Chicken Salad Quesadillas are a quick, easy, and delicious meal that combines creamy chicken salad, melted cheese, and crispy tortillas. Perfect for lunch, dinner, or a snack, this recipe takes about 25–30 minutes to prepare and cook. It serves 4 and can be customized with ingredients like avocado or fresh greens. These quesadillas are best enjoyed hot, paired with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for dipping!
Why You’ll Love It:
These Chicken Salad Quesadillas are quick, easy, and full of flavor! Packed with creamy chicken salad, melted cheese, and crispy tortillas, they’re perfect for lunch or dinner. Ready in under 30 minutes, customizable with your favorite ingredients, and ideal for serving with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole. A delicious, satisfying meal the whole family will love!
Estimated Calories Per Quesadilla:
- Flour tortilla (large, ~10 inches): ~220 calories
- Cooked shredded chicken (1/2 cup): ~120 calories
- Mayonnaise (1 tbsp): ~90 calories
- Shredded cheese (1/3 cup): ~110 calories
- Celery, onion, cilantro (minimal): ~10 calories
- Butter/oil for cooking (1 tsp): ~40 calories
Total: ~590 calories per quesadilla
The calorie count for chicken salad quesadillas can vary depending on portion size and specific ingredients used. Here’s an approximate breakdown per quesadilla (1 large tortilla with filling and cheese):
Tips to Reduce Calories:
- Use low-fat mayonnaise or Greek yogurt as a substitute.
- Opt for low-fat cheese or reduce the cheese amount.
- Use whole-grain or low-calorie tortillas.
- Skip or minimize butter/oil by using a non-stick skillet.
If you’d like a precise calculation for your recipe, let me know the exact quantities or substitutions you plan to use!
Preparation Time:
- 10–15 minutes: Preparing the chicken salad (shredding chicken, chopping vegetables, mixing ingredients).
- 5 minutes: Assembling the quesadillas (spreading the filling and folding tortillas).
Cooking Time:
- 2–3 minutes per side, per quesadilla: Cooking on the skillet, for a total of 10–15 minutes depending on the number of quesadillas and the size of your skillet.
Total Time:
- 25–30 minutes from start to finish!
If you prepare the chicken salad in advance, cooking and assembling will take just 10–15 minutes.
Chicken Salad Quesadillas
Ingredients
For the Chicken Salad:
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or boiled chicken works great)
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise adjust to taste
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard optional
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro or parsley optional
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Juice of 1/2 lemon or lime
For the Quesadillas:
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a cheese blend
- Butter or oil for cooking
Optional Add-ins:
- Sliced avocado
- Fresh spinach or arugula
- Diced tomatoes
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard (if using), diced celery, red onion, and garlic powder.
- Stir until all ingredients are well combined.
- Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Assemble the Quesadillas
- Lay a tortilla flat on a clean surface.
- Spread a generous layer of chicken salad over half of the tortilla.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese over the chicken salad. (The cheese acts as a binder to keep the quesadilla together.)
- Fold the tortilla in half to cover the filling. Repeat with the remaining tortillas
Cook the Quesadillas
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and add a small amount of butter or oil.
- Place the folded quesadilla in the skillet and cook for 2–3 minutes on each side, until the tortilla is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted.
- Repeat with the remaining quesadillas.
Serve and Enjoy
- Slice each quesadilla into wedges and serve hot with:
- Salsa
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Hot sauce