, red chiles verses green chiles, green olives or black olives, where are my bell peppers!? So many options.

Well, we don’t want anyone fighting over a delicious set of nachos, so the nacho bar comes to the rescue. What better way to make people happy than to have lots of delicious toppings to choose from? Now, you can take care of everyone from the picky eaters to those who love a plate of fully loaded chicken nachos.

Making the Homemade Queso

I’m a firm believer that the key to making a nacho bar work is to make a rich and creamy, cheesy queso sauce. That way, everyone can top their own nachos and there’s no need to heat them, because the queso is already hot, melty and perfect.

To make the homemade queso, simply follow the directions in the recipe card. A little melting, a little whisking and you have yourself a hot, gooey cheese queso. At this point, either leave in the pan on the stovetop to keep warm, or transfer to a mini slow cooker / crock pot or fondue pot.

The queso sauce (recipe below) can be either mild or spicy, depending on your taste. You do this by either adding in the garlic and jalapeno or not. I opted to keep mine mild because my salsa was pretty spicy.

If you don’t like spicy jalapenos, but still want some of that flavor, I’ve included a quick recipe to make pickled jalapenos. The great thing about pickling is that it takes some of the spiciness out of the peppers, but retains the flavor of the jalapeno. 

Making the Chicken Nacho Bar

I opted to use shredded chicken for this nacho bar. It’s a little healthier than the typical ground beef with taco seasoning mix we’re all used to.

At this point, it’s up to you what other ingredients you want in your nacho bar. You can use the list below, make your own list, or ask your guests ahead of time what nacho bar ideas they have.

To set up the nacho bar, put all of the toppings out buffet style and let everyone create their own perfect plate of nachos. Make sure you have lots of crispy tortilla chips so they can load up their plates.

Also, if people don’t want to go all in on the nachos, they can just use the queso dip for their chips. There’s nothing wrong with some melty cheese on tortilla chips!

So, be the ultimate crowd pleaser at your next get-together with this easy recipe for a chicken nacho bar with homemade queso.

Tips and Tricks

1. Grab a rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store and shred your own chicken. It’s often cheaper and the taste is so much better.
2. You can substitute ground beef, pulled pork, or shredded beef if you prefer.
3. A mini slow cooker is a great way to keep the queso dip hot.

Ingredients Needed to Make a Build-Your-Own Chicken Queso Nacho Bar

Full Instructions Can Be Found Below in the Recipe Card

Queso:

• Butter
• Garlic
• Jalapeno
• Flour
• Whole milk
• Dry mustard
• Salt
• Shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Quick Pickled Jalapenos:

• Jalapenos
• Cider vinegar
• Water
• Sugar
• Salt

Other Nacho Ingredients:

• Salsa
• Avocado or guacamole
• Black beans
• Shredded chicken
• Tortilla chips
• Other optional ingredients: chopped onion, shredded lettuce, sour cream, fresh chopped tomato, fresh cilantro

How to Make a Build-Your-Own Chicken Queso Nacho Bar

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
• If you use the garlic and and jalapeno, saute until garlic is fragrant and jalapeno is tender.
• Sprinkle mixture with flour and whisk to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
• Gradually whisk in milk and then dry mustard and salt. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer until mixture thickens.
• Remove from heat and whisk in shredded cheese, a little at time, until it’s melted and sauce is smooth.
• Transfer to a mini slow cooker or keep warm on the stove top.
• Combine vinegar, water, sugar and salt in a bowl or small sauce pan. Bring to a boil in the microwave or on the stove top.
• Stir to make sure sugar has completely dissolved.
• Add jalapenos to vinegar mixture.
• Let mixture sit for at least 30 minutes.
• Store in the refrigerator.
• Set all ingredients out buffet style and let everyone create their own plate of nachos.

More Tex-Mex Recipes for Your Party

• Tex-Mex Lasagna
• Easy Two Bean Chili
• Cowboy Caviar Dip
• Easy Chicken Fajitas
• Texas Trash
• Easy Enchilada Cups

ENJOY!