BBQ Chicken Quesadillas are sizzling, simple, and satisfying. This easy, cheesy chicken dinner recipe comes together in minutes!
BBQ Chicken Quesadillas are crispy, cheesy, smokey-sweet, and satisfying. They’re a simple dinner recipe I began making my husband when we first got married and – full circle moment – our three kids now adore them here in the present day!
Although they’re incredibly quick and easy, these quesadillas make an impact. Sizzling tortillas stuffed with melty cheese and BBQ sauce-dressed chicken tends to have that effect.
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Pin ItEasy Cheesy Comfort Food
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 ooey-gooey, this is a meal I turn to anytime need something quick and hearty to feed the fam…or I need to eat my feelings.
I’m sure you can relate. ;)
Prep the components ahead of time and the dish comes together in 10 minutes. Perfect for those crazy nights when you’ve got 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 then shredding 2 chicken breasts (~1lb pre-cooked 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, baked, Air Fried, or roast chicken work really well — these photos show sauteed chicken breasts seasoned with homemade seasoned salt and pepper.
Next, heat a large 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 a layer of the shredded BBQ chicken, plus another layer of shredded cheese.
Place a second tortilla on top then cook until the bottom tortilla 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.
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.
I hope you love this mouthwatering and easy weeknight dinner recipe — enjoy!
More Easy Chicken Recipes
- Crispy Gluten-Free Chicken Cutlets
- Crock Pot Salsa Chicken
- Chicken Meatballs
- Best Baked Chicken Thighs
- One Pot Chicken and Rice
- Cheesy Chicken Burrito Skillet
- Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie
- Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 8 tortillas, I like Mission gluten free tortillas
- 3 cups cooked then shredded chicken breast, ~1lb pre-cooked weight
- 8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- BBQ sauce
Directions
- Mix shredded chicken with desired amount of BBQ sauce in a bowl then set aside.
- Heat a large 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. Cook until bottom tortilla is golden brown then flip and cook 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.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I sent my husband to work today with the Mojito fruit salad for their potlock. What a hit! Hy-Vee had yellow watermelon so I mixed two kinds of watermelon with strawberries and blackberries. The leaves were mojito mint from our own plant. (Which I bought just to have mint on hand for this recipe!) This has been my go to for potlucks for the last two years and everyone always loves it!! Thank you!!
Mission corn tortillas and Aldi’s gluten free wraps also make a great gluten free quesadillas. They are both affordable which is a nice bonus for anyone buying a lot of gluten free food. :)
Just wanted to recommend another tortilla. La Tortilla Factory makes one from Millet and Ivory Teff. We love it at my house. It also makes a great single serving pizza, but I recommend putting it on a pan with holes so that it gets a little crispy while baking.
I’ll try that one, Rosemarie! I tried a LTF GF tortilla a few years and didn’t like the aftertaste but I can’t remember which one it was. I’ll give this one a try though.
Make your life even easier – BAKE your quesadillas instead of pan frying them one at a time. Let the filling cool just a bit. Put half the filling into a tortilla and fold it over. Place assembled quesadillas on an oil-sprayed sheet pan and liberally spray the tops. Bake at 425 for about 8 minutes. Flip, spray side 2, and 8 minutes more. All done at once! Total game changer. Got the idea from https://www.recipetineats.com/oven-baked-chicken-quesadillas/
LOVE this idea – so hands off! I’ll give it a try. Thanks for passing on!
Oh this looks so good! Thanks for reminiding me to make quesadillas (oh and I will definitely try these1).
Ugh they’re so good – I need to make them more often!
I’ve been making a BBQ pork version of this since you shared it back in 2010. Add in some caramelized onions and it’s so delicious!
Sounds delicious! Yes, caramelized onions really take them over the top! ?
I have been looking for a simple yet delicious quesadilla recipe this week and I have just found it! Thank you so much, can’t wait to make these!
I hope you love them, Kelly!
YUM! So simple and delicious!
Exactly! :)
Thanks for sharing! I look into the ingredients for the Mission Gluten Free Tortillas and don’t think will get them, ingredients are a bit too long! Have you tried “Spinach Wrap” from http://rawwraps.org/? Looks like a good option (natural ingredients) for gluten free
Also, found the avocado spray at Amazon since we are not Costco member! https://amzn.to/2NMHn0b
Thanks for sharing those links, Grace!
I have 3 kids and all I do is make food and clean up dishes, I swear! I actually just signed up for a local meal delivery service- for my first meal today. Same price at blue apron but it is delivered to your door cooked! I am so excited to not have to make dinner during our crazy sports season!
Dinner delivered to your door? INTO IT. ?
What type of vegan cheese do you use for Lincoln? I recently had to go dairy free while breastfeeding because my baby is not tolerating dairy. I’ve done ok with the change but have been afraid to try dairy free cheese as I’m sure it’s nothing like the real thing!
We use Daiya brand cheddar for this recipe and my Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Rice Skillet (https://iowagirleats.com/2017/12/12/cheesy-ham-and-broccoli-rice-skillet/) and mozzarella for homemade pizza night. Lincoln likes it because he’s never known what real cheese tastes like. Switching to vegan cheese after being able to eat realy cheese though would be a tough sell unfortunately. :/
Do you know if a bbq sauce that is low sugar or sweetened with homey or agave?
Check Tessemae’s BBQ sauce – I think it might be sweetened with just honey!
Been here since the OG days of you sharing these!??♀️❤️
Love it! Thank you so much, Donna!