Chipotle Ranch Chicken Nachos

Jul 23, 2025 • Tom Jackson

Smoky, spicy, and totally satisfying — these Chipotle Ranch Chicken Nachos bring bold flavors and irresistible textures straight from the Yoder Smokers YS640s Pellet Gril l. Marinated chicken breasts soak up the heat of Sweetwater Spice Tres Chiles, then hit a preheated cast iron pan inside the Yoder’s Wood-Fired Oven attachment for an unforgettable sear. Piled onto tortilla chips with melty pepper jack, black beans, zesty salsa, and a creamy homemade chipotle ranch, this dish is game day-ready and weeknight-approved. It’s a hands-on grill recipe with layers of heat, crunch, and cool contrast in every bite.

Chipotle Ranch Chicken Nachos on the Pellet Grill

Tom Jackson

Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users

Cuisine

American

Servings

8

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

20 minutes

Calories

515

Fire-seared chicken, crispy chips, and a smoky chipotle ranch bring the heat in these cast iron nachos made on the YS640s Wood-Fired Oven.

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Ingredients

Cornhusker Kitchen Spray Duck Fat
1 1/2 lb chicken breasts
1 cup Sweetwater Spice Tres Chiles Marinade
1 cup water
Cattleman’s Grill Mexicano Seasoning
1 cup black beans
12 oz pepper jack, shredded
8 oz/2qt tortilla chips
Holmes Made Roasted Green Chile Salsa
2 cups romaine lettuce, shaved thin

Chipotle Ranch:

1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp chipotles in adobo
1 tbsp buttermilk
2 tbsp cilantro, minced
1/2 tsp lime juice
1 clove garlic, grated on the microplane
Cattleman’s Grill Lone Star Brisket Rub, to taste

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Directions

To make the chipotle ranch, combine all ingredients in a pint sized container and blitz with an immersion blender until smooth. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Spray the inside of a large plastic briner bag with duck fat. Place the chicken breasts in the bag. Pound the breasts with the flat side of a meat mallet to even the thick and thinner ends.
Add equal parts water and Sweetwater Spice Tres Chiles Marinade to the bag and massage to combine. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Preheat your Yoder Smokers YS640s Pellet grill to 450ºF with the Yoder Smokers Wood Fired Oven installed. Place a Lodge Cast Iron Pan in the wood fired oven to preheat.
Remove the chicken from the bag and season with Cattleman’s Grill Mexicano Seasoning.
Spray the hot cast iron pan with duck fat, then place the chicken in the pan for about ten minutes. Sear on both sides and bring the internal temperature to 155ºF. Let rest for a few minutes, then dice.
Fill the same pan with tortilla chips top with the diced chicken, black beans and cheese.
Return the pan to the wood fired oven and cook to melt and brown the cheese, about ten minutes. Remove from the grill.
Finish the nachos topped with salsa, chipotle ranch and shredded lettuce.

Image of Chipotle Ranch Chicken Nachos on the Pellet Grill

Recipe Note

Recipe Highlights & Extras

This nacho recipe brings together smoky marinated chicken, crisp chips, melty cheese, and creamy chipotle ranch — a flavor combo that's right on trend with today’s bold, layered BBQ dishes. Using the YS640s Pellet Grill with a hot cast iron pan gives you great sear and melty results every time.

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Pro tip: Duck fat spray boosts sear and flavor — and chipotle ranch is a customer-favorite topping that works on everything from nachos to smoked wings.