Chicken Quesadilla
Looking for a delicious and easy chicken quesadilla recipe? Look no further! This recipe combines tender chicken, melted cheese, and flavorful spices for the ultimate quesadilla experience. The kids will love this easy dinner recipe ready in 30 minutes.
Ready to serve those picky eater something more than chicken nuggets and french fries? Well then you’ve got to check out this delicious cheese quesadilla recipe! This ooey gooey cheese and chicken packed dish never gets old. It’s family friendly and seriously turns out so tasty every single time. The chicken is seasoned with taco seasoning and salsa, giving it the most delightful flavor. It’s key to make the best chicken and cheese quesadilla.
My cheese quesadilla is always a go-to option for a quick lunch or super easy dinner. But when I want to pack in some more protein and flavor, then I turn to a chicken quesadilla. This incredible recipe is always a hit and taste far better than anything you could get from a drive thru. Who need taco bell, am I right?! You’re going to love this tasty dish.
Why You’ll Love this Chicken Quesadilla
- Change up this recipe with different types of vegetables, meat and other additions. It’s really easy to adjust the recipe to your personal preferences.
- This is totally a kid-friendly meal. You can even slice it up into small pieces so that it’s easier for those little hands to grab and eat.
- It only takes 30 minutes to make a super flavorful chicken quesadilla. Throw this together on a busy evening and dinner is on the table before you know it!
Ingredients for Chicken Quesadilla
- Flour tortillas – Any flour tortillas from the grocery store will work for this quesadilla. You can also use some homemade tortillas!
- Taco seasoning – You can use either store-bought taco seasoning and homemade taco seasoning. Season up the chicken mixture for the best flavor.
- Chicken breast – Cube up some boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Shredded Mexican cheese – Use a different type of shredded cheese if you want. Cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese, and Colby jack will all work great.
- Olive oil – Use olive oil, or another neutral oil to cook the quesadilla and get the tortillas golden brown and crispy.
- Salsa – This is my secret ingredient to the most delicious chicken quesadilla — salsa in the chicken filling!
Helpful Tools
How to Make a Chicken Quesadilla
Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat on the stove top.
Using a sharp knife, cube the chicken breast into small piece and then place them all into a medium mixing bowl. Add the taco seasoning to the chicken and mix until the chicken is coated.
Add one tablespoon of the olive oil onto the skillet and then once hot, place the seasoned chicken in the skillet. Sauté the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until it’s browned slightly, but not completely cooked through.
Then top the chicken with salsa and toss the chicken to thoroughly coat with the salsa. Continue to cook the chicken for approximately 3-4 more minutes, until the internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit
Remove the chicken from the skillet and transfer it to a plate. Reduce the temperature of the skillet to medium low.
To make the quesadillas, lay a tortilla flat on a cutting board. Spread some cheese on half the tortilla, then layer some of the chicken on top, and top off with more cheese. Fold the tortilla in half to make a half moon shape.
Once all the quesadillas are put together, put the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet and add 2 of the filled tortillas to the skillet.
Cook until one side of the tortilla is golden brown. Then flip and then cook until the other side is golden brown as well. Watch closely as the tortilla will brown pretty quickly.
Transfer the quesadillas to a cutting board, then slice and serve immediately!
How to Store A Chicken Quesadilla
Allow leftover quesadillas to cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container or wrap in a plastic wrap or aluminum foil. You can also store them zip top plastic bags.
FRIDGE: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
FREEZER: Chicken quesadillas freeze really well! Freeze on a baking sheet lined in parchment paper and then transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Chicken Quesadillas
For the best results, reheat quesadillas in the oven or on the stove top. In the oven, just bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes until fully warmed through. On the stove top, just add some olive oil to a pan and heat on both sides until the tortilla crisps back up, cheese is gooey, and the chicken is warmed through.
You can also reheat a quesadilla in the air fryer! The microwave works too, but your quesadilla will be pretty soggy.
What should I put in a quesadilla?
You can make tons of different variations on this easy chicken quesadilla. From veggies to herbs, there are many ways to change up this quesadilla. Some of my favorite additions are:
- black beans
- pinto beans
- sour cream
- caramelized onions
- sauteed bell pepper
- mushrooms
- jalapeños
- corn
- fresh cilantro
- tomatoes
Can I use corn tortillas instead of flour?
I personally prefer making my chicken quesadilla with flour tortillas. However, you can use corn tortillas if you prefer! It will taste a bit different, but still yummy. Just make sure you don’t buy the tiny street taco tortillas, they still need to be full sized.
What to Serve with a Chicken Quesadilla
Serve this easy quesadilla with other kid-friendly favorites! Italian soda is a tasty beverage to serve with it, and things like energy balls and no bake peanut butter cereal bars would be a great dessert/snack to pair with this quesadilla.
I love dipping my quesadilla in some warm queso, some guacamole, or my favorite salsa. It also goes great with side dishes like Spanish rice and roasted broccoli.
Pro Tips for the Best Chicken Quesadillas
- You can save some time by using pre-cooked shredded chicken or even grabbing a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and shredding that. Just be sure to toss it in the taco seasoning and salsa, then spoon the chicken mixture into the tortilla.
- If you choose to cook the quesadilla in butter, it is really important to ensure that your pan is not too hot or the butter could burn.
- Make sure the skillet is hot enough to let the cheese melt, but not so hot as to burn the tortilla.
Make this easy quesadilla with just six simple ingredients and a few minutes of your time. It’s so easy to love such a quick recipe!
More Easy Dinner Recipes You’ll Love!
- This yummy Pizza Toast is quite possibly one of the best little recipes ever. So easy and super duper tasty!
- Make some Grilled Cheese Roll Ups when you’re kiddos are craving that gooey, cheesy classic.
- Spaghetti Tacos may sound super silly, but they’re actually incredibly tasty. Such a fun recipe!
- Make some Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles when you need a dinner recipe to dump in the crock pot.
Chicken Quesadilla
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breast diced into small cubes
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ounce taco seasoning 1 package
- 2 cups shredded Mexican Cheese
- ¼ cup salsa
- 4 flour tortillas burrito size
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Cut the chicken into small cubes and put in a medium mixing bowl. Add the taco seasoning to the chicken and mix until all the chicken is coated with taco seasoning.
- Spread 1 Tablespoon of the olive oil onto the skillet. Place the chicken in the skillet in an even layer. Sauté the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until it's browned slightly.
- Then top the chicken with salsa and toss the chicken to thoroughly coat the chicken with the salsa. Continue to cook the chicken until it’s cooked through (internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit) for approximately 3-4 more minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and put on a plate. Reduce the temperature to medium low.
- To make the quesadillas, lay a tortilla flat on a cutting board. Spread some cheese on half the tortilla, then put some of the chicken on top of the cheese, then top off with more cheese. Fold the tortilla in half to make a half moon shape.
- Once all the quesadillas are put together, Put the remaining 1 Tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet and add 2 of the tortillas to the skillet.
- Cook until one side of the tortilla is golden brown (2-3 minutes). Flip and then cook until the other side is golden brown as well (2-3 minutes). Watch them closely as they brown quickly.
- Remove the quesadillas onto a cutting board. Slice them and serve immediately
