Indulge in the irresistible Pulled Pork Nachos, a beloved appetizer that bursts with flavors and can be prepared in minutes! These nachos are a hit with our family, especially when we have guests over. We often find ourselves with an abundance of leftover pulled pork, which led us to discover various creative ways to use it. One of our absolute favorites is BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos, a recipe that has evolved from our surplus of pulled pork.
Ingredients & Substitutions:
Pulled Pork: If you don’t have any leftover pulled pork, you can try our Oven Roasted Pulled Pork recipe, which is easy and delicious. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-made pulled pork from the store. Don’t have pulled pork at all? No worries! You can use steak bites or ground beef as a delightful alternative to create a unique twist on traditional nachos.
Barbecue Sauce: While we prefer a spicy and tangy BBQ sauce, feel free to use your favorite sauce for this recipe.
White Sauce: Our secret ingredient that elevates these pulled pork nachos is the white sauce. Once you make it, you can use it on pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, or even in potato salad. It adds a delightful zing to any dish!
Cheese: Cheddar cheese works wonderfully for this BBQ pulled pork nacho recipe, but you can experiment with pepper jack, Monterey, or even a combination of all three. Alternatively, mozzarella or Colby cheese can also be used. Avoid cheeses that don’t melt well.
More Toppings: Get creative and add toppings like jalapenos, cilantro, corn, black beans, tomatoes, red or green peppers, and red onions. Loaded nachos are a personal favorite, and I’m sure you’ll love them too!
Choosing the Perfect Pan for Nachos:
For this recipe, an oven-safe skillet is essential. I prefer using a 12-inch cast iron skillet, but you can opt for a larger one if available. If you don’t have a large skillet, a smaller one will work as well. Just ensure that your oven racks are set low enough to accommodate the entire dish.
Mastering the Art of Layering:
Layering is key to creating the ultimate nacho platter. In this recipe, you’ll bake the nachos in a skillet and focus on achieving even distribution of cheese and pulled pork. Remember the mantra: chips, cheese, pulled pork, chips, cheese, pulled pork. Continue this pattern until you’ve used up all your chips. Finally, generously top the skillet with cheese and pulled pork before placing it in the oven.
Once the dish is fully cooked, the real magic happens. The star ingredients, BBQ Sauce and White Sauce, take center stage. Avoid selfish chip grabbers by using a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the tip cut off to create a criss-cross or zig-zag pattern on top, ensuring that everyone gets a taste of the goodness.
Ingredients:
White Sauce:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup minced red onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Nachos:
- 1 bag tortilla chips
- 2 cups pulled pork, divided
- 1 pound shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 medium jalapeno, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
White Sauce:
- In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the white sauce. Store it in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Nachos:
- In a large oven-safe skillet, create a thin layer of tortilla chips.
- Top the chips with ¼ of the shredded cheese and ¼ of the pulled pork.
- Repeat the layering process three more times, creating successive layers of chips, cheese, and pulled pork.
- Bake the nachos in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and turned bubbly.
- Once fully cooked, remove the skillet from the oven.
- Drizzle the nachos with BBQ sauce and the prepared white sauce, ensuring an even distribution across the dish.
- Garnish the nachos with chopped jalapenos for an extra kick.
- Serve the pulled pork nachos immediately while still warm and enjoy the irresistible combination of flavors.
These Pulled Pork Nachos are sure to be a crowd-pleaser, whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply indulging in a delightful snack. The tender pulled pork, gooey cheese, tangy BBQ sauce, and zesty white sauce create a symphony of flavors that will leave your taste buds craving for more. So, don’t hesitate to whip up a batch of these mouthwatering nachos and savor every bite!
