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One of our GO-TO dinner recipes is this chicken quesadilla recipe!
We often find ourselves in need of a quick but yummy dinner or lunch idea, and these quesadillas have saved the day so many times.
Life is just busy sometimes (okay a lot of times)! So we love that these chicken quesadillas are very simple and quick (we’re talking on the table in under 15 minutes). Best part is that the kids now know how to make them – a HUGE win!! Plus they are so easy to customize based on preference.
The added protein makes them even more filling, but we also love our basic cheese quesadillas! Either way, dip them in salsa and sour cream for a quick and tasty dinner!
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Beyond simple. Just a few ingredients and whipped in minutes (perfect for lunch, dinner, or even a snack).
- Versatile. This recipe is a great base for any classic quesadilla. Include the sauce, omit it, or change the shredded chicken for beef or your favorite veggies.
- Great appetizer too! Just cut into bite-sized triangles and they will be devoured in minutes.
Chicken Quesadilla Ingredients and Substitutions
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon taco seasoning – store-bought or Homemade Taco Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt (with parsley flakes)
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce – We like to use mild sauce from Taco Bell or Valentino hot sauce.
- 6 flour tortillas – homemade Flour Tortillas or store-bought (our favorite store bought are LaLa’s, Tortilla Land or Tortilla Fresca – from Costco)
- 2 cups Mexican cheese – or Oaxaca and Chihuahua cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, Mozzarella cheese, Cheddar cheese, Fontina cheese, Gruyere cheese, Havarti cheese, Provolone cheese, Swiss cheese, Pepper Jack cheese
- 2 cups shredded chicken seasoned – about 2 cups. Make Shredded Chicken in a slow cooker, oven Baked Chicken, or shred a rotisserie chicken.
- optional toppings – fresh cilantro, avocado or Guacamole, sour cream, or Pico de Gallo
How to Make a Chicken Quesadilla
- SAUCE. Whisk mayo, taco seasoning, garlic salt, and hot sauce.
- ASSEMBLE. Spread the mixture on one side of a tortilla. Sprinkle the desired amount of shredded seasoned chicken on top, then cheese. Add sauce to a second tortilla and place on top.
- COOK. Heat in the microwave for about 20 seconds, then put in a hot skillet on the stove, until nice and crisp. If you have any sauce left over, use it for dipping!
- Eat the quesadillas alone or with some favorite dips like Homemade Salsa, Sweet Salsa Verde, Queso Blanco, Cafe Rio Dressing.
- Omit the chicken and sauce for a classic Cheese Quesadilla.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Use your preferred hot sauce. We love our homemade salsa best, but the kids also love the mild sauce from Taco Bell.
- This is a great recipe to use up leftover chicken, make shredded chicken in a crock pot, or shred a rotisserie chicken.
- Adding a bit of olive oil or butter to the skillet can help the tortilla get toasty and golden brown.
- The tortillas make the difference – our favorite store bought are LaLa’s, Tortilla Land or Tortilla Fresca flour tortillas – from Costco.
Chicken Quesadilla
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 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 mayo, taco seasoning, garlic salt, and hot sauce.
- Spread the mayo mixture on one side of a tortilla. Sprinkle the desired amount of shredded chicken on top, then some cheese. Add sauce to a second tortilla and place on top.
- Heat in the microwave for about 20 seconds, then put in a hot pan on the stove, until nice and crisp. If you have sauce left over, use it for dipping!
Video
Notes
- Use your preferred hot sauce. We love the mild sauce from Taco Bell, or Lo’s favorite, Valentino.
- This is a great recipe to use up leftover chicken, make shredded chicken in a crock pot, or shred a rotisserie chicken.
- Adding a bit of olive oil or butter to the skillet can help the tortilla get toasty and golden brown.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Assemble as directed and microwave. Allow to cool, place them on a baking sheet, and flash-freeze. Once firm transfer to freezer ziploc and freeze for up to 2 months.
To heat, place frozen quesadilla in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Transfer to a nonstick pan and finish cooking over medium heat until cheese is melted and the tortilla is crispy.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or skillet.
Complete The Meal
Sides
How to Make Guacamole
10 mins
Homemade Salsa
10 mins
Canned Refried Beans
10 mins
Homemade Spanish Rice Recipe
45 mins
Desserts
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This recipe was originally published November 2018.
I don’t have taco seasoning. Can I substitute something else or omit it?
You could omit or you could make your own taco seasoning mix. Here is a recipe for that: https://lilluna.com/taco-seasoning/
I want to try this recipe but have a question. What can I replace the hot sauce with? Hot sauce too hot for me.
This recipe is amazing!!! My son was wanting Taco Bell for supper so I thought I’ll try to make my own. This was perfect!! Ended up making one for myself also! ☺️ Thank you
Really easy and delicious. We loved every bite.
Love this. I used leftover fried chicken breast and it was so yummy and easy. Thanks for this recioe
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the quesadillas! Thanks for sharing what you did.
Would not use the microwave but place on a sheet pan under broiler and flip. The microwave made them soft and then on the stovetop it fell apart and made a big mess.
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
There are very good but how long should I cook them before flipping them. I have made them twice now and both times they are soft.
can you do half mayo and half sour cream?
I’m sure you could!
Hi…can you use rotisserie chicken in this?…
Absolutely!!
Way way too salty!! Would have been great if not for all the salt and I used unsalted butter to fry! Supper was really ruined!
Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy the recipe. You can always reduce the amount of garlic salt or use low-sodium taco seasoning if you feel it is too salty as is. Thanks for giving the recipe a try!
A lite more explanation would be hpful. Like do you fry them in oil or butter. You don’t explain what to do after you take them out of the microwave. We are not all experts some of us are rookies.