Description
These Cheesy Chipotle Adobo Chicken Quesadillas are packed with flavor! The tender, spicy chicken is cooked in chipotle adobo sauce, then layered with melty cheese and grilled to perfection inside a crispy tortilla. Perfect for a quick meal or a party appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 2 tbsp chipotle adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese or cheddar cheese
- 4 flour tortillas (8-inch size)
- 1 tbsp butter (for grilling)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional, for garnish)
- Sour cream and salsa, for serving
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the chipotle adobo sauce, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Cut the chicken breasts into small bite-sized pieces and coat them with the adobo sauce mixture. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes (or up to 1 hour if time allows).
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken pieces and cook for 5–7 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and browned. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the sliced red onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened and lightly caramelized. Remove from heat.
- Preheat a separate skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place one tortilla in the pan and sprinkle with a layer of shredded cheese.
- Add half of the cooked chicken and sautéed onions on top of the cheese. Then sprinkle with a little more cheese to help bind the quesadilla together. Top with a second tortilla.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, flipping carefully with a spatula until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese has melted. Repeat with the second quesadilla.
- Remove the quesadillas from the pan and allow to cool slightly before cutting them into wedges.
- Serve the quesadillas with sour cream, salsa, and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro for garnish.
Notes
- For an extra smoky flavor, you can add a small amount of chipotle peppers from the can along with the sauce when cooking the chicken.
- To make it spicier, increase the amount of chipotle adobo sauce or add some sliced fresh jalapeños inside the quesadilla.
- You can substitute the flour tortillas with whole wheat or gluten-free tortillas for a healthier option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesadilla (1/2 of a full quesadilla)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg