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    Home » Mains » Chicken

    Chicken Quesadillas with Vegetables

    Originally Published: Apr 29, 2018 · Last Updated: Feb 12, 2020 by Ann · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    839 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Chicken quesadillas stacked on a plate (overhead view)
    Chicken quesadillas stacked ion a plate
    Chicken quesadillas stacked on a plate (overhead view)

    These chicken quesadillas, made with fajita-style marinated chicken, green and red bell peppers, onions, and lots of gooey cheese, are a fast and easy way to satisfy your Tex-Mex cravings. They are perfect for Cinqo de Mayo!

    If you had to choose one international cuisine and eat only that for the rest of your life, what would it be?

    Quick disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may make a small commission, at no cost to you. I will never recommend anything I don't personally use and love!

    Chicken quesadillas stacked on a plate

    Phil and I once had that conversation, and Mexican food was at the top of both our shortlists. I mean... the spices, the freshness, the depth of flavor, the CHEESE. Did I mention the cheese? I have to say that Mexican flavors are what I miss most about living in Texas.

    Granted, Tex-Mex and Mexican food are two different things. But both are pretty glorious in their own ways.

    It's the kind of food I find myself craving most often, but historically, it's been difficult to find good Mexican or Tex-Mex up here.

    Lately though, taco places have started sprouting like weeds, and pretty much every neighborhood in Montreal seems to have at least a couple of them now.

    Chicken quesadillas on a plate

    But there's something really fun and festive about making Mexican food at home too. I mean, who could be sad while eating a taco?

    So when I need a mood boost, or I'm just hit with a sudden craving, I have a quick and simple solution. Enter the Mexican version of a grilled cheese: the quesadilla.

    Overhead view of chicken fajitas stacked on a plate

    Chicken breast, red and green bell peppers, and onions are marinated in a fajita-style marinade for however much time you happen to have.

    Then chicken and veggies are quickly sautéed, stuffed into a flour tortilla with plenty of cheese, and then cooked in a pan to melty, golden perfection.

    Serve with the requisite sour cream, salsa, and avocado or guacamole.

    Collage of process shots for making chicken quesadillas

    This recipe makes enough meat and veggies for four large quesadillas, but since we were only two, I used the leftovers to make chicken fajita wraps for lunch the next day.

    I just spread some sour cream onto a tortilla, added chicken, vegetables, and grated cheese, and rolled. They were divine, so there's an idea in case you end up with leftovers too.

    These chicken quesadillas are definitely more Tex Mex than Mexican, since they're made with flour rather than corn tortillas. But they're perfectly cheesy, packed with flavor, and for me, they're the ultimate comfort food.

    If you love Tex-Mex and Mexican food as much as we do, here are a couple more favorites:

    Easy Chicken Taco recipe with Creamy Slaw

    Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Enjoy! xx

    Sound good to you? If you make this recipe, I would be THRILLED if you would take a pic and tag me on Instagram @ourhappymess!

    Or pin for later!

    And if you're looking for more easy dinner inspiration, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Or just subscribe in the sidebar on the right to get every new recipe in your inbox 🙂

    Chicken quesadillas on a plate

    Quick and Easy Chicken Quesadillas with Vegetables

    These chicken quesadillas, made with fajita-style marinated chicken, green and red bell peppers, onions, and lots of gooey cheese, are a fast and easy way to satisfy your Tex-Mex cravings. They are perfect for Cinqo de Mayo!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Marinating time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 472kcal
    Author: Ann Otis

    Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon corn starch
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
    • 4 tablepoons olive oil divided
    • ¼ cup chicken broth
    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast cut into ½ inch strips
    • ½ red bell pepper sliced
    • ½ green bell pepper sliced
    • 1 yellow onion thinly sliced
    • 4 large (10 inch) tortillas, or 8 smaller (8-inch) ones
    • 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese grated (or Oaxaca cheese, if you can find it!)

    For Serving

    • sour cream or Mexican crema
    • salsa
    • avocado slices or guacamole

    Instructions

    • In a gallon-size plastic baggie, swish together the spices, salt, lime juice, 2 tablespoon of olive oil, and chicken broth. Add the sliced chicken and veggies to the bag, seal, and massage the bag until everything is coated. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
    • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a non-stick or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the contents of the bag and quickly cook, stirring frequently, until meat is no longer pink, and veggies are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
    • If using large tortillas, lay one on a plate and sprinkle about ¼ cup of grated cheese evenly on half the tortilla. add some chicken and veggies on top of the cheese, and sprinkle with another ¼ cup cheese. Fold the other half of the tortilla over the filling.
      If using medium tortillas, you can cover one tortilla completely with fillings and top with another tortilla.
    • Clean the pan in which the chicken and veggies were cooked, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and put back on the stove over medium heat. Add the quesadilla to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until the underside is golden. Using a spatula, flip the quesadilla over, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden and the cheese is melted. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
    • Serve with sour cream or crema, salsa and avocado slices or guacamole.

    Notes

    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate only and does not include toppings of sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 1286mg | Potassium: 630mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1140IU | Vitamin C: 37.6mg | Calcium: 465mg | Iron: 2.3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @OurHappyMess or tag #OurHappyMess!
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    839 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa Huff

      May 10, 2018 at 9:09 pm

      5 stars
      Mmmm love chicken quesadillas! These look way better than any I have ever made!

      Reply
    2. Teri Stephens

      May 10, 2018 at 8:32 pm

      5 stars
      The sear on these quesadillas is perfection. I love this recipe, thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    3. Chichi

      May 10, 2018 at 8:30 pm

      5 stars
      These look yum. I have never tried quesadillas. But these have made me hungry enough to give it a go.

      Reply
    4. Sharon

      May 10, 2018 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      I can agree with you both that Mexican food is on the top food in my list too. How could they not be when you can have delicious food like these quesadillas!

      Reply
    5. Tania | Fit Foodie Nutter

      May 10, 2018 at 5:57 pm

      5 stars
      This is the ultimate meal for breakfast lunch or dinner for the whole family, right? I think we will be fighting over who can have the last bite:)

      Reply
    6. Andrea @ The Petite Cook

      April 30, 2018 at 3:54 am

      Yumm this screams comfort food! Perfect for a quick weeknight meal!

      Reply
      • Ann

        April 30, 2018 at 10:32 am

        Exactly! Thanks Andrea!

        Reply
    7. Natalie

      April 30, 2018 at 2:29 am

      5 stars
      I love quesadillas! definitely my top favorite Mexican dish 🙂 These look so delicious!

      Reply
      • Ann

        April 30, 2018 at 10:33 am

        Thanks Natalie!

        Reply
    8. Brian Jones

      April 30, 2018 at 12:55 am

      5 stars
      These look delicious, I have to confess to not being too knowledgeable about Mexican food, it really has not crossed the Atlantic to the shores of Europe. This sounds like a great simple intro though.

      Reply
      • Ann

        April 30, 2018 at 10:34 am

        SO simple and delicious! If you can get your hands on some tortillas, the rest of the ingredients are easy to find!

        Reply
    9. Cristie | Little Big H

      April 29, 2018 at 11:52 pm

      5 stars
      Yum, I need more quesadillas in my life. Love the chicken and veggie combo. Making ASAP!

      Reply
      • Ann

        April 30, 2018 at 10:35 am

        Everyone does!! Thanks Cristie!

        Reply
    10. Tina

      April 29, 2018 at 9:49 pm

      5 stars
      Since you added veggies to it, must be healthy right? Quesadillas are my top 5 things to eat. I mix it up with the fillings and have such fun with it. Yours looks amazing, gooey cheese is my jam. Just saying.

      Reply
      • Ann

        April 30, 2018 at 1:24 pm

        Yeah they’re super versatile! Gooey cheese is definitely my jam too!

        Reply

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    Ann from Our Happy Mess

    I'm Ann and I believe in balanced eating, homemade foods, and DESSERT. I love to cook, but I can't spend all day in the kitchen anymore, so what you'll mostly find here are simple, family-friendly recipes. I'm really happy you're here!
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