Hen Quesadilla

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

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

In the event you’ve been studying this weblog for some time, you already know that quesadillas are highly regarded in my home. On any given week, it’s doubtless that both I or my boys will likely be attempting out a brand new variation of certainly one 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 evening) for the final yr. With this recipe, I wished to maintain the flavour and texture of the hearty, tender hen quesadillas we love, whereas making them even simpler to tug collectively.

From begin to end, making these quesadillas takes lower than 10 minutes. Usually, 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 perhaps some guacamole. There are by no means any complaints on this one.

close up of chicken quesadilla on board with salsa

Substances and Substitutions

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

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

The Cheese – Whereas I favor to make use of Pepper Jack or a Mexican mix cheese for this recipe, because it’s what I most frequently have readily available, no matter shreddable cheese you’ve readily 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, recent chopped cilantro will end out the quesadilla by including a refreshing, barely citrusy taste.

Notes on Gear

Nonstick frying pan or skillet
Spatula
Chef’s knife

chicken, cheese, cilantro on tortilla in skillet

The way to Make a Hen Quesadilla

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

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

Buttering the Tortilla – I evenly butter one aspect 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 prime of half the tortilla aspect touching the pan. Then, layer the hen, inexperienced onions, and cilantro throughout the cheese on half of the tortilla. Lastly, prime 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 cook 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 aspect cook dinner for 2-3 minutes, till crispy. The cheese needs to be absolutely 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 reducing board and slice into wedges earlier than serving.

Professional 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. That is why I stress the significance of temperature management. You need it sizzling, so that you simply 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 – Probably the most vital suggestions I may give you for making certain that each chew has simply the proper style and texture is chopping your substances finely. Intention for uniform, bite-size items of hen (I often chop the meat into ½” items).

Distributing the Filling – To be sure that your quesadilla cooks evenly, you’ll wish to keep away from overfilling the tortilla. It’s higher to simply make a number of smaller quesadillas than understand too late that you simply’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 entice 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 quicker.

Serving Instantly – In the event 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 Ideas

Once I’m serving hen 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 hen of the quesadilla. And if it’s strawberry season? You possibly can wager {that a} Strawberry Spinach Salad is simply as more likely to be within the rotation.

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

Make Forward & Storage

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

The way to Retailer: Quesadillas are finest served sizzling from the range! However, you’ll be able to retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.

The way to Reheat: Heat up leftover quesadillas on a nonstick skillet or grill prime 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

Often 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 have the ability 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 couple of minute. You’ll wish to maintain an in depth eye on the quesadilla, to maintain it from steaming somewhat than crisping because the cheese melts.

How can I ensure the tortilla browns evenly?

Spreading butter instantly on the tortilla provides you far more even browning than greasing the skillet. It ensures that good 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. Calmly butter one aspect of the tortilla and place it within the sizzling pan. Sprinkle half the cheese on one half of the tortilla and prime with the hen and the inexperienced onions. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the hen.
Fold the tortilla over on itself and let it cook 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 cook dinner the opposite aspect.
Proceed to cook 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 reducing board and reduce it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling. Serve heat.