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Our easy Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas are a quick and satisfying meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights! Packed with chicken, sautéed peppers and onions, and a blend of pepper jack and muenster cheese and served inside crispy, golden-brown flour tortillas. Serve with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, or avocado slices for the ultimate Tex-Mex experience.
Try this next: If you love these quesadillas, try my Chicken Enchiladas or Sheet Pan Nachos for another easy, flavor-packed meal.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Fast – Ready in just 20 minutes – perfect for a quick meal.
- Easy To Make – Uses simple, flavorful ingredients that come together easily.
- Great Texture – Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside – the perfect texture combination.
- Easily Customizable – switch up the cheese, add more veggies, or make it spicy!
RECIPE WALK-THROUGH
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken: Use rotisserie chicken for convenience or cook and shred your own.
- Cheese: Pepper jack adds a little kick, while muenster provides a creamy melt. Feel free to swap for cheddar, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella.
- Tortillas: Flour tortillas work best for structure and crispiness.
- Taco Seasoning: Store-bought works great, or use my homemade taco seasoning blend of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and paprika.
How To Make A Cheesy Chicken Quesadilla
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
Sauté the vegetables – Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced bell pepper and onion, cooking until softened and slightly browned.
Prepare the filling – Stir in the shredded chicken, taco seasoning, lime juice, and water. Cook until warmed through and the water has evaporated. Mix in fresh cilantro and set aside.
Assemble the quesadillas – In a small bowl, combine the shredded cheeses. Lay out tortillas and sprinkle ¼ cup of cheese on one half of each tortilla. Divide the chicken mixture evenly over the cheese, then top with remaining cheese and fold the tortillas over.
Cook the quesadillas – Wipe the skillet clean and return it to medium-low heat. Lightly brush the outside of the tortillas with oil. Cook 1-2 quesadillas at a time, about 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy, with melted cheese inside.
Serve – Remove from heat, slice into halves or thirds, and serve immediately with your favorite toppings.
Serving Suggestions
Quesadillas are so versatile. You can fill them with your favorites and use the toppings to really make it your own! We like to set out all the prepped toppings for a little quesadilla bar.
Try these toppings:
- Shredded Lettuce
- Diced Tomatoes
- Fresh Cilantro
- Sliced Jalapeños
- Diced Onion
- Sour Cream
- Avocado
- Salsa
- Extra Hot Sauce
- Black Olives
- Limes
Additionally, you can make some of the following fun swaps:
- Add diced jalapeños or a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra heat.
- Swap chicken for black beans or sautéed mushrooms for a vegetarian option.
- Serve with a side of Mexican rice or refried beans to make it a heartier meal.
Storage Tips
The Best Way to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftovers can be stored wrapped or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
It is best to reheat these quesadillas in a low oven or a skillet on the stovetop over low heat. This will allow the tortilla to crisp back up. If you reheat this dish in a microwave, it will probably be soggy.
Recipe Tips
- If you don’t have large tortillas, you can make these quesadillas with small tortilla. You will be able to make 6-8 quesadillas this way. If you use small tortillas, it will be easier to make them with 2 tortillas (like a sandwich) instead of folding in half.
- Any color bell pepper works for this dish. You can also sub in red onion for the white, if that’s what you have.
- If you want some spice in your quesadillas, you can add some chopped jalapeño.
- Don’t rush it! If you crank the heat up to try and cook these faster, you won’t have the melty cheese on the inside or the nice crisp exterior you’re after.
- Other melty cheeses that work well for quesadillas are Monterey jack, mozzarella, and cheddar.
More Cheesy Mexican Recipes
- Chipotle Steak Quesadilla
- Breakfast Quesadillas
- Chile Con Queso
- Ground Beef Quesadillas
- Nacho Cheese Sauce
- BBQ Chicken Quesadilla
Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil
- 1 Red bell pepper diced
- 1 medium Yellow onion diced
- 2 cups Cooked shredded chicken
- 3 tablespoons Taco seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons Water
- 2 tablespoons Fresh chopped cilantro plus more for garnish
- 4 large Flour tortillas
- 1 cup Shredded Pepper Jack cheese
- 1 cup Shredded Muenster cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and saute the peppers and onions until softened and starting to brown.
- Add in the chicken, taco seasoning, fresh lime juice and water. Stir to combine and cook until just heated through and the water has evaporated. Set aside.
- In a small bowl combine the cheeses.
- Lay out your 4 tortillas on a flat surface, like a large cutting board. Add ¼ cup of cheese mixture on on half of each tortilla. Add chicken and pepper mixture on top of the cheese. Finally, use the remaining cheese and divide it amongst the tortillas placing it on top of the chicken mixture and fold the tortilla over.
- Clean out the pan and return to the stove over medium low heat. Use the remaining oil to wipe oil across the open surface of the tortillas to help them crisp up as they are cooked.
- Place 1-2 of the folded tortillas in the pan and cook until the first side is golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Flip the tortillas over and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden brown and the inside cheese is melted. Remove to a cutting board and cook the remaining quesadillas.
- Cut each quesadilla into half or thirds and serve with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
