BBQ meets Mexican food in these savory Pulled Pork Nachos and the results are everything you want them to be...and then some more. Quick cooking and loved by all, they feature tortilla chips stacked with juicy, tender BBQ Pulled Pork, black beans, melty cheese, and extra toppings to your heart's content.
They are as perfect for family-friendly dinners as they are for entertaining. These nachos make for a wonderful addition to any party spread or celebration! There is no better way to use up that leftover pulled pork, but it's fairly likely after just one round, you'll be making pulled pork for a taste of these nachos alone!
WHO INVENTED PULLED PORK NACHOS?
Pulled Pork Nachos are said to be invented in the 1980's by the culinary minds at Germantown Commissary, a famous BBQ joint in Germantown, Tennessee. As soon as the ballpark housing the Memphis Redbirds (a nearby minor league baseball team) picked up on the genius that was Pulled Pork Nachos, the foodie trend rose to popularity and the rest is history.
And, here we are today -- ready to make them at home.
PULLED PORK NACHO INGREDIENTS
- Pulled Pork
- BBQ Sauce
- Tortilla Chips
- Grated Cheese
- Black Beans
- Sliced Onion
- Sliced Jalapeños
PULLED PORK
When it comes to Pulled Pork, a little bit goes a long way making it the perfect choice for budget-friendly family dinners, parties, and more! Slow-Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork is simple to make and packs a ton of flavor. It's the ideal choice for your nachos. However, if you knocked out a pork butt on the smoker (or in a Dutch oven), it will also be equally delicious here.
To make these nachos extra flavorful, toss the Pulled Pork in a little BBQ Sauce before topping off your chips. You'll only need about 2 tablespoons or so, and you can use any type of BBQ sauce you prefer.
TORTILLA CHIPS
Pulled Pork Nachos is no time for flimsy tortilla chips. Rather, look for hearty, strong tortilla chips that look like they could handle a nice load of toppings. Brands that work especially well for nachos are as follows: On the Border, Tostitos Rounds, Santitas, and Calidad.
CHEESE
You could use either Cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese for your nachos. However, if you were to combine the two, you're really looking at a winning combination. The flavor from the Cheddar mixed with the melty, stretchy goodness of the Monterrey Jack is a Tex-Mex dream come true.
If you have the time, grate your own cheese. You'll find both the flavor and texture much improved when compared to pre-shredded options.
TOPPINGS
It doesn't take much to get a whole lot of flavor out of this dish. For the biggest bang with the least ingredients use a simple combination of black beans, red onion, and fresh jalapeños! If you're worried fresh jalapeños will add more spice than you can handle to your dish, you can omit them altogether.
DON'T FORGET TO RINSE THE BEANS!
Don't skip rinsing the black beans. Strained canned beans that are not rinsed will have a gritty and unpleasant texture attached to them.
Of course, the topping options don't end there. You can get as creative with this Pulled Pork Nachos Recipe as you'd like! Any of the following would make for a delicious addition to your nachos:
EXTRA TOPPING IDEAS:
- Coleslaw
- Salsa
- Mango Salsa
- Diced Pineapple
- Queso, Cheese Sauce, or Beer Cheese
- Minced Cilantro
PLAN AROUND THE PORK
If you are using Leftover Pulled Pork, this recipe will go by seriously fast! If you're making the Pulled Pork for these nachos specifically, you'll want to do some planning ahead as it will take hours in a slow cooker, smoker or Dutch oven before it's tender and just right for shredding.
Be sure to check out this Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe. It's great for Pulled Pork Nachos with its smoky, BBQ flavor!
HOW TO MAKE PULLED PORK NACHOS
- Toss warmed Pulled Pork with BBQ sauce.
- Place tortilla chips on a rimmed sheet pan and add the toppings.
- Bake until the cheese is melted.
1. ADD SOME EXTRA FLAVOR
Regardless of whether or not you're using leftovers or Pulled Pork fresh out of the crock-pot, a little extra flavor never hurt anybody. Toss the warmed Pulled Pork with a little bit of BBQ Sauce and get ready for some toppings.
2. SPREAD OUT THE CHIPS AND TOP THEM OFF
To make sure each and every tortilla chip gets more than enough love, spread your tortilla chips out on a large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle the Pulled Pork across the chips, followed by the black beans, onions, jalapeños, and shredded cheese.
3. BAKE AND EAT
As promised earlier, Pulled Pork Nachos are ready in a flash, and they require less than 10 minutes in the oven before they're ready for devouring! The only purpose the oven truly serves here is to get the chips nice and toasty and melt the cheese.
Don't wait too long to eat your nachos. If you were working with some crazy juicy Pulled Pork, your nachos will begin to absorb that liquid and become soggy. So don't waste any time -- as soon as they're cooled, eat up!
WHAT GOES WELL WITH NACHOS?
You could go one of two ways when it comes to serving your Pulled Pork Nachos: (1) serve them as the main event with side dishes or (2) serve them as a hearty addition to your finger food party spread!
Looking for the perfect side dish for nachos? If you're serving nachos as the main dish, you could add any of the following alongside them and make for a stellar dinner spread:
- Homemade Salsa
- Guacamole
- Tomatillo Avocado Salsa
- Mexican Bean Salad
- Mexican Black Beans
- Mexican Charro Beans
- Mexican Rice
If you're serving BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos as an addition to your party table, consider adding any of the following dishes to your appetizer line-up:
- Buffalo Wings
- Pigs in a Blanket
- Mexican Layer Dip
- Refried Bean Dip
- Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
- Crock Pot Queso with Taco Meat
- Cheese and Summer Sausage Platter
3 MORE LEFTOVER PULLED PORK RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE
- Leftover Pulled Pork Salad turns pulled pork into an easy salad featuring shredded lettuce, cabbage, french fried onions, a tangy barbecue dressing and more!
- Pulled Pork Sliders are great for using up pulled pork leftovers and are seriously easy to assemble. A great kid-friendly dinner idea and an inexpensive way to feed a crowd!
- Pulled Pork Quesadillas are loaded with flavor, over-the-top easy, and require all of 20 minutes to make!
Pulled Pork Nachos
Ingredients
- 1 to 1 ½ heaping cups pulled pork
- 2 tablespoons BBQ Sauce
- Hearty tortilla chips (about 30)
- ¼ cup rinsed black beans
- 1 ½ cup Monterrey Jack, Cheddar Cheese (or a combination of the 2)
- ¼ cup red onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 1-2 jalapeños, seeded and thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° and have ready a rimmed baking sheet. If using leftover pulled pork, place it in a microwave safe container and heat it at 1-minute intervals until warm.
- Add BBQ sauce to the pulled pork and stir to combine. Lay tortilla chips across the baking sheet and sprinkle pulled pork across the top. Next, add the beans, followed by the cheese, then the onions and jalapeños.
- Bake for 5-7 minutes, just until the cheese has melted. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
SOURCES: Southern Living | Barbeque Spaghetti: A Memphis Icon
Noelle says
Looks delicious! Great idea for during a football Sunday game 🙂
Irina says
Your pictures of Pulled Pork Nachos look so appetizing that I am ready to use my fork through the computer screen. This recipe is a must for me to make!
Matt Freund says
These look incredible. I think I might make them this Sunday for Football.
Anita says
Man, I've been missing out! My usual pull-pork sandwich is no match for this. This is absolutely delicious.
Tara says
This is a seriously fantastic way to use up leftover pulled pork. SO GOOD!