Cheesy honey chipotle chicken quesadilla. Crispy flour or corn tortilla filled with honey and chipotle spiced juicy chicken, and melted cheese. It’s sweet, smoky, spicy, cheesy, and incredibly easy to make. I like serving them straight from the skillet with fresh lemon, honey chipotle sauce, and salsa. Read on to learn how to make the best quesadillas, what cheese works best, how to get that perfect golden and crispy tortilla, and the simple tricks that keep the filling juicy and flavorful.
Why I Love This Quesadilla
Honestly, I didn’t think a little honey can make such a big difference to a chicken quesadilla. But once you combine it with chipotle chicken, plenty of gooey cheese, and crispy tortillas, the whole flavor combination just works. If you have never combined chipotle flavors with honey, trust me on this one. It rounds out the heat of the chipotle and gives chicken a delicious caramelized flavor. Think of it as a classic chicken quesadilla with serious flavor upgrade. These are insanely delicious, I’d happily serve them for lunch, dinner, game night, or a casual weekend meal.
The classic chipotle seasoning gives chicken its signature kick. Both store bought and homemade seasoning works perfectly well in this recipe. However, if ground chipotle is not easily available, go with equal quantities of smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. With the tortillas, make sure you toast them until golden-brown, with crisp edges and little browned patches across the surface. When you cut into it, the cheese should stretch, and when you bite into it, you should hear a little crunch.
What Ingredients Do You Need For Cheesy Honey Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla
- Chicken - Boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Chicken breasts works perfectly well, too.
- Chipotle seasoning - Store bought or homemade for the classic chipotle flavors.
- Honey - For the subtle sweetness.
- Cheese - Mozzarella is perfect for the cheese pull. Monterey Jack and Mexican cheese blend are also great options.
- Tortilla - Large or small flour or corn tortillas. GF tortillas are great, too.
- Extras - Sliced red onions, fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves.
How To Make Cheesy Honey Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla
Step One: Marinate and Cook Chicken
Season chicken with chipotle seasoning, honey, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cook it in the oven or pan fry. If you are using chicken breast like I did, be careful not to overcook it. Once cooked, let the chicken rest briefly before shredding or chopping into bite-sized pieces.
Step Two: Coat the Chicken
Mix the shredded chicken in honey chipotle sauce.
Step Three: Assemble the Quesadilla
Place a tortilla in a pan over medium heat. Place a layer of cheese on one side of tortilla. Add chicken, and another layer of cheese. Fold the tortilla over, and let it brown. The cheese acts like an edible glue. Make sure the pan is over medium heat, as high heat can burn the tortilla before the cheese has had time to melt. Before serving, cut the tortillas into wedges.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Overfilling the tortilla - More filling doesn’t necessarily mean a better quesadilla.
- Too much honey - Honey should balance the chipotle flavors, not dominate it.
- Cooking over high heat - If the tortilla turns brown while the cheese inside is barely melted, the pan is too hot.
Cheesy Honey Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla
Ingredients
Marinate and cook chicken:
- 600 g chicken thighs breasts
- 2 tablespoons chipotle seasoning
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Juice of half lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Chicken chipotle mix:
- ½ cup chipotle sauce, homemade or store bought
- 2 teaspoons honey
Quesadillas:
- 100 g butter, unsalted
- 20 tortillas
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup sliced red onions
To serve:
- Extra chipotle sauce
Garnish:
- Coriander (cilantro) leaves
Instructions
Cook chicken:
- Place chicken on a baking sheet.
- Add chipotle seasoning, honey, olive oil, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
- Coat chicken with the marinade.
- Marinate for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator, if time permits.
- When ready to cook, preheat oven to 200 C or 400 F.
- Arrange chicken on the baking tray in a single layer.
- Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and registers an internal temperature of 75C or 165F on an instant read thermometer.
- Remove chicken from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes.
Make chipotle-chicken filling:
- Shred chicken. Add chipotle sauce and honey.
- Coat chicken with the sauce.
Assemble quesadilla:
- Add 2 teaspoons butter to a frying pan or skillet over medium heat.
- Place a flour tortilla in the pan.
- Add a layer of cheese across one half of the tortilla. Top with chipotle chicken, followed by another layer of cheese.
- Fold the tortilla over.
- Cook the quesadilla for a few minutes on each side until the tortilla is golden brown and crisp, and the cheese has completely melted.
- Remove quesadilla from pan. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, chipotle chicken, and shredded cheese.
- Let the quesadillas sit for a minute before cutting into wedges.
- Serve immediately with more chipotle sauce. Top with chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves.
Notes
- Serving suggestion - My first choice is extra honey chipotle sauce. You can also serve the quesadilla with salsa, guacamole, or pico de gallo.
- Ground chipotle - If ground chipotle is not easily available, add half tablespoon smoked paprika and half tablespoon cayenne pepper.
Nutrition
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Cheesy Honey Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla FAQ
What is the best chicken for quesadillas?
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are excellent, however, chicken breasts also work well.
Can I use leftover rotisserie chicken?
Absolutely. It’s one of the easiest ways to make these quesadillas. Simply shred the chicken, and stir it with honey chipotle sauce.
Can I make honey chipotle chicken quesadillas less spicy?
Yes. Use less chipotle pepper, and avoid adding extra hot sauce. You can increase the amount of honey slightly if you want sweeter, milder flavor.
What tortillas should I use?
Large or small flour or corn tortillas, and gluten free tortillas.
Can I freeze chicken quesadillas?
Yes. Cooked quesadillas can be cooled completely, wrapped individually, and frozen.
How do I reheat a quesadilla?
A skillet or air fryer is the best option. Heat until the center is hot, and exterior is crisp again.
What can I use instead of ground chipotle?
If ground chipotle is not available to make chipotle seasoning, you can use smoked paprika and cayenne pepper in 1:1 ratio.
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