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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chicken

    Chicken Quesadillas

    Published: Nov 3, 2020 · Modified: Dec 3, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 20 Comments

    132 shares
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    Jump to Recipe

    A classic and delicious Chicken Quesadilla recipe that is also packed with vegetables. Gooey melted cheese on top of crunchy vegetables and fajita seasoned chicken. Serve with salsa, guacamole and tortilla chips for Mexican comfort food at its best!

    Chicken Quesadillas set out with tortilla chips, dips, pickled jalapenos and lime wedges

    When we are looking for a quick and filling meal, quesadillas are always our go-to as they can be ready in minutes and there is so many ways to make them. These chicken quesadillas really have it all, and they are a great way to use up leftover chicken too.

    We never get bored of Mexican food, as there is just so much choice. But when it comes to quick and simple, quesadillas are where it's at. Two tortillas, chicken or beans, vegetables, fajita seasoning and cheese and then cooked in a pan for a couple of minute. 

    Jump to:
    • Why should you try it?
    • Step by step
    • What chicken to use
    • What to use instead of chicken
    • Seasoning
    • What vegetables to add
    • What to serve these with
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More Mexican recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why should you try it?

    • Mexican comfort food
    • Easy to adapt
    • A good way to use up leftover chicken
    • Veggie packed

    Step by step

    One: Cook the peppers and onion in the oil for 5 minutes.

    Sliced peppers and onions cooking in a frying pan

    Two: Add the cooked chicken and the fajita seasoning and cook for a further 3 minutes.

    Sliced peppers and onions, shredded chicken and seasoning all cooking in a frying pan
    Three: Cover two of the tortillas with a generous amount of the chicken mix.
     
    Two flour tortillas covered in cooked and seasoned chicken and vegetables
    Four: Sprinkle the grated cheese over the chicken and vegetable mix. Cover with the other tortilla and cook in a dry pan for 1 minute, one quesadilla at a time.
    A quesadilla cooking in a frying pan
    Six: Carefully flip the whole thing over and cook for a further minute, making sure the cheese has melted.
    Seven: Cut into quarters and serve.
    A board full of quesadillas on a colourful table cloth

    What chicken to use

    We used leftover cooked shredded chicken. We usually have a roast chicken on a Sunday, and have loads left over. So we shred it up and use it in pasta dishes, sandwiches and salads throughout the week. But we always save some to make chicken quesadillas.

    You could also cook up some chicken thighs and shred them, and you will get much juicier meat, but that will of course change the nutritional information.

    If you don't have any chicken cooked already, then you can dice a chicken breast up very small and put it in a hot pan with oil and gently cook for 4 minutes, then add the fajita seasoning and cook for a further minute or until the chicken is cooked through.

    What to use instead of chicken

    You don't have to make this quesadilla with chicken. You could use leftover Slow Cooker Shredded Beef, just vegetables, black beans and sweetcorn or some Slow Cooker Pulled Pork.

    A quesadilla cut into triangles

    Seasoning

    You can buy fajita seasoning in a packet, but it’s usually loaded with extra sugar and salt. It’s really easy to make yourself, and then you can make a big batch and keep it in a jar for whenever you make fajitas. We like to sprinkle it on salmon before grilling too. 

    We mix together 1 tablespoon chilli powder, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, a pinch of sea salt, black pepper and sugar.

    What vegetables to add

    We love any dish that we can give a little nutritional boost to with some vegetables and quesadillas are easy to do that with. We have added bell peppers and onion, but you could also add some spinach for some extra greens too.

    What to serve these with

    Tortilla chips, salsa and guac are a must when serving up these quesadillas. We make our Restaurant Style Salsa and Best Ever Guacamole. However, if you are looking for something a little different when it comes to the salsa, then you could try our Salsa Picante, Sweetcorn Salsa, Grilled Pineapple Salsa, or Mango Salsa.

    Quesadillas on a board with chips and dips in the background

    FAQs

    What cheese is best for chicken quesadillas?

    You want to use a cheese that melts really well, so we go for a strong cheddar. Using a mature cheddar means that you can use less as it has such a strong flour. You basically want a hard cheese that melts well.

    Best tortillas to use for chicken quesadillas

    Whilst we love using corn tortilla in Mexican dishes, mainly tacos, they just won't work for quesadillas. You need to use flour tortillas, as they are much more pliable, they won't crack when cooked and they hold the cheese and filling together really well. You can also find flour tortillas in a range of sizes which is a bonus.

    Extra tips

    • If you don't have leftover chicken, then you can fine up some small chopped chicken breasts.
    • You can use store bought fajita seasoning if you don't want to make your own.
    • Give these a green veggie boost by added some chopped spinach at the same time as the cheese.
    • Use flour tortillas rather than corn, as there are more pliable.

    More Mexican recipes

    • Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
    • Easy Halloumi Fajitas
    • Chicken Burrito Bowl
    • Mexican Beef and Potato Bake

    If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - we love sharing photos when people make our recipes. You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓

    Recipe

    Slices of chicken quesadilla on a serving board with tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole

    Chicken Quesadillas

    Use up leftover chicken and some cupboard staples for these family-friendly Chicken Quesadillas. Simple to make and totally tasty!
    5 from 21 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Lunch
    Cuisine: Mexican, Tex Mex
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 343kcal
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    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 1 Red bell pepper - sliced
    • 1 Green bell pepper - sliced
    • 1 Onion - sliced
    • 100 g Cooked chicken
    • 35 g Fajita seasoning
    • 4 Corn tortillas
    • 30 g Mature cheddar - grated
    • 0.5 tablespoon Olive oil

    Instructions

    • Cook the peppers and onion in the oil for 5 minutes.
    • Add the cooked chicken and the fajita seasoning and cook for a further 3 minutes.
    • Cover two of the tortillas with a generous amount of the chicken mix.
    • Sprinkle the grated cheese over the chicken and vegetable mix
    • Cover with the other tortilla and cook in a dry pan for 1 minute, one quesadilla at a time.
    • Carefully flip the whole thing over and cook for a further minute, making sure the cheese has melted.
    • Cut into quarters and serve.

    Notes

    • If you don't have leftover chicken, then you can fine up some small chopped chicken breasts.
    • You can use store bought fajita seasoning if you don't want to make your own.
    • Give these a green veggie boost by added some chopped spinach at the same time as the cheese.
    • Use flour tortillas rather than corn, as there are more pliable.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1Quesadilla | Calories: 343kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 1572mg | Potassium: 521mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 3875IU | Vitamin C: 136mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 3mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julia

      November 05, 2020 at 2:53 pm

      I have a leftover chicken in the fridge so making these tomorrow for lunch. Thanks for the idea :)

      Reply
    2. Wayne

      November 05, 2020 at 2:49 pm

      5 stars
      My wife and I love this recipe even our kids! So delicious and yummy! Can't wait to have this again!

      Reply
    3. Charla

      November 05, 2020 at 2:41 pm

      5 stars
      Nothing beats chicken quesadillas. My favourite Mexican cuisine, for sure!!

      Reply
    4. Nart at Cooking with Nart

      November 05, 2020 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      Man, this recipe is so delicious and such a great way to get your veggies in. I made these last night and all I can say is this is definitely a keeper!

      Reply
    5. Gina

      November 05, 2020 at 1:03 pm

      5 stars
      Nothing beats a classic quesadilla! Love how crispy the tortillas are in this recipe, delicious!

      Reply
    6. Danielle Wolter

      November 05, 2020 at 11:48 am

      5 stars
      We love to make these for lunch on the weekend - so easy but so delicious! What a great idea :-)

      Reply
    7. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      November 05, 2020 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      Our family absolutely love these chicken quesadillas! So delicious and perfect for everyone. They have to have plenty of cheddar cheese too!

      Reply
    8. Chris Collins

      November 05, 2020 at 10:22 am

      5 stars
      Love quesadillas so much! Didn't realise they were this easy to make :)

      Reply
    9. Anjali

      November 05, 2020 at 9:53 am

      5 stars
      My whole family loves quesadillas so I'm always looking for recipes to change things up with toppings and fillings! This recipe turned out great and everyone devoured it!

      Reply
    10. Shashi at SavorySpin

      November 05, 2020 at 9:02 am

      Its been ages since I had chicken quesadillas - yours look so good and have convinced me this needs to happen sooner than later in my kitchen!

      Reply
    11. Traci

      November 03, 2020 at 3:38 pm

      5 stars
      I love quesadillas anytime and this is the perfect recipe ... totally hassle-free. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    12. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

      November 03, 2020 at 3:27 pm

      5 stars
      I have everything I need for this dish, can’t wait to make it this weekend!

      Reply
    13. Beth

      November 03, 2020 at 3:23 pm

      5 stars
      We love our Mexican food! My family is going to love these for dinner tonith!

      Reply
    14. Beth

      November 03, 2020 at 2:25 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so delicious and tasty! I can't wait to make these! My kids are going to love them! So excited!

      Reply
    15. Jess

      November 03, 2020 at 2:15 pm

      5 stars
      We eat these for a yummy lunch or for a quick dinner on a busy night. Love them!

      Reply
    16. Katherine

      November 03, 2020 at 11:20 am

      5 stars
      This is the ultimate chicken Quesadilla recipe! Just perfect.

      Reply
    17. Helen

      November 03, 2020 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      This looks so good! We are so boring - our quesadillas usually just have cheese in them! I will have to be more adventurous in future :-)

      Reply
    18. Kate

      November 03, 2020 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      Quesadillas are such a favourite in our house, and your step-by-step instructions make this so easy - thanks for another great family-friendly recipe!

      Reply
    19. Alice | SkinnySpatula

      November 03, 2020 at 10:04 am

      5 stars
      I love quesadillas and your recipe is so easy! Pinning to make over the weekend.

      Reply
    20. Kylie

      November 03, 2020 at 9:49 am

      5 stars
      Such yummy quesadillas! The whole family LOVED THEM!

      Reply

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    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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