Game Day BBQ Sheet Pan Nachos

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a commission if you purchase through our link, at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure here.

POV: You’re hosting a game day watch party and have no idea what to serve a group of hungry people. We’ve got you covered with this super quick and easy appetizer that just uses a handful of ingredients. You likely have some of these items already on hand for your game day celebrations. Whip up these Game Day BBQ Sheet Pan Nachos the next time you’re hosting a watch party. 

These Gameday BBQ Nachos are definitely a step up from the 90’s microwave nachos, but taste just as good and nostalgic as you remember. Layers of crispy tortilla chips topped with tender, smoked pulled pork, gooey cheddar cheese, and drizzled with savory sweet BBQ sauce. Once theyre hot out of the oven, top with slices of spicy jalapeno and sliced pickled onion for a punch of spice and tang. 

Dive straight into the cheesy center or grab from the sides. Whatever’s your vibe, these BBQ nachos are a super fun appetizer that has a delicious bite for everyone! They’re smokey, cheesy, savory, and a bit spicy – YUM! Not into sports or game day festivities? These nachos are fitting for almost any get-together. Serve them for your next movie night, award show viewing party with your friends, or serve at your next patio party.

Why You’ll Love these Game Day BBQ Nachos

• A super easy appetizer or snack. There’s not much work or effort that goes into making these delicious. Which makes them perfect when you want something low effort yet highly delicious.
• Makes a large batch! These sheet pan nachos are perfect for serving a group.
• Very nostalgic! If you didn’t grow up on microwave nachos, were you even a kid in the 90’s?! These sheet pan nachos are a grown-up version of sheet pan nachos. They get super crispy in the oven and bake to perfection. Plus, you can get a little fancy with the toppings!

How to Make Gameday Sheetpan Nachos

Step 1. Preheat your oven and prep the nacho toppings.

Start by preheating your oven to 350ºF. Line a rimmed sheetpan with some parchment paper and set aside.

Setting out all your toppings beforehand will make assembling the tacos super simple.

We purchased pulled pork from a local barbecue restaraunt but you can also use precooked pork from the store. Most prepackaged pulled pork comes with a barbecue sauce. One of our favorites are Target’s Good and Gather pulled pork.

Step 2. Make Homemade BBQ Sauce.

This step is totally optional, but we prefer making our barbecue sauce homemade. It tastes fresher, and our recipe has the perfect amount of savory, sweet, and tanginess that we prefer. 

You may not have to make your own barbecue sauce if: 

1. If you’re buying your pork from a barbecue restaurant, they often add a side of barbecue sauce to your meat. 
2. If you’re using store-bought pulled pork, it will often have a barbecue sauce mixed into the meat. 

Step 3. Layer and assemble sheet pan nachos.

If you want show-stopper sheetpan nachos, you have to make multiple layers. Trust us, it’s better this way, because you are guaranteed to have toppings on every bite. 

Start with a base of tortilla chips, top with cheese and meat. Repeat this for one or two more layers on top. Drizzle the top of the tortilla chips with barbecue sauce and pop them in the oven.

Step 4. Bake nachos until golden and gooey.

Bake the BBQ nachos for about 15 minutes. Just until they are crispy on the edges and the cheese is melted and gooey.

Step 5. Add jalapeños and pickled onions and dig in!

Once the hot, cheesy nachos come out of the oven, top with jalapeno slices and pickled onions. Enjoy them while they’re hot! 

Secrets to making the best sheet pan nachos

• Use restaurant-style tortilla chips. They are thicker and crispier and won’t get super soggy while cooking.
• Make multiple layers! Layering the nachos is truly a game-changer in taste. You will get a little bit of every topping in each bite! 
• Don’t hold back on the cheese! Nachos are supposed to be cheesy! And trust us, after they cook, you will get both crispy and gooey bits of cheese. It will also help hold all the toppings together.

Storing Sheet Pan Nacho Leftovers

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. 

How to reheat Sheet Pan Nachos

They are best hot out of the oven! After they reheat, they won’t be quite the same texture. But, if you do need to reheat before serving or have leftovers, you can reheat in the microwave or oven.

Reheating in the microwave – Best for smaller batches or quickly reheating leftovers. Reheat in 15-20 second intervals until nachos are warm and cheese is melted. The texture may be chewier when reheating in microwave.

Reheating in Oven – Preheat oven to 400ºF and bake on a sheet pan and reheat for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted and chips are crispy.

Shop our Kitchen Favorites

Looking for more Game Day appetizer ideas? Check these out!

Print