By Laura
Posted Aug 25, 2016, Updated Jul 06, 2022
4.98 from 43 votes
27 Comments
Jump to Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This is the best chicken quesadilla recipe you’ll ever try. Made with chicken, peppers and a secret ingredient – chicken quesadillas are a delicious, healthy, quick & easy dinner recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes!
This chicken quesadilla recipe is one of my family’s most-loved meals. It is on my husband’s top 10 list of favorites when I ask him what he wants for dinner. The secret ingredient in this recipe might sound a little strange, but trust me it is the best chicken quesadilla recipe you’ll ever try.
Made with chicken, peppers and mandarin oranges, these chicken quesadillas are a delicious, healthy, quick & easy dinner recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes!
Chicken Quesadilla Recipe: Ingredients/Substitutions
- Chicken breasts.This is a great recipe to use up leftover rotisserie or grilled chicken (and one of our go-to’s for such a situation). Ground chicken or turkey can also be used in place of diced chicken.
- Green pepper.If you family doesn’t love green pepper, feel free to substitute another vegetable. Carrots, red/orange/yellow peppers, zucchini, etc.
- Cheddar cheese.A Mexican blend also works great. Feel free to substitute your favorite cheese or use a dairy-free variety if necessary.
- Tortillas.Choose a variety that complies with your dietary needs. We usually use whole wheat or regular flour tortillas.
How to Make Chicken quesadillas
To make this recipe, start with the filling. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium/high heat for about 1 minute, then add the chicken and cook until one side begins to turn slightly brown (about 4-5 minutes).
Next, add green pepper and corn. Cook until peppers become slightly soft and chicken is cooked through.
Once the chicken is cooked, evenly sprinkle seasoning/salt mixture over your chicken/veggies and cook until the chicken and veggies become slightly browned.
Next, add some of the reserved mandarin orange juice and cook until all the liquid is absorbed. This step imparts a delicious sweet and spicy flavor to the filling.
Remove the pan from heat and gently mix in the mandarin oranges, slightly breaking them up as you stir. Do this gently.
Note: At this point if you are serving people with dietary restrictions you can serve this filling over a salad if they’d prefer not to eat the cheese/tortilla. It tastes delicious that way!
Cook the chicken quesadillas
Once the filling is finished it’s time to assemble and cook the chicken quesadillas. Either preheat an electric griddle to 325 degrees F, or preheat a skillet over medium low heat.
Place a tortilla on the griddle and sprinkle about ¼ cup cheddar cheese evenly on the tortilla. Then, add about ¼ to ½ cup of chicken mixture (depending on the size of your tortilla) and sprinkle with another ¼cup cheese. The double layer of cheese is very important so don’t miss this!
Top it off with the second tortilla. Cook until the bottom tortilla is browned, then flip and cook until the second side is brown and cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining tortillas and cheese until you have used all the filling!
Serve
Cut and serve these chicken quesadillas as soon as they come off the griddle. Top with your favorite homemade salsa or homemade guacamole, sour cream, etc. Serve them with your favorite Mexican Recipes.
Store/freeze
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave, oven, or on the stovetop.
Recipe FAQs
How do you keep quesadillas crispy?
To really crisp up the outside you could fry the quesadillas in a very small amount of olive oil.
Can I use leftover chicken in this recipe?
Yes! Feel free to use leftover rotisserie chicken or leftovers to make this.
Why keep the mandarin orange juice?
You will cook the juices until it is absorbed in the meat to create a sweet flavor.
What goes inside a quesadilla?
I bet mandarin oranges never even crossed your mind! Well, get ready to have your mind blown and your life changed forever when you add mandarin oranges to the filling! You can also add beans, veggies, etc.
What cheese makes the best quesadilla?
I love a really sharp cheddar, a Mexican blend is also delicious.
If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
SavePinPrint
Best Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
Laura
This is the best chicken quesadilla recipe you'll ever try. Made with chicken, peppers and a secret ingredient – chicken quesadillas are a delicious, healthy, quick & easy dinner recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes!
4.98 from 43 votes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 large quesadillas
Calories 340
Prep Time5 minutes minutes
Cook Time25 minutes minutes
Total Time30 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast diced
- 1 TBS olive oil
- 1 medium green pepper diced
- ½ cup corn
- 1 ½ TBS taco seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic salt plus more to taste
- 1 15 oz can mandarin oranges, drained (reseve the juice)
- 1-2 TBS reserved mandarin orange juice
- 8 Tortillas
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
Instructions
Making the filling:
In a small dish, mix together taco seasoning and garlic salt. Set aside.
Heat 1 TBS olive oil in a skillet over medium/high heat for about 1 minute.
Add chicken and cook until one side begins to turn slightly brown (about 4-5 minutes).
Add green pepper and corn. Cook until peppers become slightly soft and chicken is cooked through.
Evenly sprinkle seasoning/salt mixture over your chicken/veggies. Stir until evenly coated.
Cook until the chicken and veggies become slightly browned.
Add 1-2 TBS of the reserved mandarin orange juice and cook until all the liquid is absorbed.
Remove pan from heat and gently mix in the mandarin oranges, slightly breaking them up as you stir. Set mixture aside.
Putting it all together:
Preheat a griddle to about 325 degrees F or cook over medium-low heat in a skillet.
Place a tortilla on the griddle and sprinkle about ¼ cup cheddar cheese evenly on the tortilla.
Add about ¼ to ½ cup of chicken mixture (depending on the size of your tortilla).
Top with another ¼ cup of cheese and a second tortilla.
Cook until the bottom tortilla is browned, then flip and cook until the second side is brown and cheese is melted.
Repeat with remaining tortillas and cheese until you have used all the filling!
Video
Notes
*Note, you can make these on a non-stick pan over the stove. I prefer to use a griddle because I can make 2-3 at a time!
Ingredient Substitutions
- Chicken breasts.This is a great recipe to use up leftover rotisserie or grilled chicken (and one of our go-to’s for such a situation). Ground chicken or turkey can also be used in place of diced chicken.
- Green pepper.If you family doesn’t love green pepper, feel free to substitute another vegetable. Carrots, red/orange/yellow peppers, zucchini, etc.
- Cheddar cheese.A Mexican blend also works great. Feel free to substitute your favorite cheese or use a dairy-free variety if necessary.
- Tortillas.Choose a variety that complies with your dietary needs. We usually use whole wheat or regular flour tortillas
Serve
Cut and serve these chicken quesadillas as soon as they come off the griddle. Top with your favorite homemade salsa or homemade guacamole, sour cream, etc.
Store/freeze
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave, oven, or on the stovetop.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5quesadilla | Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 26.8g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 15.6g | Saturated Fat: 7.6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6.2g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 497mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 1.8g | Sugar: 5.8g | Vitamin A: 470IU | Vitamin C: 27.5mg | Calcium: 227mg | Iron: 1.4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!
More Delicious Recipes
- Try these tasty Chicken Enchiladas.
- Love easy Mexican food? Try these Crockpot Chicken Tacos.
- We adore these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Better than P.F. Chang’s)!
- This Best Nachos Recipe is great for sharing with friends!
Photos in this post taken by Organically Addison.
The links in this post are affiliate links, thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine.
