These Loaded Chicken Quesadillas have it all! Crisp tortillas stuffed with seasoned shredded chicken, bell peppers, onions, black beans, avocado, cilantro, corn, and white cheddar cheese. The perfect game day appetizer or weeknight dinner!
I don’t know about you, but I’m always on the search for fun new recipes to make when we have friends over. I guess it’s because when friends come over it’s usually for some type of game or party or event….and we want the food to match the fun!
So we usually land on something like Baked Turkey & Cheese Sandwiches or Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza Bread or BLT Chicken Nachos. Quick and easy recipes we know everyone will love.
And these Loaded Chicken Quesadillas are just that! Quick, easy, and perfect for your next party or get together. One of the things I love most about quesadillas is that the possibilities are truly endless. You can choose all your favorite fillings….and they can be different every time!
One of our favorite ways to make them? Load them up with EVERYTHING. Like chicken and cheese and peppers and onions and black beans and corn and avocado…..all the flavors I think of when I think quesadillas!
what you’ll need for this recipe
Tortillas – I used large (burrito sized) flour tortillas. This recipe can be made with any size tortillas or wraps and can also be made with corn instead of flour tortillas.
Chicken – 1 cup shredded chicken. I used rotisserie.
Cheese – 8 ounces shredded cheese. I used white cheddar, but cheddar, monterey jack, pepper jack, chihuahua, or a Mexican blend would all be delicious.
Veggies – I used a combination of red bell pepper, green bell pepper, red onion, sweet corn, and black beans. Add any vegetables you’d like (e.g. broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, mushrooms)
Spices – A combination of spices gives these quesadillas extra amazing flavor. I used cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and salt.
Toppings – Sour cream, guacamole, salsa, or any of your favorites! Check out my ideas below!
how to make chicken quesadillas
It’s easy! Just follow these simple steps to make the BEST chicken quesadillas in no time at all:
- Start with a skillet and 1 Tablespoon oil. Heat the oil over medium heat, then add a large tortilla.
- Fill half of the tortilla with toppings. Be sure to really load them up! The more cheese/chicken/veggies….the better!
- After about 5 minutes, check the bottom side for browning. Once it’s golden brown and crispy, flip. (You may need to add more oil.)
- Cook until both sides are golden brown and crispy; remove from pan and cut with a knife or pizza cutter.
making quesadillas in the oven
You can absolutely make quesadillas in the oven, and making them this way is ideal when you need to feed a larger crowd. Oven-baked quesadillas are assembled the same way as traditional quesadillas, but on a sheet pan instead of a skillet. Depending on the size of the sheet pan, you can probably fit 3-4 on each pan. Then simply bake at 375° for 10 minutes and broil for a few minutes until they turn brown and crisp up.
best quesadilla toppings
Just as the possibilities for filling quesadillas are endless, so are the possibilities for topping them! These are some of our favorite toppings for these Loaded Chicken Quesadillas:
- Blender Salsa
- Guacamole
- Cilantro Lime Sauce
- Pico de Gallo
- Queso Dip
- Corn Salsa
- Pineapple Guacamole
- Fresh veggies – cilantro, sliced jalapeños, are diced tomatoes
Loaded Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup chopped red pepper
- 1/3 cup chopped green pepper
- 1/3 cup chopped red onion
- 3 Tablespoons sweet corn
- 1 cup shredded chicken
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 Tablespoons black beans
- 2 large flour tortillas
- 8 ounces white cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro
- 2 slices avocado
Instructions
- Heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add peppers, onions, and corn; sauté approximately 5 minutes
- Stir in shredded chicken, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and kosher salt. Heat through.
- In a separate large skillet, heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil. Place 1 tortilla in the skillet and add shredded cheese, chicken mixture, black beans, cilantro, and avocado over HALF of the tortilla.
- Fold tortilla in half. Cook for approx. 5 minutes on the first side, then check for browning. Once tortilla has reached desired level of browning, flip and cook approximately 5 minutes on the other side.
- Remove from skillet; cut into wedges. Serve with guacamole, salsa, sour cream, or any of your favorite toppings.
- Repeat with second tortilla and remaining toppings.
Notes
Toppings:
Just as the possibilities for filling quesadillas are endless, so are the possibilities for topping them! These are some of our favorite topping ideas:- Blender Salsa
- Guacamole
- Cilantro Lime Sauce
- Pico de Gallo
- Queso Dip
- Corn Salsa
- Pineapple Guacamole
- Fresh veggies – cilantro, sliced jalapeños, are diced tomatoes
Seriously SO many amazing flavors going on in these!!
These are fully loaded! What a great lunch or dinner option!
My family would love these!! They sound incredible!!
I am a sucker for a good loaded quesadilla!
Locked and loaded with amazing flavors!
Healthy means I can eat more, right?
This lunch will be happening very soon at my house!
Oh my goodness, those look fantastic!
These look so good! I’m a big fan of Mexican flavors! Thanks for sharing!
These Loaded Chicken Quesadillas look absolutely delicious! I love how you included so many tasty ingredients. Can’t wait to try this recipe for my next family dinner!
These Loaded Chicken Quesadillas look absolutely delicious! I love the combination of flavors you’ve shared, and I can’t wait to try making them myself. Thanks for the great recipe!