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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’ll give this recipe 3 stars for the simplicity. However, in my opinion it lacked flavor. I made for a friend that was taking the quesadillas to work to share. She said that she could only taste the mayo so I tried one and all I could taste was the cheese. I will probably keep this recipe and go stronger on the spices next time. And next time I’ll sample it before making the whole batch.
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!!
Made these but cooked chicken tenders seasoned with taco seasoning in pan with little oil and then shredding. Family totally loved and will be in meal rotation
That sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed the quesadillas.
Great
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.
I love love love the mayo sauce!! I use just the taco seasoning and the mayo and its perfect for me, my family, and my friends!
I searched and read so many recipes looking for a quesadilla sauce and I finally found the one! ThnX LilLuna
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.
So true! It was a lot of anger over a simple recipe. Lil’ Luna is known for her exceptional recipes and videos… If you didn’t enjoy the recipe, you could’ve simply said it wasn’t for you, and what you would have done like Comments from Other testers.
“Lose the Hate,& Learn to appreciate!”
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.
That was very rude. If you didn’t like something then you have the option of never making it again. It’s very unnecessary leave this kind of comment on someone’s recipe. Obviously other people enjoy it. Have the day you deserve.
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.