Description
These Chicken Quesadillas are packed with seasoned, juicy chicken tossed in a rich salsa-based sauce and loaded with melted cheese inside crispy tortillas. They’re an easy, flavorful Tex-Mex meal perfect for quick weeknight dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients
- Olive oil for cooking
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins (or boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips)
- 1 cup thick and chunky salsa
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 large (10-inch) flour tortillas
- 3 cups shredded Mexican Blend or Monterey Jack cheese
- Optional for serving: sour cream, lime wedges
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together salt, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and cumin.
- Sprinkle seasoning mix over chicken to coat evenly.
- Heat 1½ tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 2–3 minutes on one side, then 3–4 minutes on the other until cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add salsa and water. Simmer over medium-low heat for 7–9 minutes until thickened.
- While sauce simmers, shred the cooked chicken with two forks.
- Remove skillet from heat and stir in shredded chicken and juices. Set aside half the mixture for later use.
- In a clean skillet, heat ½ tbsp oil over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the skillet and swirl to coat with oil.
- Sprinkle ¾ cup cheese evenly over the tortilla, then spread 1/3 cup chicken mixture over half.
- When cheese melts, fold the tortilla in half. Cook 1–2 minutes per side until golden and crisp.
- Repeat with remaining ingredients. Let quesadillas rest before slicing. Serve with sour cream and lime wedges.
Notes
- Use chipotle powder or hot sauce in the seasoning for extra heat.
- Swap chicken with black beans and peppers for a vegetarian version.
- Chicken thighs, ground turkey, or rotisserie chicken also work well.
- Add veggies like sautéed onions, bell peppers, or corn for added texture.
- Let quesadillas rest before slicing to avoid soggy filling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesadilla
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
