A basic chicken and cheese quesadilla is the answer to your hunger for filling comfort food that doesn't have to be unhealthy. Quesadillas are easy to customize to fit your taste preferences and are a filling & delicious snack or meal when paired with fruits and veggies.
Chicken quesadillas are the first thing I really remember cooking regularly. Nan had a quesadilla maker so I always asked for a quesadilla (and fruit because Nan always had fruit for me and still does) whenever I went to Nan's.
I didn't have to worry about making any decisions. It was just "hey Nan, can you make me a quesadilla?"
She pulled out the butter, tortillas, cheese, and chicken, and in less than five minutes, I had a warm, cheesy, tasty meal made with love right in front of me.
So maybe it wasn't the healthiest meal on the block but it doesn't have to be that way.
Using a large whole grain tortilla (instead of a giant flour one) and just a tiny bit of butter (instead of a lot) makes these quesadillas a nourishing snack or light meal.
Eventually, Nan gave me my own quesadilla maker (which actually turned out to be an electric tortilla press - totally genius), and I made at least one quesadilla per week for my entire four years of high school.
Now when I make my quesadillas, I usually add in a few extra veggies with the chicken & cheese, but a basic chicken quesadilla brings me back to sitting at Nan's counter watching her cook and eating all the fruit in her kitchen.
Chicken Quesadilla
Ingredients
- 1 ounce cooked chicken about ยผ cup chopped
- 1 large whole grain tortilla
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1 ounce cheese ยผ cup, shredded
- salsa for serving
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Spread butter on one side of a tortilla. Flip the tortilla so the butter side is down.
- Add the chicken to half of the tortilla (on the non-buttered side). Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken. Fold in half.
- Transfer to the skillet, and cook for 2-4 minutes per side until the cheese has melted and the tortilla is golden brown and crispy.
- Cut into slices and serve with salsa. Enjoy!
Notes
*Use any protein you like. Beans, turkey, steak, or tofu.
*Add ยผ teaspoon garlic powder, ยผ teaspoon paprika, and โ teaspoon salt if desired.
*If your tortilla is frozen, thaw before filling.
Nutrition Facts
Liz
I want to meet your Nan! She sounds amazing.. and I think we have stories to share!! My sisters always joked when I got home from parties they'd be concerned I'd burn down the house b/c I would ALWAYS make quesadillas at like 2 am lol. Not a shining moment but nevertheless, delicious! I have a tortilla press too... lunch party?
Meme
HAHA!! I thought about writing about my late night quesadilla making sessions (every weekend) but felt like I should probably leave that out haha! My friends always knew they'd get quesadillas if they came over ๐
Lunch party fo sho!