Simple Chicken Quesadillas with Bold Flavor
Skillet chicken quesadillas with a bold spice blend, fresh lime, and mild green chiles for strong flavor without messy sauces.
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Measuring spoons
- Spatula
Ingredients
Bold-Flavor Chicken
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup canned diced green chiles well drained
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped, optional
Quesadillas
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 1 tbsp butter or oil for cooking (as needed)
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Toss chicken with olive oil and the spice mix until evenly coated.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook chicken until fully cooked and lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off heat and stir in lime juice. Transfer chicken to a bowl and mix in drained green chiles and optional cilantro.
- Wipe skillet clean and return to medium heat. Butter or oil one side of a tortilla and place it in the skillet.
- Add a thin layer of cheese over half the tortilla, add an even layer of chicken, then add another light layer of cheese.
- Fold tortilla, press gently, and cook until golden on the bottom. Flip and cook until the second side is golden and the cheese is melted.
- Rest 1 to 2 minutes, slice into wedges, and repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
Notes
Drain green chiles well to keep quesadillas from getting soggy. Cook over medium heat for even browning and good melt.