Chicken Quesadilla with Melty Cheese (Printable)

Crispy tortillas filled with seasoned chicken, peppers, and melted cheese

# What You'll Need:

→ Filling Components

01 - 2 cups cooked grilled chicken breast, sliced or shredded
02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
04 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 1 small onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
07 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
08 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - ¼ teaspoon salt
10 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Assembly and Cooking

11 - 4 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
12 - 1 tablespoon butter or additional olive oil for cooking

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced bell pepper and onion; sauté 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Remove from pan and set aside.
02 - Wipe the skillet clean for quesadilla cooking.
03 - Place a tortilla on a flat surface. On one half, layer ½ cup grilled chicken, ¼ of the sautéed peppers and onions, ¼ cup cheddar, and ¼ cup Monterey Jack cheese. Fold tortilla in half to enclose filling. Repeat with remaining tortillas and fillings.
04 - Melt butter or drizzle olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Cook each quesadilla 2–3 minutes per side, pressing gently, until golden brown and cheese is melted.
05 - Transfer to a cutting board, rest 1 minute, then slice into wedges. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you need something satisfying fast
  • The combination of melted cheddar and Monterey Jack creates the most incredible gooey texture that holds everything together beautifully
02 -
  • Overstuffing the tortillas seems tempting but leads to fillings spilling out into your pan, so stick to the recommended amounts
  • Letting the quesadilla rest for that full minute before cutting makes a huge difference in how neatly they slice and serve
03 -
  • A cast iron skillet creates the most evenly crispy exterior, but any heavy bottomed pan works wonderfully
  • Use a spatula to press down gently while cooking for better contact between tortilla and pan
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