Best Chicken Quesadilla Recipe, Hands Down.
When it comes to comfort food, I turn straight to melted cheese, every time. What better vehicle for melted cheese is there than the humble baked quesadilla? I have a long history with homemade chicken quesadillas. When I was a teenager, I’d come home from school and make quesadillas in the microwave (I KNOW). These days, I know that baked chicken quesadillas are way better.
Low-and-slow heat in the oven makes the cheese perfectly molten. Plus, it’s easy to make a lot of quesadillas at once! Serve them with other hand-held party food, like birria tacos or sausage rolls. And if your oven is occupied, try stovetop chicken quesadillas!
These were so easy and SO delicious! I’ve been anxious about cooking for so long, so making this dish was a major step for me!! Highly recommend for my fellow beginner cooks! - Kenzie
What Is A Quesadilla?
Quesadillas are simply tortillas (corn or flour, you choose) that are stuffed with savory filling and melty cheese! The kind of quesadillas that most of us in the U.S. grew up on are all about the melty cheese, which is firmly a Tex-Mex food more than an authentic Mexican dish. This is definitely a Tex-Mex style quesadilla. Don’t miss my very, very American sheet pan quesadilla with ranch, too.
How To Make The Best Chicken Quesadilla
In my opinion, Monterey Jack cheese is the absolute best cheese for quesadillas because it melts beautifully and has a milky, mild flavor that lets the chicken and other toppings in the baked quesadillas really shine.
My secret ingredient in this recipe is canned chipotle peppers. It may not be a MUST for a lot of folks, but the smoky flavor is what makes these quesadillas really stand out. Finely chop the peppers, then add them to a bowl with shredded chicken, cheese, and sour cream. Just mix it all together for the best quesadilla filling ever.
How to Bake Quesadillas in the Oven
What I LOVE about this ultra easy quesadilla recipe is that there is no frying involved. Baking them in the oven means you can make 10 cheesy, perfectly toasted homemade quesadillas in no time.
- Mix shredded chicken with cheese, sour cream, chipotles and seasoning in a bowl.
- Scoop the filling into a tortilla.
- Fold the tortilla in half to make a half-moon shape.
- Arrange 4 - 5 quesadillas on a baking sheet and brush with a little oil.
- Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes.
- You’re done!
Chicken Quesadilla Topping Ideas
It’s shredded chicken and gooey cheese, melted inside of a tortilla, so you’re already off to a pretty fantastic start. Now that you know what to put in a baked quesadilla, let's discuss toppings! Toppings and add-ons for homemade quesadillas are like icing on a cake. Not necessary, but so, so good. Here are my favorites:
- Sour cream
- Your favorite hot sauce
- Salsa Verde
- Pico de Gallo
- Restaurant-style salsa
- Guacamole
This sheet pan quesadilla would be as perfect for serving at a Super Bowl party as it would be for the Oscars, or even just a fun movie night with friends.
Tools You'll Need To Make This Easy Baked Quesadilla Recipe
- A shallow, wide pan and an instant-read meat thermometer will come in handy when making your shredded chicken.
- A large bowl for mixing all the delicious filling for this chicken quesadilla recipe. We love this set!
- Last but not least, you'll want to use a rimmed baking sheet to make sure the filling of your baked quesadilla don't end up in your oven!
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