Chicken Quesadillas Recipe Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Chicken Quesadillas Recipe Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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This cheesy, crispy Chicken Quesadillas recipe is the perfect meal or appetizer for Cinco de Mayo and beyond. Tortillas are stuffed with seasoned chicken, cheese, and veggies, then cooked in butter for a super crispy shell. These classic Mexican quesadillas are quick, easy, and made with satisfying, easy-to-find ingredients. Bursting with flavor, this delicious appetizer is sure to be a crowd-pleaser whether you’re hosting a festive party or just looking for a tasty snack.

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Table of Contents

What’s in Chicken Quesadillas?

When it comes to Mexican food recipes, there are few things more satisfying in life than a classic chicken quesadilla. Packed with great ingredients that are easy to assemble into one delicious dish, this showstopper of an appetizer won’t last long at your party or dinner table!

  • Chicken Breasts: Boneless and skinless chicken breasts work great for quesadillas.
  • Onion: No Mexican dish tastes quite as complete without adding onions. I prefer yellow onions, but you can also use white or red.
  • Bell Pepper: This super nutritious ingredient adds lovely color, texture, and flavor to the quesadilla recipe.
  • Garlic: If you are not a fan of chopping fresh garlic, consider stocking your pantry with some minced garlic in water or olive oil.
  • Taco Seasoning: This blend of spices is perfect for any Mexican dish.
  • Taco Sauce: For the best taco sauce, try my homemade recipe by clicking on the link. It’s easy, spiced just right, and so satisfying!
  • Butter: While you could cook the tortillas in olive oil, butter adds the perfect flavor and browning that gives them a flaky, crispy bite.
  • Flour Tortillas: These tortillas are soft, pliable, and just the right size to contain the delicious filling.
  • Mexican Cheese Blend: Prepared Mexican cheese blends save you the time of grating so many cheeses at once, and they melt perfectly and taste just as delicious!
  • Olive Oil: Never underestimate the importance and value of good olive oil for adding delicious flavor to any dish.

Pro Tip: Save some time by using leftover pre-cooked diced or shredded chicken. Simply add to the skillet after the vegetables have cooked down and before the seasonings.

Variations on Easy Chicken Quesadillas

There are so many fun ways to change up these quesadillas. You can swap out the chicken for beef, pork, turkey, or beans. Feel free to swap the onion and peppers for different veggies, like mushrooms, corn, or zucchini. You can also swap out the Mexican cheese blend for your favorite cheese, like Monterey jack, cheddar, or pepper jack. Some fun variations I’ve tried include bruschetta chicken quesadillas, bacon ranch chicken quesadillas, and Buffalo chicken quesadillas.

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Are chicken quesadillas healthy?

Yes and no. As with most foods, there are good and bad qualities to these quesadillas. On the plus side, they are high in protein, vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, potassium,, and iron. However, they are also high in calories, saturated fats, carbohydrates, cholesterol, and sodium. As with any food, enjoy chicken quesadillas in moderation.

What’s the best cheese for chicken quesadillas?

The best cheese for chicken quesadillas is your favorite cheese! I love Mexican blend cheese, but you could also use Monterey jack, cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack, Colby, Swiss, provolone, or any other melting cheese.

What goes with chicken quesadillas?

Chicken quesadillas pair well with sour cream, salsa, guacamole, jalapeño peppers, and fresh cilantro. Get creative and try yours with fresh pico de gallo, avocado corn salsa, or cowboy caviar!

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How to Store and Reheat Homemade Chicken Quesadillas

Store leftover chicken quesadillas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a lightly oiled pan set over medium heat until crisp and warmed through, about 1-2 minutes per side.

How to Freeze Mexican Chicken Quesadillas

Freeze chicken quesadillas in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen in the microwave for 2 minutes, then transfer to a lightly oiled pan to crisp.

What to Serve with Chicken Quesadillas

When it comes to what to serve with quesadillas, the options are almost endless. Serve with cheesy Mexican rice, refried beans, tortilla chips and guacamole. And don’t forget the frozen margaritas!

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Recipe

Chicken Quesadillas Recipe

4.84 from 6 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 20 minutes minutes

Total: 30 minutes minutes

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Serves4 quesadillas

This is one of the best appetizers for Cinco de Mayo, or quick and tasty snack. The seasoned chicken and crispy tortillas are just delicous!

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into ¾-inch pieces (about 2 breasts)
  • ½ onion diced
  • 1 bell pepper any color, diced
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning store-bought or homemade (½ packet)
  • ¼ cup taco sauce store-bought or homemade
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 4 large flour tortillas
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

Optional Toppings

  • Sour cream
  • Salsa
  • Guacamole
  • Jalapeño peppers
  • Fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add in the chicken and cook until the surface is no longer pink, but the chicken is not completely cooked through.

    1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

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  • Add in the onion and bell pepper. Continue to cook until the vegetables are softened and the chicken is cooked through.

    ½ onion, 1 bell pepper

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  • Add in the garlic, taco seasoning, and taco sauce. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until everything is fragrant. Remove from the heat and set aside.

    1 clove garlic, 1 tablespoon taco seasoning, ¼ cup taco sauce

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  • Wipe out your skillet or grab a second one and set it over medium heat. Add in 1 tablespoon of butter and let it melt.

    4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • While the butter is melting, sprinkle a handful of cheese on one half of your tortilla. Top with ¼ of the chicken mixture and another handful of cheese. Fold in half and place in the pan.

    4 large flour tortillas, 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

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  • Cook until the underside is golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is golden on the second side.

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  • Repeat with the remaining quesadillas. Serve with desired toppings.

    Sour cream, Salsa, Guacamole, Jalapeño peppers, Fresh cilantro

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Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • Watch the heat carefully and adjust it up or down as needed to ensure the tortilla gets a nice golden brown color and doesn’t burn.
  • If your cheese isn’t melting well, cover the pan after you flip the tortilla.
  • Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.

Storage:Store chicken quesadillas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1quesadilla Calories: 626kcal (31%) Carbohydrates: 29g (10%) Protein: 42g (84%) Fat: 38g (58%) Saturated Fat: 19g (119%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 12g Trans Fat: 0.5g Cholesterol: 156mg (52%) Sodium: 1001mg (44%) Potassium: 615mg (18%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 5g (6%) Vitamin A: 1843IU (37%) Vitamin C: 41mg (50%) Calcium: 453mg (45%) Iron: 3mg (17%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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More Quesadilla Recipes We Love

  • Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas
  • Thanksgiving Leftovers Quesadillas
  • Beef Foldover Quesadillas

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Chicken Quesadillas Recipe Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

What is the TikTok quesadilla hack? ›

Simply slice a tortilla halfway through, add different fillings to each of the four quadrants, do some folding, brown it in a pan and voilà! You have a delicious, healthy lunch ready in minutes.

Why are my quesadillas not crispy? ›

Ironically, the key to a crispy quesadilla is less fat in the pan, not more. Too much fat will make your quesadilla soggy instead of crispy.

What is the best quesadilla melting cheese? ›

Sometimes the best cheese for quesadillas is whatever you have in the fridge when the craving strikes. Cheddar and Monterey Jack are standards of American-style quesadillas. But if you are planning ahead, consider that freshly grated cheese such as cheddar or Monterey Jack makes the meltiest quesadillas.

Should I use corn or flour for quesadillas? ›

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

What is a Shrek quesadilla? ›

Shrek's Quesadilla! it's a beautiful thing, really… two. smashed crispy beef patties with house seasoning, american cheese, diced white onions, pickles, and. caramelized onions, all wrapped in a crispy spinach.

What does it mean to make a quesadilla dirty? ›

Diners have the option to "make it dirty," as well, which roughly translates to encrusting your quesadilla in fried cheese.

Do you use 2 tortillas for quesadillas? ›

Use one tortilla per quesadilla.

Then fold it over on itself to create a half-moon shape. You can make two quesadillas at once this way, nestled in the pan with their folded sides next to each other. Giant, round quesadillas made with two tortillas are too tricky to flip and slice.

Why are quesadillas unhealthy? ›

Think of quesadillas as a Mexican grilled cheese sandwich, but kicked up more than a notch by delicious, savory fillings. They're not the healthiest choice when you're dining out. Those globs of glorious melted cheese are full fat and the fillings may be glistening from the oil they're sautéed in.

Should I fry quesadilla in oil or butter? ›

The oil promotes even browning and makes the tortilla nice and crispy. You could use butter but it has a tendency to burn. If you want the flavor of butter on your quesadillas melt a tablespoon in the microwave, stir in a little cooking oil and brush it on your tortillas.

What cheese do Mexicans use in quesadillas? ›

Traditional Mexican cheeses like Oaxaca cheese or Chihuahua cheese are commonly used in quesadillas because they melt easily and have a mild, slightly salty flavor. Other cheese options include Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, and mozzarella.

How to make a 2 tortilla quesadilla? ›

Heat your skillet over medium heat, pour in your oil, and add the first tortilla. Top with cheese and any other filling ingredients, making sure to evenly distribute them across the tortilla, then place the other tortilla over top. Cook until golden brown, then *carefully* flip the quesadilla and cook the other side.

Do Mexicans prefer flour or corn? ›

Corn tortillas are seen as more authentic to Mexican dishes, corn has been a staple ingredient in Mexican cooking for thousands of years.

What's in the viral Chipotle quesadilla? ›

What Is The Chipotle Quesadilla Hack? TikToker Alexis Frost shared the now-viral order, which is a quesadilla made with steak, extra cheese, and fajita veggies, on December 20.

What is the TikTok tortilla challenge? ›

The loser of rock paper scissors gets slapped with a tortilla — but the real challenge is keeping the water in your mouth for the duration of the game and subsequent slap.

How do I order TikTok quesadilla from Chipotle? ›

The quesadilla hack consists of ordering a steak quesadilla with extra cheese and fajita veggies. Some claim it tastes just like a Philly cheese steak.

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