BBQ Chicken Quesadillas are what’s for dinner tonight! These crispy, cheesy, smokey-sweet quesadillas have been a family favorite for years and years – I actually shared the recipe back in 2010 (!) – and it’s high time I highlighted these delightful ‘dillas on IGE again. Prep shredded chicken up to a few days ahead of time then combine with BBQ sauce, tortillas, and shredded cheese when it’s time to eat!
I don’t know about you, but the combination of BBQ sauce, chicken, and melted cheese is pure comfort food to me. Served hot and gooey, this is a meal I turn to anytime I need to eat my feelings or want something quick and hearty to feed the fam. If you prep the components ahead of time, the dish comes together in 10 minutes too. Perfect for those crazy nights when you’ve got 30 minutes to eat before running everyone off to their extracurricular activities or digging into homework.
Ready to cook?
How to Make BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
Start by cooking and shredding 2 large chicken breasts (about 1 – 1-1/4lb precooked weight) then mix with your favorite BBQ sauce. Feel free to cook/shred the chicken a few days ahead of time to make this dish come together even faster. Leftover grilled or rotisserie chicken works really well too! I seasoned chicken with homemade seasoned salt then sauteed, but you can season yours with whatever you want.
Next, consult your arsenal of tortillas. Although I don’t love the ingredient list on Mission Gluten-Free Tortillas, they sure do make for awesome lunch time wraps, and get super crispy when used for quesadillas, so I buy them weekly. I also adore Siete brand tortillas which have just five ingredients including water. Woo! They’re a bit pricey though so I usually buy as an occasional treat.
Whichever tortillas you end up going with, heat a large 12″ skillet over medium heat then spray with nonstick spray. Place a tortilla in the bottom then sprinkle on a little freshly shredded cheddar cheese, followed by 1/4 of the shredded BBQ chicken, and another layer of shredded cheese.
This is the nonstick spray I’ve been using lately – it’s from Costco and the only ingredient is avocado oil. No propellents or anything – love it!
Place another tortilla on top then cook until the bottom tortillas is golden brown. Flip then cook until the second side is golden brown.
Slide the quesadilla onto a cooling rack to cool slightly and stay crisp while you make the remaining quesadillas with the remaining ingredients. That’s all she wrote!
When it’s time to eat, slice the BBQ Chicken Quesadillas into wedges with a pizza cutter then serve with extra BBQ sauce for dipping (or ranch – MMM RANCH.) I hope you love this mouthwatering and easy weeknight dinner recipe! Enjoy!
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BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
Description
BBQ Chicken Quesadillas are simple and oh-so satisfying. This easy, cheesy dinner recipe comes together in minutes!
Ingredients
- 8 gluten-free tortillas (I like Mission or Siete brands)
- 2 large chicken breasts (1 - 1-1/4lb pre-cooked), cooked and shredded
- 8oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- gluten-free BBQ sauce
Directions
- Mix shredded chicken with BBQ sauce in a bowl then set aside.
- Heat a large, 12" skillet over medium heat then spray with nonstick spray. Place one tortilla in the bottom of the skillet then sprinkle on a thin layer of shredded cheese. Add 1/4 of the shredded BBQ chicken then add another thin layer of shredded cheese on top, followed by another tortilla. Saute until bottom tortilla is golden brown then flip and saute until golden brown on the second side. Carefully transfer quesadilla to a cooling rack to cool slightly while you cook the remaining quesadillas with remaining ingredients.
- Slice quesadillas with a pizza cutter then serve with extra BBQ sauce for dipping.
Notes
- This recipe is great to prep ahead of time! Shred cheese and cook/shred chicken a few days ahead of time then cook on demand.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Dawn 02.19.2024
It is incredibly hard to find good and thick tasting bbq sauce without high fructose in it! I miss BBQ.
Kristin 02.20.2024
I get it! Have you tried G Hughes sugar free BBQ sauce? I’ve heard good things about it – I haven’t tried it myself though.
Lauren 01.22.2024
Do you still have your California Quesadilla recipe? I’ve been making it for years and have it pinned but the pin & photo are now attached to a BBQ quesadilla recipe I haven’t made before.
Kristin 01.23.2024
Here you go, Lauren!
California Quesadillas with Honey-Balsamic Dipping Sauce
Ingredients:
4 burrito-sized flour tortillas
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 large chicken breast
Extra virgin olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper
1/2 cup chopped artichoke hearts
1/4 cup julienned sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil, drained
1/2 avocado, sliced
For the honey-balsamic dipping sauce:
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon honey
1 clove garlic, microplaned or finely minced
salt & pepper
Directions
1. For the Honey-Balsamic Dipping Sauce: Add ingredients to a jar with a tight fitting lid, or bowl then shake or whisk until combined. Set aside.
2. Brush chicken breast on both sides with extra virgin olive oil then season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 4-5 minutes a side in a small skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink in the center. Let rest for 5 minutes, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
3. Place two tortillas on a flat surface and spread 1/4 cup shredded cheese on each one. Split cooked chicken, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, avocado, and remaining cheese between both tortillas, then top with remaining tortillas. Heat a large skillet over medium heat then spray with non-stick spray. Slide one quesadilla into the skillet then cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Flip then cook until the other side is golden brown. Slide onto a plate and repeat with remaining quesadilla. Cut into slices and serve with dipping sauce.
Olivia Wyles 04.07.2022
Is it possible to make up the quesadilla filling and then keep it in the fridge in Tupperware to make the quesadillas fresh throughout the week?
Kristin 04.07.2022
Asbolutely!
Heather Young 05.24.2021
Just found this recipe and can’t wait to try!! What is your fav go to bbq sauce??
Kristin 05.25.2021
I hope you love it, Heather! I love Stubb’s Sticky Sweet BBQ sauce!
Karine 04.07.2021
Hi Kristen!
Just a question about the wraps. I have been using white corn tortillas for this kind of meal (GF by design!). I notice you never seem to use those. Wondering why? Perhaps it is because they are small (6″ usually I think). Just thought I would ask as I’m wondering if using the GF type wraps you do might be a better choice? I am looking forward to making these quesadillas so I appreciate your thoughts on this!
Kristin 04.07.2021
Hi Karine! I use the “flour style” Mission GF tortillas for quesadillas just because it’s so similar to the “real thing” using actual flour tortillas. You are totally welcome to use corn tortillas if you prefer them! :)
Kim 04.08.2020
Long-time (quiet) follower here- at least 2013 if not before.
I was just sharing your website to a friend, and providing her a list of some of my favorite recipes of your’s and saw this recipe no longer has the 1 sweet caramelized onion (sliced thin) listed like it used to. I double-checked my printed page in my recipe binder I printed in May 2015 and it has it. Definitely love the addition of a caramelized sweet onion to this! Yum!
Kristi 10.18.2019
Thanks for putting these in your weekly meal plan! I had forgot about them. I made these when you first posted them and they are soooo delicious. So simple to put together–I’ll definitely be making them next week!
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