This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This easy, cheesy chicken quesadilla recipe is a crowd favorite. They are not only filled with cheese and chicken, but a delicious homemade sauce that makes these hand-held bites irresistible!
Served with a little Homemade Salsa and a side of Spanish Rice, these chicken quesadillas make for a tasty and filling meal! But they’re also great for game-day appetizers.
Not just an average quesadilla
Whenever I’m in a bind around dinner, a tasty Chicken Quesadilla is a life saver! There is just something so comforting about a hot golden brown cheesy filled tortilla. Add in some shredded chicken breasts and you’ve got a full rounded meal for lunch, dinner, or a midnight snack!
Sometimes we even make these as little appetizers for dinner parties or game day watching! Cut them into little bite-sized triangles and they will be devoured in minutes!
These aren’t just any chicken quesadillas. They have a secret magic yummy sauce in the middle that takes these to another level. Who knew that a little mayo, Taco Seasoning, and hot sauce could be the winning combo for a quesadilla sauce?
What is Mexican Cheese?
Grab a package of Mexican Fiesta Blend cheese. However, prepackaged cheese doesn’t melt quite as well as freshly grated cheese. I recommend using a combination of Oaxaca and Chihuahua cheese because they melt easily and give that stretchy stings of cheese as you pick up each slice.
Some other cheeses you can use in a blend or even on their own include:
- Mozzarella cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Fontina cheese
- Gruyere cheese
- Havarti cheese
- Provolone cheese
- Swiss cheese
- Pepper Jack cheese
How to make Chicken Quesadillas
You’ll need about 2 cups of seasoned Shredded Chicken for this recipe. We love to use Homemade Tortillas (once you go homemade you never go back), but any tortillas you have will be great.
SAUCE. Whisk together the taco seasoning, mayo, hot sauce, and garlic salt in a bowl. Spread the mixture onto one side of a tortilla.
LAYER. Add your desired amount of shredded chicken and cheese to the tortilla. Add a layer of the sauce onto another tortilla and place that on top.
COOK.
- Microwave. Cook your quesadilla in the microwave first for about 20 seconds. This will help the cheese get extra melty.
- Stovetop. Then place the quesadilla in a pan on the stove until it gets brown and crispy.
Alternative cooking methods
I like warming them up in the microwave and then crisping them up on a skillet, but you could easily use one or the other. You can also use a panini press, or if you’re making several quesadillas, use a pancake griddle. The oven and airfryer are even more options:
- Oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Butter the tortillas and assemble according to recipe. Bake for 4-5 minutes then flip and bake for another 4-5 minutes or until the tortillas are crisp and the cheese has melted.
- Air Fryer. Be sure that the tortillas will fit in the airfryer. Mist the tortillas with cooking spray to help it crisp up. Use toothpicks to secure the top tortilla to the bottom otherwise the air circulation from the air fryer can cause it to move around. Place the quesadilla in the fryer and cook at 350°F for 6-8 minutes.
Other fillings to add
With chicken, cheese and other flavors this quesadilla is delicious. However, it is also super easy to add in vegetables and other flavors to make it uniquely yours.
- Vegetables: cooked mushrooms, baby spinach, add fresh corn, diced green chilies, red bell peppers, red onions or shallots, diced tomato
- Toppings: cilantro, Avocado or Guacamole, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo
- Fillings: black beans, sliced olives,
- Protein: grilled steak or shredded beef or pork
- Spices: sprinkle on smoked paprika, add a bit of heat with crushed red peppers
great dips for quesadillas:
Recipe Tips + storing info
- Single tortilla. Instead of using two tortillas, use one tortilla and fold it in half. This makes it easier to flip in the pan.
- Corn tortillas. Flour tortillas work best for quesadillas, but corn tortillas can be used. Since they don’t fold as well I recommend using 2 tortillas with the cheese in the middle.
STORE leftover quesadillas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat. No one likes a soggy quesadilla. The best way to reheat it and still keep the outside crispy is to use a non stick pan over medium heat.
- When the pan is hot place the quesadilla in the pan. Heat for 1-2 minutes on each side until the cheese has melted and the tortilla is crispy once again.
Make ahead and FREEZE. Follow the recipe like usual. Once you have heated the quesadilla in the microwave, place them on a cookie sheet. Flash freeze them until firm. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months.
- To reheat, place frozen quesadilla in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer to a nonstick pan and finish cooking over medium heat until cheese is melted and the tortilla is crispy.
For even more similar recipes, check out:
- Homemade Tortillas
- Cream Cheese and Chicken Taquitos
- Baked Chicken Chimichangas
- Pumpkin Quesadilla
- Chimichanga
- Chicken Flautas
Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonaise
- ½ teaspoon taco seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt (with parsley flakes)
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 6 tortillas
- 2 cups Mexican cheese
- 2 cups shredded chicken seasoned
Instructions
- Whisk together mayo, taco seasoning, garlic salt, and hot sauce. NOTE: You can use whatever hot sauce you prefer. We love to keep around the mild sauce from taco bell, so I always use that plus my husbands favorite, Valentino.
- Spread mixture on one side of tortilla. Sprinkle desired amount of shredded chicken on top, then cheese. Add sauce to a second tortilla and place on top.
- Heat in the microwave for about 20 seconds, then put on the stove, until nice a crisp. If you have sauce left over, use for dipping!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made these on the fly with some extra chicken and those little street taco soft tortillas. Definitely a hit and super easy, super fast. Another winner in my house. Packing a few for my husband to heat up at lunch as well (added onion and peppers to his.)
Oh yummy!! And that’s a great idea to make a few extras for lunches. So glad they were a hit with the fam!
Very good even for seniors
Delicious! Too lazy to go to the store, had two tortillas and a can of shredded chicken and voila, this recipe. This was simple and very tasty. It’s now in the rotation. Thanks for saving a hungry girls life 🥰
Very simple, delicious and ready for dinner. Great to get the dinner ready after a long day of work and not spend too much time in the kitchen. Do not have to used the oven which is a plus for warm days. My boys loved it.
That was the most disgusting quesadilla I have ever had. I knew a cup of mayo was a trash recipe just like ketchup is not an actual cooking ingredient. It was sour and not creamy, a waste of my time and money for the ingrediants.
Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy. Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try.
Seems like a lot of unnecessary anger over a quesadilla recipe
Agreed! It was very good. The mayo recipe was a surprisingly good with the seasonings. It added flavor.
Darn auto-correct. I meant to type,,,,, ,P. Anderson,…Disgusting quesadilla ??? To each his own I guess. I thought it was VERY yummy !
Hey you can probably always switch the mayo out for sour cream. What works for some doesn’t always work for others but it’s about innovation and integrity. You never know to swap in one ingredient I’ll make it one of the best quesadillas you’ve ever had.
Very good and best of all the ingredients are basic and it’s easy to make. I used leftover rotisserie chicken, but made the mistake of adding Mexican seasoning which was way too salty. However, I microwaved them as directed, but then pan fried about 4 minutes per side because I like a crispier tortilla. Also used a smaller tortilla and then just cut it in half, so it was easier for me to flip in the pan. Topped it with salsa, shredded lettuce & sour cream. Delicious!!
Can I dice the chicken up instead of using shredded? Would consistency work?
I used a leftover rotisserie chicken, so diced my meat kind of small, and it worked out really well.