Nachos are a popular appetizer or snack made from tortilla chips covered in melted cheese and topped with various ingredients like chicken, beans, salsa, guacamole, and more. But with all those delicious toppings layered on, you may be wondering just how many calories are in a serving of nachos. In this article, we’ll break down the calorie count of nachos with two classic toppings – melted cheese and chicken.
Quick Answer
The total calories in nachos with cheese and chicken depends on the serving size and exact ingredients used. On average, a single serving of nachos with cheese and chicken contains around 500-800 calories. A larger, shareable nachos platter with ample cheese and chicken can contain 1000-1500+ calories.
Calories in Nachos with Cheese
Let’s start by looking at the calories in nachos with just melted cheese, before adding chicken to the mix. Cheese is one of the main calorie contributors to nachos.
One ounce of cheddar or Monterey Jack melted cheese provides around 110-120 calories. A typical single serving of nachos are covered with 2-4 ounces of melted cheese. So just the cheese alone contributes 220-480 calories to an individual serving of cheesy nachos.
For a large shareable platter of nachos that serves 4-6 people, there may be up to 16 ounces (2 cups) of melted cheese layered on top. That amounts to 1280 calories just from the cheese!
Calories in Tortilla Chips
In addition to cheese, the base of nachos is made up of tortilla chips. An ounce (about 15-20 chips) of plain tortilla chips has 130-140 calories. A single serving of nachos may use 2-3 ounces of chips, totaling 260-420 calories. And a bigger platter with 4-6 servings would use 8-12 ounces of chips, adding 520-840 calories.
Total Calories in Nachos with Cheese
Adding up the calories from both cheese and tortilla chips gives us the total for basic nachos:
- Single serving nachos with cheese: around 500-800 calories
- Shareable nachos platter with cheese: around 1000-1500+ calories
The exact amount depends on the portion sizes used. More cheese means more calories!
Calories Added by Chicken Topping
Now let’s factor in the calories contributed by adding chicken as a topping.
Most nacho recipes call for shredded or chopped rotisserie or grilled chicken breast. A 3 ounce serving of cooked chicken breast provides around 140-170 calories, depending on whether it has skin or not.
A single serving of nachos may have 2-3 ounces of chicken, adding 280-510 extra calories. For a platter, figure 6-8 ounces of chicken distributed across the nachos, tacking on 840-1360 additional calories.
Total Calories in Nachos with Cheese and Chicken
When we combine the calories for tortilla chips, cheese, and chicken, here is the total count:
- Single serving of nachos with cheese and chicken: around 800-1300 calories
- Shareable nachos platter with cheese and chicken: around 2000-2800 calories
As you can see, adding chicken to cheesy nachos significantly increases the calories. A serving can quickly go from a light 500 calorie snack to 800+ calories or more once you start loading on the toppings.
Calories in Nachos at Restaurants
When you order nachos at a Mexican restaurant, fast food joint, concession stand, or sports event, chances are they will pack way more calories than homemade. Restaurant nachos are often loaded with extra helpings of cheese, chicken, beef, beans, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.
To give you an idea, here are the calories found in nachos from popular chains:
- Taco Bell – Nachos BellGrande (beef): 770 calories
- TGI Fridays – Classic Nachos with chicken: 1,280 calories
- Applebee’s – Chicken & Fajita Nachos: 1,520 calories
- Chili’s – Beef Nachos (appetizer): 1,050 calories
- Movie theater nachos (large): Around 1,500 calories or more
As you can see, restaurant versions can pack over 1000 calories per serving! So be mindful of portion sizes if you want to keep your nacho snack or appetizer somewhat in check.
Ways to Lighten Up Nachos
If you don’t want to consume a day’s worth of calories in one bowl of cheesy nachos, there are some easy ways to lighten them up:
- Use fewer chips. Limit your chips to a single layer on the plate or dish instead of piling them high.
- Go easy on the cheese. Stick to about 1 ounce of cheese per serving instead of smothering the nachos.
- Pick leaner proteins. Opt for shredded chicken or steak instead of higher fat beef or pork.
- Load up on veggies. Mix in lots of sliced bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, and black olives.
- Use Greek yogurt. Substitute Greek yogurt for about half of the cheese or sour cream to cut calories and fat.
- Try baked chips. Use lower calorie baked tortilla chips instead of regular fried chips.
- Skip the fatty toppings. Omit extras like sour cream, guacamole, and fatty meats like sausage.
With some simple tweaks, you can still enjoy all the nacho flavors you love in a lighter, more figure-friendly way. Moderation and portion control are key!
Healthier Nachos Recipe
Here is a recipe for a healthier version of nachos with cheese and chicken that cuts the calories approximately in half compared to typical restaurant versions:
Ingredients
- 4 ounces baked tortilla chips (about 4 cups)
- 1⁄2 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken breast (about 5 ounces)
- 1⁄2 cup cooked black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1⁄2 cup fresh salsa
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
- 1⁄4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1⁄4 cup diced tomatoes
- 1⁄4 cup sliced black olives
- 1⁄4 cup diced bell pepper
- 1⁄4 cup diced onion
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Arrange tortilla chips in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Top chips evenly with chicken, black beans, salsa, cheese, onions, cilantro, tomatoes, olives and peppers.
- Bake for 5-7 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and top with Greek yogurt and extra lime juice if desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts Per Serving (About 2 Cups)
- Calories: 530
- Total Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
- Sodium: 510mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 50g
- Dietary Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 40g
This lighter take provides about 530 calories per 2 cup serving. It cuts back on chips, uses just a moderate amount of reduced-fat cheese, increases veggies, and incorporates Greek yogurt. You still get amazing nacho flavor, but in a healthier, more calorie-conscious way.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key points on calories in nachos with cheese and chicken:
- A single serving of nachos with cheese and chicken averages 500-800 calories.
- A shareable nachos platter with ample toppings contains around 1000-1500+ calories.
- Cheese and chicken are the main calorie contributors.
- Restaurant or concession stand nachos often pack over 1000 calories per serving.
- You can lighten up nachos by using fewer chips, less cheese, lean proteins, and more veggies.
- A healthier nacho recipe cuts calories in half compared to restaurant versions.
- Practice portion control when indulging in cheesy, meaty nachos.
The Bottom Line
Nachos make the perfect game day snack or appetizer, but they can also deliver a heavy calorie load, especially piled high with cheese and chicken. A single serving ranges from 500-800 calories, while a shareable nacho platter can clock in at over 1500 calories. To keep your nachos from becoming a diet disaster, use portion control, limit fatty toppings, and bulk up on veggies. With some simple tweaks, you can still enjoy all that deliciousness – just in a lighter calorie way.
