Description
These Chicken Quesadillas are a flavorful and easy-to-make Mexican-inspired dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken, sautéed vegetables, and melted Mexican blend cheese all folded inside crispy, buttery flour tortillas. Perfect for a quick dinner or a satisfying snack, these quesadillas boast a perfect balance of smoky spices, tangy lime, and a hint of heat from hot sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 boneless skinless chicken breast (just under ¾ lb.)
- 2 teaspoons combined seasoning (see below)
Combined Seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
Vegetables and Flavorings
- 1–2 tablespoons avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1 splash chicken broth (or dry white wine)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup bell pepper, diced (red and green preferred)
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
Tortillas and Cheese
- 4 (8-inch) flour tortillas (burrito size)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 2 ¾ cups Mexican blend cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the seasoning: Combine salt, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, dried oregano, and chili powder in a small bowl; set aside.
- Prepare the chicken: Slice the chicken breast in half horizontally to create two thinner pieces. Cover with plastic wrap and gently pound with the textured side of a meat tenderizer until about ½ inch thick. Pat dry with paper towels and rub both sides evenly with 2 teaspoons of the prepared seasoning. Reserve the remaining seasoning for the vegetables.
- Cook the chicken: Heat avocado or olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 4 to 5 minutes per side until a golden crust forms. Remove from skillet and let rest for 5 minutes. Finely dice the cooked chicken.
- Deglaze the skillet: Add a splash of chicken broth or dry white wine to the skillet over medium heat. Use a silicone spatula to scrape and loosen any browned bits from the bottom and sides of the pan to add depth to the filling.
- Sauté vegetables: Increase heat to medium-high and add diced onions and bell peppers. Cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, chopped cilantro, lime juice, hot sauce, honey, and the remaining seasoning. Cook while stirring for another 2 minutes until well combined and heated through. Remove filling mixture from pan and set aside.
- Prepare the tortillas: Turn off the heat and wipe the skillet clean. Brush melted butter lightly on one side of each tortilla; this will create a crispy, golden exterior once cooked.
- Assemble and cook quesadillas: Place one tortilla butter-side down in the skillet over medium-low heat. Evenly sprinkle about a heaping ½ cup of Mexican blend cheese over the tortilla. Add one-quarter of the diced chicken and vegetable filling on one half of the tortilla. Allow the cheese to melt and the tortilla bottom to turn golden brown, adjusting heat slightly if needed.
- Fold and finish cooking: Fold the tortilla in half over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Press gently with a spatula to seal and cook for another minute or two until the cheese is melted through and the exterior is crispy and golden. Remove from skillet and repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
- Serve: Cut each quesadilla in half and serve warm accompanied by sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and extra sour cream if desired.
Notes
- The Mexican blend cheese typically contains a mix of cheddar, Monterey Jack, asadero, and queso quesadilla cheeses for the best melt and flavor.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and honey to your taste preference for heat and sweetness.
- To keep quesadillas warm while cooking the rest, place them on a baking sheet in a warm oven (around 200°F).
- Using a nonstick skillet ensures they don’t stick and crisp up nicely during cooking.
- Leftover quesadillas can be reheated in a skillet or air fryer to preserve the crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: Chicken quesadillas, Mexican quesadillas, cheesy chicken quesadillas, easy dinner, skillet quesadillas
