Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas With Salsa

These Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas With Salsa come together very easily and pack unbelievable flavor. Taco cheese, chicken, salsa, cumin and chili powder give this recipe great authentic flavor. Fresh cilantro adds the perfect amount of freshness.

Quesadillas are one of my absolute favorite things to eat. They’re easy and quick to throw together. There are so many different variations that you can make. And they’re always a crowd pleaser. This is a recipe with not too many ingredients and contains things that you probably usually have on hand in your kitchen.

Chicken quesadillas were one of the first few recipes that I started out cooking once I lived on my own. In fact, they were the first things that I cooked for my husband when we started dating a hot minute ago.

I’ve been making these for so long and the original recipe was very easy and basic. I didn’t even cook the chicken in the beginning. I would use Perdue Chicken Shortcuts and shredded taco cheese. And that would be all that the quesadilla filling consisted of.

Don’t get me wrong, they were still delicious. But over the years, I’ve given my chicken quesadillas a slightly fancier makeover. I cook my own cumin and chili powder seasoned chicken breast. And I’ve added salsa, fresh cilantro and a variety of spices to make the quesadillas really pop. The result has much more complex flavors.

Salsa adds so much extra flavor into the quesadilla filling and the hit of freshness from the cilantro is perfection. They are excellent compliments to the taco cheese and chicken. The taste of cumin and chili powder really come through in this recipe. This is another one of my nephew Logan’s favorite recipes so I like to whip these up for dinners when he’s visiting us. I serve these Chicken Quesadillas often with my Spicy Potato Wedges.

Chicken Substitutions and Add-Ins

Quesadillas are one of those fantastic recipes where you can swap things out or add things in and the recipe will be delicious. There are so many ways to change things up with this recipe to make your own amazing creation. Try some of the different options below.

Instead of chicken, try:

• Shaved Steak – Add onion, green pepper, mushroom and American cheese for a phenomenal steak bomb quesadilla.
• Leftover cheeseburgers – These make for an amazing quesadilla and bonus points if the burgers are grilled and you get that delicious smoky flavor.
• Ground beef
• Sliced pork
• Pulled pork

Vegetable Add-Ins:

Adding anything inside of these Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas With Salsa will only enhance the flavors. Different vegetables can kick these quesadillas up a notch and take them to a whole new level. Try adding in some of the veggies below.

• Corn
• Black beans
• Bell peppers
• Onion
• Mushroom
• Zucchini
• Summer squash
• Tomatoes
• Jalapeño 
• Eggplant

Recipe Tips

• It may sound odd but I swear, it’s delicious. Mixing equal parts sour cream and salsa together make for a cool and flavorful creamy salsa dip for your Chicken Quesadillas.
• If you’re unable to locate taco cheese, you can use mozzarella, cheddar or Monterey jack instead. Add 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder to the 16 ounces of cheese that you’re using in its place. Mix until fully combined.
• To keep the quesadillas warmed while you continue cooking, stack the quesadillas right on top of each other on a cutting board or plate. They will all retain their heat. Don’t cut them into fourths until you are ready to serve them.

How to serve

Quesadillas are flavorful and cheesy and delicious as is. However, anything else that you serve them with or to dip them in will just add to the experience. Try some of the serving options below.

• Avocado
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Cilantro
• Green onion
• Tabasco or Cholula sauce
• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Fresh jalapeños 

Instructions

Heat olive oil in large pan sprayed skillet over medium heat. Add the boneless skinless chicken breast and season with salt, cumin, chili powder and black pepper. Cook for about 8 minutes per side or until cooked through. NOTE: If the chicken breast are thick, slice the chicken in half length-wise to reduce the cooking time.

Slice the cooked chicken breast and add to a medium bowl. To the bowl, add salsa, cilantro and lime juice. Stir to combine.

To prepare the quesadillas, lay one flour tortilla flat on a cutting board or plate. Add ¼ cup of taco cheese spread evenly over half of the flour tortilla. Then, add about ½ cup of the chicken mixture over the cheese. Add another ¼ cup of taco cheese to cover the chicken mixture. Fold the other half of the flour tortilla over to cover the chicken and cheese.

Heat a large skillet on medium heat. Pan spray the skillet and cook the quesadillas one at a time for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Before flipping, spray the top of the quesadilla with pan spray and then flip to cook the other side. When ready to serve, cut the quesadilla in half. And then cut each half in half to get four pizza slice shaped pieces.

Recipes to Try

• Easy Spanish Rice With Salsa: This recipe delivers on the classic delicious flavors that you’re expecting in a fraction of the time. The secret shortcut ingredient? A good jarred salsa. This is a hearty and delicious dinner packed with protein from pork and red beans with just the right amount of bright freshness from the lime and cilantro. It’s a perfect side dish or quick weeknight main course.
• Easy Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken, Corn and Rice: This is a delicious and easy slow cooker weeknight dinner. The flavor in the spices is amazing and the tenderness of the chicken will have you adding this recipe to your weeknight rotation.
• Spicy 5-Alarm Chili: Warm your soul with this amazing chili recipe. The hearty, spicy and meaty flavors of this dish are what a great chili is all about. The layers and depth of flavor will have you making this recipe again and again.
• Quick Kielbasa & Shrimp Gumbo Rice: Here is the perfect dinner recipe to feed a family on a budget during a busy weeknight. The creole flavors in this dish accentuate the smoky kielbasa and succulent shrimp perfectly. This will become a fast family favorite.

How did your Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas With Salsa come out? Did you make any alterations? Let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you. As always, thank you so very much for supporting Spice and Sugar Mama!