How to Make: Chicken Quesadillas

flour tortillas

🥗Healthier: whole wheat tortillas

💰Cheaper: corn tortillas

Whole wheat adds fiber; corn tortillas are often less expensive.

cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Low-fat cheese reduces calories, while processed cheese is often cheaper.

cooked chicken

🥗Healthier: grilled tofu

💰Cheaper: canned chicken

Tofu is a healthier protein alternative, while canned chicken is more affordable.

jalapeño

🥗Healthier: bell pepper

💰Cheaper: banana pepper

Bell peppers are milder and lower in calories; banana peppers are often less expensive.

Debone the chicken and cut it into pieces for pan frying.

Mix together onion powder, oregano, thyme, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper to season the chicken.

Marinate the chicken in the seasoning mixture for about 30 minutes.

Prepare pico de gallo by chopping tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno (de-seeded if desired), and onion.

Add about 3 tablespoons of lime juice to the pico de gallo mixture and stir it all together.

Refrigerate the pico de gallo until ready to serve.

Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a little butter and olive oil.

Add the marinated chicken to the skillet and cook until heated through, about a few minutes, without needing to brown it.

Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

In the same skillet, add a little more oil and place a flour tortilla in it.

Sprinkle cheese on one half of the tortilla.

Add a portion of the cooked chicken on top of the cheese.

Add more cheese on top of the chicken to help hold it together.

Fold the tortilla over to form a half-moon shape.

Cook until the bottom is golden brown, about 2-3 minutes, then flip it over to melt the cheese on the other side.

Once the cheese is melted and the other side is golden, remove the quesadilla from the skillet and let it rest.

Repeat the process for additional quesadillas, adjusting the heat as necessary to avoid burning.

Serve the quesadillas with the pico de gallo.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens