Easy Chicken Quesadillas Recipe

5 from 1 vote

These crispy, delicious Chicken Quesadillas are the perfect quick and easy meal for any busy night. They are loaded with Southwest seasoned chicken, melted cheese, salsa and other Mexican-inspired flavors for a dinner that everyone will love.

Prep Time5

Cook Time25

Marinade Time1

Total Time1 30

Course: lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex

Servings: people

Calories: 685kcal

Author: The Carefree Kitchen

Ingredients

Southwest Chicken Marinade

3 Tablespoons Avocado Oil
3 Tablespoons Lime Juice
2 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1.5-2 pounds Chicken Thighs
2 Tablespoons Cooking Oil

Chicken Quesadilla Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Cooking Oil
6 Flour Tortillas
2 cups Shredded Cheese
½ cup Salsa
½ cup Sour Cream
1 cup Guacamole

Instructions

Chicken for Quesadillas

In a glass bowl, add the avocado oil, lime juice, taco seasoning, and brown sugar. Whisk together, then add the chicken and toss with tongs until everything is well coated. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge to marinate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
Once marinated, remove the chicken from the fridge and let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes.
Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium high heat until it starts to smoke, then add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Remove the chicken from the marinade with tongs, shaking it gently to remove any excess. Add the chicken to the hot skillet, leaving a little space between the pieces of meat and continue to cook on until the underside of the chicken is golden brown.
Using tongs, flip the chicken over and continue to cook until golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thickest spot reads 165 degrees F.
Remove the chicken from the heat and let it sit for about 5 minutes, then slice into small pieces.

How to Make Chicken Quesadillas

In a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Place a tortilla in the pan. Sprinkle a small handful of shredded cheese over the tortilla, then add a couple tablespoons of diced cooked chicken, a dollop of salsa and dollop of sour cream.
Fold the tortilla in half and cook for about 2-4 minutes per side, or until the tortilla is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted. Continue the process with the rest of the tortillas (Note: you may be able to cook 2 at a time, depending on the size of your skillet)
Remove the quesadilla from the pan and cut in half or thirds. Serve warm with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole on the side. Enjoy!

Nutrition