Description
Sizzling bbq chicken quesadilla brings smoky southwest flavors dancing across crispy tortillas. Melted cheese and tender chicken create a perfect handheld meal that satisfies your craving for something bold and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded into big chunks
- 2 cups shredded cheddar-jack cheese
- 2 tortillas (10-12 inch burrito size)
Sauce and Aromatics:
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (your choice of flavor)
- 1/2 cup sliced red onions
Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
Serving Optional Ingredients:
- cilantro
- sour cream
- guacamole
- salsa
- ranch dip
Instructions
- Preheat the grill or griddle to medium-high heat, ensuring a consistent cooking surface for optimal flavor development.
- Season the chicken breasts with smoky barbecue spice blend, massaging the seasoning thoroughly into the meat to enhance penetration.
- Grill the chicken for approximately 6-7 minutes per side, rotating once to create perfect crosshatch grill marks and ensure complete internal cooking.
- Remove chicken from heat and let it rest for 3-4 minutes, allowing juices to redistribute and maintain tender texture.
- Slice the grilled chicken into thin, uniform strips, preparing for quesadilla assembly.
- Warm large tortillas on the griddle, creating a light golden surface that will crisp when folded.
- Layer one side of the tortilla with shredded cheese, ensuring even distribution for consistent melting.
- Arrange barbecue chicken strips strategically across the cheese layer, maximizing flavor in each bite.
- Optional: Sprinkle additional cheese over chicken to enhance melting and binding.
- Carefully fold the tortilla, creating a half-moon shape, and press gently to seal edges.
- Grill the quesadilla for 2-3 minutes per side until exterior becomes crispy and golden brown, with cheese completely melted.
- Remove from heat, let cool for one minute, then slice into triangular wedges for serving.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, sour cream, or salsa as desired for additional flavor complexity.
Notes
- Marinate chicken in BBQ sauce for at least 30 minutes to enhance flavor penetration and tenderness.
- Use a mix of cheeses like cheddar and monterey jack for a more complex, rich melting profile.
- Keep tortillas crispy by cooking on medium-low heat and pressing gently with a spatula while grilling.
- Customize the recipe by adding extra vegetables like bell peppers or onions for more nutrition and crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 800
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 50g
- Cholesterol: 150mg