Decide my culinary requirements should you should, however the Rooster Quesadilla is without doubt one of the nice dinner standbys of our time. Tacky, crispy, and prepared in a flash, what’s to not adore?
A plain cheese quesadilla of the white tortilla + prebagged cheese + microwave-until-melted selection might be made a little bit of a joke when describing somebody’s capability to “cook dinner,” however this juicy hen quesadilla is well-above primary.
Sauteed, seasoned hen thighs (or hen breasts if that’s your choice), fajita-style greens, and sure CHEESE make this the perfect hen quesadilla recipe.
Whereas straightforward, will probably be appreciated by cooks of all ranges.
I’ve taken to creating the hen vegetable filling in bulk, portioning and freezing it (I like these containers), then pulling one portion out to thaw in a single day.
Come supper time, all I must do is pile it onto a tortilla with freshly shredded cheese and pan fry it to golden perfection.
We’ve dinner prepared in 10 minutes!
Even should you haven’t made the filling forward, this tacky hen quesadilla is quicker than supply or preheating your oven for frozen pizza.
It tastes a lot brisker and is healthier for you too!
The right way to Make a Rooster Quesadilla
A hen quesadilla may be straightforward, however that doesn’t imply you may’t make it the last word.
For the perfect hen quesadilla that’s crispy outdoors and melty inside with simply the proper filling-to-cheese ratio, observe the following tips:
- Be sparing with the oil. If you happen to use an excessive amount of oil within the pan when cooking, it would make your quesadilla greasy. I normally make my quesadillas in a nonstick pan with both no oil (the tortilla doesn’t normally want it) or a little bit of nonstick spray.
- Grate your individual cheese. Ever puzzled why your quesadilla cheese isn’t as clean and melty as your favourite eating places? Probably you have been utilizing prebagged cheese which, whereas handy, is coated with a powdery substance to maintain it from clumping. Sadly, that powder means the cheese doesn’t soften as easily.
- Be affected person. I do know you need to crank up the warmth and simply get on with it already, however when you’ve got the pan too scorching, the outsides of the tortilla will burn earlier than the cheese is melted inside.
- Let a few of the cheese soften out of the tortilla. Or, even add a bit further cheese on prime of the tortilla a couple of minutes earlier than flipping. That oozy cheese will grow to be snackably golden and crispy.
Infinite Filling Choices
I’ve urged my favourite mix of hen, bell peppers, and pepper Jack cheese right here, however after getting a melty cheese, you may put absolutely anything inside a quesadilla that you simply like!
- Add completely different veggies like zucchini or mushrooms (do that Mushroom Quesadilla too).
- Swap up the protein by utilizing beans (like on this Breakfast Quesadilla) or pork like this Pulled Pork Quesadilla.
- Use a distinct form of melty cheese like white cheddar.
- Or, perform a little of every to create the customized quesadilla of your goals!
The Components
- Rooster. Tender, protein-packed hen breast (or thighs) helps make this quesadilla filling, flavorful, and nutritious. Rooster is wealthy in iron and minerals.
Tip!
Minimize this recipe time even additional by swapping in precooked hen, made with considered one of these straightforward strategies (and even retailer purchased rotisserie hen):
- Cheese. The gooey, tacky inside is a big a part of what makes this quesadilla so great. It helps maintain the filling collectively and tastes completely delicious.
- Veggies. To make this hen quesadilla wholesome, I packed it with scrumptious veggies. Bell peppers and onions add taste, nutritional vitamins, and antioxidants.
- Spices. Chili powder, salt, and garlic powder add simply the correct amount of taste to the quesadilla.
- Scorching Sauce. Whereas non-compulsory, you may kick it up with a splash of scorching sauce should you please.
- Entire Wheat Tortilla. Entire wheat tortillas have extra fiber than common tortillas, making them a more healthy various. They crisp up simply as properly and style delish!
- Toppings. Salsa, guacamole, queso, and bitter cream (plain Greek yogurt works properly too) are our go-to toppings. You possibly can additionally add pico de gallo, recent cilantro, or shredded lettuce.
The Instructions
- Add the hen to a bowl, then stir in half of the spices.
- Sauté the greens with spices.
- Assemble the quesadillas by piling the fillings onto one half of a tortilla.
- Fold the empty tortilla half excessive. Repeat.
- Cook dinner the quesadillas two at a time in a skillet.
- Flip after about 4 minutes, cooking on the opposite aspect for a couple of minutes. Let cool, slice, and DIG IN!
Storage Ideas
- To Retailer. Refrigerate leftover quesadilla in an hermetic storage container for as much as 3 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave.
- To Freeze. Freeze the quesadilla in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Meal Prep Tip
Put together the hen and vegetable filling as much as 1 day upfront. Assemble and cook dinner the quesadillas as directed while you’re prepared to complete the recipe.
What to Serve with a Rooster Quesadilla
Advisable Instruments to Make this Recipe
The Greatest Non-Stick Skillet
Whereas this set is an funding, these non-stick skillets are made to final. They’re high-quality and simple to scrub.
Whether or not you name it in as a pinch-hitter or make it a part of your common meal plan, this hearty hen quesadilla is a house run!
Regularly Requested Questions
Whereas we get pleasure from this quesadilla with hen, you may strive swapping in cooked and shredded (or diced) pork, beef, or turkey. For a vegetarian choice, strive including black beans.
If you happen to’d prefer to bulk up your quesadilla a bit extra, you may add further veggies, beans (On the spot Pot Black Beans or On the spot Pot Refried Beans), avocado slices, tomatoes, or every other filling components you get pleasure from.
I like to recommend utilizing entire wheat tortillas for the additional well being advantages, however you may swap common flour tortillas should you choose. Corn tortillas would additionally work for this recipe, however they’re usually a lot smaller than flour tortillas and tricker to carry collectively throughout cooking.
For many who are gluten free and luxuriate in utilizing almond flour tortillas, these are one other good choice for this recipe.
For the Quesadillas:
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups cooked diced or shredded hen about 2 medium breasts or 2 to three thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion diced
- 1 purple bell pepper diced
- 1 orange, yellow, or inexperienced bell pepper diced (or 1 cup chopped veggies of alternative: child spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, and so forth.)
- Scorching sauce non-compulsory
- 1 1/4 cups shredded pepper Jack or Monterey Jack cheese divided
- 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided (or extra pepper/Monterey Jack)
- 4 medium entire wheat tortillas
- Oil, butter, or nonstick spray non-compulsory for cooking the quesadillas
For Serving:
- Ready salsa
- Guacamole
- Bitter cream or plain Greek yogurt
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In a small bowl, stir collectively the chili powder, salt, and garlic powder. Place the hen in a separate, medium bowl and sprinkle with half of the spice combination. Stir to coat. Put aside.
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In a big skillet over medium warmth, warmth the oil till it’s scorching and shimmering. Add the onion and bell peppers, and every other greens you might be utilizing (wait so as to add spinach, nonetheless). Sprinkle the remaining spice combination excessive and stir to coat. Sauté, stirring often, till the onion is popping translucent and brown and the opposite greens are crisp-tender, 6 to eight minutes. If utilizing spinach, stir it in just a few handfuls at a time till it wilts. If you happen to’d just like the filling spicy, add just a few dashes of scorching sauce to style. Switch the greens to the bowl with the hen and stir to mix.
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Assemble the quesadillas: For every, prime half of a tortilla with an eighth of the pepper Jack (about 2 1/2 tablespoons) and an eighth of the cheddar (about 1 1/2 tablespoons). Unfold one-quarter every of the greens and hen evenly on prime of the cheese (it would seem to be rather a lot, however go together with it). Prime with one-eighth extra pepper Jack (2 1/2 tablespoons) and one-eighth extra cheddar (1 1/2 tablespoons).
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Fold the empty tortilla half over the toppings, urgent gently. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
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Cook dinner the quesadillas: With a paper towel, fastidiously wipe out the skillet you used for the greens. Warmth over medium to medium-low warmth, including a bit butter or oil to the skillet should you’d just like the tortillas crisper. Place 1 quesadilla within the pan with the folded edge operating down the middle and the open edge dealing with outward. Lay a second quesadilla down beside it dealing with the wrong way so it suits within the skillet properly. With the again of a spatula, calmly press down on the tops so that they flatten (don’t fear if a few of the cheese oozes out; it would grow to be crispy and DELISH). Cook dinner on the primary aspect till golden and crisp, adjusting the warmth as wanted so the quesadillas crisp however don’t burn, about 4 or so minutes relying upon your range.
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Rigorously flip and cook dinner the opposite aspect for about 2 extra minutes, till either side are a yummy, calmly crisp golden brown.
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Let the quesadillas cool on a chopping board for a couple of minutes (or switch to a 200 levels F oven to maintain heat whereas ending remaining batches). When able to serve, with a pointy knife or pizza cutter, slice into three pie-shaped wedges. Take pleasure in scorching with toppings.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover quesadilla in an hermetic storage container for as much as 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze the quesadilla in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Serving: 1(of 4) quesadillasEnergy: 523kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 40gFats: 27gSaturated Fats: 13gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 8gLdl cholesterol: 112mgPotassium: 394mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2658IUVitamin C: 77mgCalcium: 517mgIron: 3mg
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