There’s nothing better than an easy dinner for busy weeknights! This chicken quesadilla is a wonderful option when craving something cheesy, creamy, and reminiscent of a restaurant-style dish.

The flavors of this quesadilla are inspired by our buffalo chicken dip, made with the iconic Frank’s Red Hot which is also featured in our buffalo chicken sliders.

Chicken quesadillas on platter with sour cream and avocado.

This chicken quesadilla will remind you of the popular Taco Bell quesadilla but so much better. The mixture of shredded chicken, cheese, and a kick of hot sauce, makes this quesadilla unforgettable! The quality will greatly outshine anything you could get at a fast food restaurant.

Enjoy this copycat recipe with your favorite sides and dipping sauces!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Customizable. This recipe is easy to personalize to your liking and will satisfy the pickiest of eaters. 
  • Make-ahead. The mixture we use for the filling is easy to make ahead, so you can enjoy a quesadilla in as little as five minutes in the coming week. 
  • Kid-friendly. Your children will love this simple dish. 
  • Inexpensive. Most of these ingredients are very affordable and make for a great budget dinner! Especially in comparison to the price you would pay ordering at a restaurant. 
  • Healthier alternative. Although just as cheesy, creamy and saucy, making this quesadilla at home offers a healthier alternative to the Taco-bell version. 
Quesadilla piled up next to sour cream, topped with greens.

Ingredients for this Chicken Quesadilla

The ingredients for this quesadilla are simple and customizable.

  • Cooked chicken – we use shredded chicken breast for this recipe. Cook your own chicken, or use canned, or even a rotisserie chicken. 
  • Cream cheese – at room temp, for easy mixing. 
  • Ranch – offers a delicious flavor while making this mixture come together. 
  • Cheese – we use cheddar cheese, but you can use Mexican Oaxaca cheese, Monterey jack, pepper jack cheese, or any other blend you love.
  • Sriracha or Red Hot sauce – adds a subtle kick of spice and great flavor. 
  • Flour tortillas – large burrito tortillas work best for making quesadillas. 
  • Seasoning – a dash of salt, pepper, and paprika for flavor. 

For a full list of ingredients and quantities, see the recipe card below.

Substitutions and Variations

Try these add-ins, substitutions, and variations to make this chicken quesadilla perfect for you and your family. 

  • Protein: Swap out the chicken for ground beef, steak, or even leave it out altogether for a meatless option.
  • Veggies: Add some extra nutrients and flavor by throwing in vegetables like red onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, or tomatoes. Just like in our chicken fajita quesadilla.
  • Spice: You can add more or less hot sauce to modify the heat in your quesadilla. You can also add diced jalapeños, chili powder, or taco seasoning for an extra spicy quesadilla! 
  • Healthier option: With a few modifications, you can make this delicious meal lower in calories. Use low-fat cream cheese, low-fat ranch, and corn tortillas, as well as low-calorie tortillas for a lower-calorie quesadilla. You can even air fry your quesadilla to make it even healthier!

How to Make Chicken Quesadillas 

These quesadillas come together quickly, with just a few easy steps. 

A bowl with all the ingredients to make the chicken quesadilla spread.

Step 1 – Combine: In a large bowl, combine cooked chicken, softened cream cheese, ranch, shredded cheese, sriracha, and seasoning. Mix using a hand mixer. 

A tortilla with the spread on half of it.

Step 2 – Assemble: Spread mixture evenly on one side of a tortilla. Fold over and gently pat down. 

A pan with the cooking quesadillas side by side.

Step 3 – Cook: Drizzle oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the quesadilla and press down lightly with a spatula. Cook about 2-3 minutes per side. 

Slices of a chicken quesadilla with a dollop of sour cream on top, sprinkled with cilantro.

Step 4 – Enjoy: You may enjoy the quesadilla with sour cream, srirach or even avocado slices.

Serving Suggestions

These quesadillas are greatly enjoyed on their own, but can be taken to the next level by pairing them with some Mexican-inspired dishes

  • Dips: Serve this quesadilla with various dips to enhance the flavors and add to the restaurant ambiance! A drizzle of sour cream or Guacamole offers authentic pairings and makes for a great flavor combination. 
  • Meal: Serve the quesadilla with cilantro lime rice, for a more filling meal. 
  • Soup: Serve your quesadilla with a warm bowl of chicken taco soup for the ultimate comfort meal. 

Expert Tips for Making Chicken Quesadillas

  • Tortilla: When choosing your tortilla, be sure that you are selecting the large flour tortillas for optimal quesadilla size, and shape.
  • Spread: Evenly distribute your filling onto the tortilla, to ensure that every bite is overflowing with cheesy goodness.
  • Crust: Make sure you are adding your quesadilla to a hot pan to give the quesadilla a beautiful crust.
  • Control the heat: Keep an eye on the quesadilla and make sure that your heat is allowing the cheese to melt, without burning the outside.

Faq’s

Can I bake my quesadilla?

You absolutely can bake your quesadilla for an easy and healthier alternative. You can also make air-frier quesadillas with a similar result. 

Can I refrigerate made quesadillas?

We recommend enjoying the quesadillas right away, as they can get soggy, and stale when sitting for too long. It’s better to save the filling in the fridge and assemble quesadillas later. 

Store & Reheat 

  • Storage. Refrigerate quesadilla filling in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 
    • Reheat. Assemble quesadillas as you would, and cook the same way. 
  • Freeze. Prepare quesadilla per instruction, just don’t cook the quesadilla. Freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer bag.
    • Reheat: Thaw overnight and sautee per instructions. 

More Chicken Recipes

If you enjoyed this chicken quesadilla recipe, be sure to try our other Mexican-inspired recipes:

If you tried this Chicken Quesadilla Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and leave feedback in the comments below – we really appreciate it!

Chicken Quesadilla Recipe

Author: Valentina
Print
5 from 17 votes
Enjoy your favorite fast food comfort dish, from the luxury of your home, and at an infinitely higher quality. This creamy, cheesy chicken quesadilla recipe is so easy to recreate and turns out so tasty every time, a Taco Bell copycat recipe. 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 3 quesadillas

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked chicken
  • 2 oz cream cheese softened
  • ¼ cup ranch dressing
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 tsp sriracha
  • dash of salt pepper, and paprika
  • 3 burrito flour tortillas
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine chicken, cream cheese, ranch, cheese, sriracha, and seasoning. Mix by hand or with a hand mixer until combined.
  • Spread the mixture evenly on one half of a tortilla. Fold the tortilla over and press down gently.
  • Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pan. Add 2 quesadillas and press down gently with a spatula. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Repeat with third quesadilla.
  • Serve, and enjoy friends!

Notes

  • Store the leftover chicken mixture in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. 
  • You can freeze the mixture for up to 3 months, just let it thaw before spreading onto tortillas. 
  • Pro tip: Use rotisserie chicken for quick and easy shredded chicken. 

Nutrition

439kcal Calories18g Carbs13g Protein35g Fat14g Saturated Fat7g Polyunsaturated Fat10g Monounsaturated Fat62mg Cholesterol777mg Sodium108mg Potassium1g Fiber3g Sugar643IU Vitamin A2mg Vitamin C334mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 439 Calories from Fat 315
% Daily Value*
Fat 35g54%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Polyunsaturated Fat 7g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 62mg21%
Sodium 777mg34%
Potassium 108mg3%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 13g26%
Vitamin A 643IU13%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 334mg33%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)