Make fresh pulled chicken or use leftovers to make these BBQ chicken quesadillas. This fusion dish makes a great weeknight dinner for the whole family.
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What Is a BBQ Chicken Quesadilla?
A BBQ chicken quesadilla is an eclectic spin on a traditional Mexican dish, consisting of shredded barbecue chicken, melted cheese, and diced red onion sandwiched between two flour tortillas. In Mexican cuisine, quesadillas are part of the family of foods known as antojitos (“little cravings”), which are small, savory bites enjoyed as appetizers or late-night drinking snacks.
This BBQ-friendly quesadilla puts leftover chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken to good use, making a tasty fusion dish that requires minimal effort.
3 Tips for Making BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
Make the most of this easy appetizer or main dish by following these simple tips for quesadilla-making success:
- 1. Adjust the fillings. Customize your chicken quesadillas by incorporating your favorite veggies, beans, cheeses, and spices into the filling. Add raw and roasted vegetables like peppers, onions, summer squash, tomatoes, and green onions. Incorporate black beans or pinto beans for extra protein. Toss your shredded chicken in your favorite store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce. Change up the cheese with shredded Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, or cheddar cheese.
- 2. Experiment with toppings. Elevate this flavorful Mexican-inspired main dish with toppings like shredded lettuce, pickled jalapeño peppers, sour cream, guacamole, fresh cilantro, pickled red onions, and cotija cheese.
- 3. Store components in separate containers. Leftover BBQ chicken quesadillas will keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For the best results, store your shredded chicken mixture separately from the cheese and tortillas, and assemble and cook the dish when you’re ready to enjoy it.
Easy BBQ Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
makes
2 quesadillasprep time
5 mintotal time
20 mincook time
15 minIngredients
- 1
In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the shredded chicken breast, barbecue sauce, and chicken broth. Cook until the chicken absorbs the liquid, about 5 minutes. Season the chicken with salt and black pepper to taste.
- 2
Grease a large skillet or griddle with a thin layer of olive oil and warm it over medium-high heat.
- 3
Place one flour tortilla in the frying pan and top it with a ¼ cup of cheese. Top the cheese with half of the barbecue chicken and diced red onion, followed by another ¼ cup of cheese.
- 4
Place a second tortilla on top of the filling. Using a spatula, lightly press down on the top tortilla and cook for 3 minutes. Carefully flip the quesadilla over, and continue cooking until crispy and golden brown, an additional 3 minutes.
- 5
Transfer the cooked quesadilla to a cutting board or plate. Repeat this process with the remaining ingredients.
- 6
Slice each quesadilla into 4–6 wedges and serve immediately with additional barbecue sauce for dipping.
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