Chicken Quesadillas Recipe

By
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/27/21
Leftover Chicken Quesadilla

The Spruce Eats
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 2 to 4 servings
Yield: 4 quesadillas
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1122 Calories
69g Fat
54g Carbs
69g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 1122
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 69g 88%
Saturated Fat 31g 155%
Cholesterol 225mg 75%
Sodium 1645mg 72%
Total Carbohydrate 54g 20%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Protein 69g
Calcium 1032mg 79%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Got leftover chicken? Try making these super easy chicken quesadillas. With just four ingredients, this chicken quesadillas recipe is a snap to prepare. Taking only 15 minutes, these quesadillas are sure to be a hit with both kids and adults alike. A great way to use up any leftover rotisserie chicken, simply shred the chicken, put it on top of a flour tortilla, then throw some shredded cheddar cheese on top and cook. 

This recipe can be scaled up or down, depending on how much chicken you have leftover, and it's so versatile, you can add other ingredients if you'd like, such as black beans, chopped onions, or tomatoes, or go ahead turn up the heat by adding some jalapeños. Top these quesadillas with some sour cream and guacamole, and have some chopped lettuce and pico de gallo or fresh salsa on the side. They're great to serve with yellow rice and refried beans or black beans for a dinner, or serve them on their own. These are a perfect snack for game day or movie night, or as an appetizer. 

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons canola oil (divided)
  • 4 (10-inch) flour tortillas
  • 2 cups cooked rotisserie chicken (shredded, divided)
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded, divided)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Leftover chicken quesadillas ingredients

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  2. Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.

    Heat oil in frying pan

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  3. While the pan is heating, assemble the quesadillas. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of chicken over half of each tortilla. Top with 1/2 cup of cheese.

    Assemble quesadillas with chicken and cheese

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  4. Fold in half and place one quesadilla at a time in the skillet. Let it cook for 2 minutes until golden brown on one side.

    Fold quesadilla in half and cook until golden brown

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  5. Flip with tongs or a spatula and cook another 2 minutes until cheese is melted and the quesadilla is brown on the other side. Remove to a plate.

    Flip quesadilla and cook on other side

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  6. Repeat with remaining quesadillas. Then serve immediately. Enjoy!

    Finished leftover chicken quesadillas with cheese

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Tip

Recipe Variation

  • These quesadillas can be made as is, or jazz them up by adding such ingredients as: black beans, chopped onions, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, mushrooms, spinach, or jalapeños into the tortilla, putting them on in between the chicken and cheese. Come up with your own customized version and make this your own!
  • Use a Mexican blended shredded cheese, pepper jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, or even Havarti cheese. It all depends on what type of cheese you're in the mood for.
  • If you prefer corn tortillas, feel free to use them, just allot the amount of ingredients you put inside for the difference in size. You don't want to overfill and have it come out during cooking.