Posted Aug 25, 2016, Updated Jul 14, 2024 This chicken quesadilla recipe is one of my family’s most-loved meals. The secret ingredient in this recipe might sound a little strange, but trust me it makes them delicious! Made with chicken, peppers and more, these chicken quesadillas are a scrumptious, healthy, quick & easy dinner recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes!
Chicken Quesadilla Recipe: Ingredient Substitutions
Chicken breasts. This is a great recipe to use up leftover rotisserie or grilled chicken (and one of our go-to’s for such a situation). Ground chicken or turkey can also be used in place of diced chicken. Olive oil. avocado oil is the best substitute. Onion. Use your favorite variety, white, yellow or red. Minced garlic. you can substitute 1 teaspoon garlic powder for 1 Tablespoon minced garlic. Bell pepper. any color works well. Or you can substitute shredded zucchini for a less conspicuous vegetable option. Cheddar cheese. Any kind of cheddar, a Mexican cheese blend, pepper Jack, etc. all work great. Tortillas. Choose your favorites, we prefer flour. Taco seasoning. Use homemade taco seasoning or store bought. Mandarin oranges. this is the secret ingredient that makes these incredible. You could also use pineapple.
How to Make Chicken quesadillas
To make this recipe, start with the filling. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium/high heat for about 1 minute, then add the chicken and cook until one side begins to turn slightly brown (about 4-5 minutes). Next, add minced garlic, onion green pepper and corn. Cook until peppers become slightly soft and chicken is cooked through. Once the chicken is cooked, add the taco seasoning and salt and pepper and cook until the chicken and veggies are slightly browned. Then, add some of the reserved mandarin orange juice and cook until all the liquid is absorbed. This step imparts a delicious sweet and spicy flavor to the filling. Remove the pan from heat and gently mix in the mandarin oranges, slightly breaking them up as you stir. Do this gently. Note: At this point if you are serving people with dietary restrictions you can serve this filling over a salad if they’d prefer not to eat the cheese/tortilla. It tastes delicious that way!
Cook the Chicken Quesadillas
Once the filling is finished it’s time to assemble and cook the chicken quesadillas. Either preheat an electric griddle to 325 degrees F, or preheat a skillet over medium low heat. Place a tortilla on the griddle and sprinkle about ¼ cup cheddar cheese evenly on the tortilla. Then, add about ¼ to ½ cup of chicken mixture (depending on the size of your tortilla) and sprinkle with another ¼cup cheese. The double layer of cheese is very important so don’t miss this! Top it off with the second tortilla. Cook until the bottom tortilla is browned, then flip and cook until the second side is brown and cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining tortillas and cheese until you have used all the filling!
Serve
Cut and serve these chicken quesadillas as soon as they come off the griddle. Top with your favorite homemade salsa or homemade guacamole, sour cream, etc. Serve them with your favorite Mexican Recipes like Mexican rice or corn salad!
Store/Freeze
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave, oven, or on the stovetop. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
