Authentic Chicken Quesadilla (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Chicken and Seasonings
01 -
1 pound chicken tenders or chicken breasts, thinly sliced
02 -
1 teaspoon chili powder
03 -
1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 -
½ teaspoon cumin
05 -
1 teaspoon salt, divided
→ Vegetables
06 -
1 red bell pepper, small dice
07 -
1 white onion, small dice
08 -
2 cloves garlic, minced
09 -
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
10 -
2 minced canned chipotle chilies plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
→ Dairy and Tortillas
11 -
½ cup low-fat Greek yogurt or sour cream
12 -
1 lime, juice of half
13 -
4 soft taco size flour tortillas, whole wheat or white
14 -
2 cups freshly shredded Monterey Jack cheese
15 -
Olive oil for frying
# Instructions:
01 -
In a large bowl, toss the chicken with ½ teaspoon of salt, chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin until evenly combined.
02 -
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 6 minutes or until cooked through. Remove the chicken to a clean bowl.
03 -
In the same skillet, add the red bell peppers and onions. Cook until softened and slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Transfer the vegetables to the bowl with the chicken.
04 -
To the bowl with chicken and vegetables, add the minced chipotle chilies, 1 tablespoon adobo sauce, and chopped cilantro. Mix until well combined.
05 -
In a small bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, juice of half a lime, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon adobo sauce. Set aside.
06 -
Place a tortilla on a clean surface. Evenly sprinkle ¼ cup of shredded cheese on the bottom half, add ¼ of the chicken and vegetable mixture on top, then sprinkle another ¼ cup of cheese. Fold the tortilla in half.
07 -
Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a small amount of olive oil and place the folded quesadilla in the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese is melted. Repeat for remaining quesadillas.
08 -
Slice the quesadillas into thirds and serve with the chipotle Greek yogurt sauce and additional chopped cilantro, if desired.
# Notes:
01 -
Quesadillas are best eaten immediately to maintain their crispiness.
02 -
You can reduce calories by using low-fat cheese and low-carb tortillas.
03 -
Experiment with other cheeses like pepper jack, cheddar, or mozzarella for variety.
04 -
Cooking over too high heat may burn the tortillas before the cheese melts.