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image of fresh cooked chicken breast barbecue sauce flour tortillas shredded cheddar cheese diced red onion chopped cilantro olive oil garlic powder salt pepper arranged in clear glass bowls on white marble countertop rustic brown wooden cutting board kitchen utensils soft daylight
Benjamin

Easy BBQ Chicken Quesadillas Recipe: Quick & Cheesy Weeknight Dinner

Dive into the smoky goodness of BBQ chicken wrapped in a crisp tortilla with melted cheese for an easy, flavor-packed dinner. Perfect for using leftover chicken and ready in just 20 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

BBQ Chicken Filling
  • 2 cups Cooked Chicken shredded or diced chicken breast (rotisserie or leftover)
  • 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce to 3/4 cup, your favorite smoky variety
Quesadilla Assembly
  • 4-6 Flour Tortillas large burrito-size, whole wheat optional
  • 2 cups Shredded Cheese mix of Monterey Jack and extra sharp Cheddar
  • 1/4 cup Red Onion thinly diced
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Cilantro chopped, optional for garnish
  • Oil or Butter for cooking, to grease the skillet

Equipment

  • Air Fryer,
  • Large skillet,
  • Mixing bowl
  • cutting board,
  • - Spatula

Method
 

Prepare the Filling
  1. In a medium bowl, combine the 2 cups of shredded or diced cooked chicken with 1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce. Stir until the chicken is completely coated. For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of chili powder or hot sauce if desired.
  2. Place a large nonstick skillet or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add about a teaspoon of butter or a light spray of cooking oil. Ensure the pan is hot enough to sizzle but not burn the tortilla.
  3. Place one flour tortilla flat into the heated pan. Sprinkle one-third of a cup of shredded cheese evenly over the tortilla. On one half, spoon about 1/4 of the BBQ chicken mixture, then sprinkle 1 tablespoon of diced red onion. Top the filling with another one-third cup of cheese.
  4. Fold the empty side of the tortilla over the filling to create a half-moon. Press down gently with a spatula. Cook for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
  5. Carefully flip the quesadilla and cook another 2-3 minutes, pressing occasionally, until both sides are crispy and cheese is melted.
  6. Transfer to a cutting board, let rest 1 minute, then slice into wedges. Garnish with cilantro if using. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Nutrition

Calories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 25gFat: 18g

Notes

For crispiness, cook over medium heat and avoid overcrowding the pan. Storage: Wrap in foil and refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat in skillet or air fryer to maintain crispness. Nutrition values are approximate per serving.
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