Hen Quesadilla

On a busy night time, there’s nothing fairly just like the scrumptious simplicity of cooking crispy, tacky Hen Quesadillas for dinner. And along with being fast and simple to make, this meal is simply downright tasty.

quesadilla made with chicken and cheese on board with salsa in background

When you’ve been studying this weblog for some time, you already know that quesadillas are very fashionable in my home. On any given week, it’s seemingly that both I or my boys can be making an attempt out a brand new variation of one in every of our quesadilla recipes.

This specific model is impressed by our chicken bacon ranch quesadilla, which my youngest son has been making weekly (often very late at night time) for the final yr. With this recipe, I needed to maintain the flavour and texture of the hearty, tender rooster quesadillas we love, whereas making them even simpler to drag collectively.

From begin to end, making these quesadillas takes lower than 10 minutes. Typically, I’ll make a big batch of quesadillas for the entire household, and inside 15-20 minutes the entire crew is fed. And since quesadillas are an easy-peasy one-pan meal, cleanup is a snap.

I prefer to serve these with chips and salsa, some greens and ranch for dipping and possibly some guacamole. There are by no means any complaints on this one.

close up of chicken quesadilla on board with salsa

Elements and Substitutions

The Tortillas – Flour tortillas are my go-to for making quesadillas. I really like the flavour and texture of flour tortillas and I take advantage of them completely.

The Meat – I take advantage of pre-cooked rooster for this recipe, out of comfort. Rotisserie, grilled rooster, or just about any leftover baked rooster will work nicely.

The Cheese – Whereas I want to make use of Pepper Jack or a Mexican mix cheese for this recipe, because it’s what I most frequently have available, no matter shreddable cheese you’ve got available ought to work.

Butter – A really skinny layer of butter permits the tortilla to brown evenly within the pan.

Inexperienced Onion – Inexperienced onions lend a mildly sharp taste to this quesadilla.

Cilantro – Though it’s elective, contemporary chopped cilantro will end out the quesadilla by including a refreshing, barely citrusy taste.

Notes on Tools

Nonstick frying pan or skillet
Spatula
Chef’s knife

chicken, cheese, cilantro on tortilla in skillet

Find out how to Make a Hen Quesadilla

Warming the Skillet – I begin by heating a nonstick skillet over medium warmth.

Prepping the Elements – If I haven’t prepped them upfront, I grate the cheese, if wanted, and chop the rooster, inexperienced onions, and cilantro.

Buttering the Tortilla – I calmly butter one facet of the tortilla. Then, I place it within the sizzling pan, butter-side down.

Constructing the Quesadilla – You’ll wish to sprinkle half of the cheese on high of half the tortilla facet touching the pan. Then, layer the rooster, inexperienced onions, and cilantro throughout the cheese on half of the tortilla. Lastly, high with the remaining cheese.

Folding within the Cheese – As soon as all of the filling substances have been added to the quesadilla, you’ll wish to fold the tortilla over on itself and let prepare dinner for 1-2 minutes, till the cheese has begun to soften and the underside tortilla is browning barely.

Flipping and Ending: I rigorously flip it over within the pan, and let the second facet prepare dinner for 2-3 minutes, till crispy. The cheese must be totally melted by the point either side end cooking.

Serving – As soon as all of the cheese has melted and the tortilla is crisp across the edges, I switch the quesadilla to a slicing board and slice into wedges earlier than serving.

Knowledgeable Tip

You’ll discover that “medium warmth” means one thing totally different on each single range. Fuel ranges are inclined to run hotter and reply rapidly to adjustments, whereas electrical coils take longer to warmth and funky. This is the reason I stress the significance of temperature management. You need it sizzling, so that you just get a crispy brown exterior. However, an excessive amount of warmth will char the surface of the tortilla earlier than the cheese has an opportunity to soften.

Chop Chop Chop – One of the vital vital ideas I may give you for making certain that each chew has simply the appropriate style and texture is chopping your substances finely. Purpose for uniform, bite-size items of rooster (I often chop the meat into ½” items).

Distributing the Filling – To guarantee that your quesadilla cooks evenly, you’ll wish to keep away from overfilling the tortilla. It’s higher to only make a number of smaller quesadillas than notice too late that you just’ve began making a huge quesadilla that may’t simply be flipped.

Handle the Warmth – Take away the pan from the warmth if the tortilla is getting too darkish, too quick. You too can cowl the pan with a lid to lure warmth, or add a splash of water on the surface fringe of the pan to create steam. Each the lid and that splash of water will assist the cheese soften sooner.

Serving Instantly – When you plan to serve these quesadillas instantly after cooking, I like to recommend ready a minute or two earlier than consuming. Giving the cheese a second to chill will assist the substances keep within the quesadilla when slicing and consuming it.

sliced chicken quesadilla on cutting board next to dish of salsa

Serving Strategies

Once I’m serving rooster quesadillas for a household meal, I prefer to pair them with a Harvest House Chop Salad or an Orange Parsley Salad. Each of these salads are a terrific distinction to the wealthy cheese and rooster of the quesadilla. And if it’s strawberry season? You’ll be able to wager {that a} Strawberry Spinach Salad is simply as prone to be within the rotation.

To fill out a good heartier dinner unfold, Spanish Rice and a few Pico de Gallo or Queso Dip are nice additions to the meal as nicely.

Make Forward & Storage

Make Forward: Whereas this quesadilla recipe can be made upfront, I might not advocate it. Nonetheless, quesadillas are a good way to make use of up any leftover rooster you might need available.

Find out how to Retailer: Quesadillas are finest served sizzling from the range! However, you may retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.

Find out how to Reheat: Heat up leftover quesadillas on a nonstick skillet or grill high pan. Leftovers additionally reheat properly within the airfryer. Warmth till the cheese softens and the sides re-crisp.

quesadillas with chicken stacked on wooden board with towel in background

Extra Quesadilla Recipes

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

How do I flip the quesadilla with out spilling?

Getting higher at temperature management and never overstuffing the tortilla made this much less of a difficulty for me. Because the cheese melts, it binds the opposite substances in place. Then, it’s only a matter of operating a spatula across the edges to ensure nothing is caught and you need to be capable to flip it with out spilling something.

What if the cheese isn’t melted but however the tortilla is browning too quick?

If the tortilla is starting to brown however the cheese hasn’t melted but, that’s a matter of warmth administration. Cut back the warmth to medium-low and canopy the skillet with a lid for a few minute. You’ll wish to maintain an in depth eye on the quesadilla, to maintain it from steaming reasonably than crisping because the cheese melts.

How can I make certain the tortilla browns evenly?

Spreading butter immediately on the tortilla offers you far more even browning than greasing the skillet. It ensures that excellent golden crispy texture all the best way round. (Due to my sister Jenny for educating me this trick!)

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium warmth. Flippantly butter one facet of the tortilla and place it within the sizzling pan. Sprinkle half the cheese on one half of the tortilla and high with the rooster and the inexperienced onions. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the rooster.
Fold the tortilla over on itself and let it prepare dinner for 2-3 minutes. When the cheese has begun to soften and the underside tortilla is browning barely, flip the folded quesadilla over to prepare dinner the opposite facet.
Proceed to prepare dinner till all of the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crisp across the edges. Utilizing a spatula, switch the quesadilla again to a slicing board and reduce it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling. Serve heat.