Cheesy Hot Honey Chicken Quesadillas Recipe
Introduction
Cheesy Hot Honey Chicken Quesadillas are a delightful blend of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors wrapped in a crispy tortilla. This recipe is perfect for a quick dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer that combines tender chicken with melty cheese and a zesty jalapeño cream sauce.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon pepper, to taste
- 0.33 cup honey
- 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1-2 fresh jalapeños, deseeded and chopped
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 0.5 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 8 large flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter, for grilling
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish, to taste)
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Step 2: Cook the chicken in the hot skillet for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through.
- Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together honey and hot sauce. Pour this mixture over the cooked chicken and toss well to coat. Keep warm.
- Step 4: In another bowl, combine sour cream, chopped jalapeños, lime juice, garlic powder, and salt. Mix well and refrigerate until serving.
- Step 5: Lay one flour tortilla flat and sprinkle with a layer of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Add a portion of the hot honey chicken on top, then sprinkle a little more cheese.
- Step 6: Place a second tortilla over the filling to form a quesadilla.
- Step 7: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the quesadilla for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Step 8: Remove from skillet, slice into wedges, and serve with the jalapeño cream sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired.
Tips & Variations
- For extra heat, leave the jalapeño seeds in when making the cream sauce.
- Try substituting chicken breasts with cooked shredded rotisserie chicken for a quicker meal.
- Add diced red onions or bell peppers for extra crunch and flavor inside the quesadilla.
- Use pepper jack cheese instead of Monterey Jack for a spicier cheese blend.
Storage
Store leftover quesadillas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through and the cheese is melted, or use a microwave for convenience, though the quesadilla may be less crispy.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?
Yes, but be sure to fully thaw and pat the chicken dry before cooking to ensure even cooking and good texture.
How spicy are these quesadillas?
The heat level can be adjusted by varying the amount of hot sauce and jalapeños. Removing the seeds from the jalapeños reduces the spice, making it milder and perfect for sensitive palates.
Print
Cheesy Hot Honey Chicken Quesadillas Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 quesadilla slices (approximately 4 full quesadillas) 1x
Description
Cheesy Hot Honey Chicken Quesadillas combine tender, spiced chicken coated in a sweet and spicy honey sauce with melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, all grilled between crispy flour tortillas. Served with a zesty jalapeño cream sauce, this crowd-pleasing dish is perfect for a flavorful and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Chicken and Marinade
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon pepper, to taste
- 0.33 cup honey
- 2–3 tablespoons hot sauce
Jalapeño Cream Sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1–2 fresh jalapeños, deseeded and chopped
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt, to taste
Quesadilla Assembly
- 8 large flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter, for grilling
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cooking the Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Season the small chicken pieces with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook the chicken in the skillet for about 10 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Coating the Chicken: In a small bowl, whisk together honey and hot sauce. Pour this mixture over the cooked chicken and toss well to coat all the pieces evenly. Keep the chicken warm.
- Preparing the Jalapeño Cream Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, chopped jalapeños, lime juice, garlic powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate until ready to serve to allow flavors to meld.
- Assembling the Quesadillas: Lay one flour tortilla flat and sprinkle with a layer of shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. Add a portion of the hot honey-coated chicken on top, then sprinkle a light layer of cheese over the chicken. Cover with a second tortilla to form a quesadilla.
- Cooking the Quesadillas: Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt a small amount of butter. Place the assembled quesadilla in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese has melted inside.
- Serving: Remove the quesadilla from the skillet, slice into wedges, and serve drizzled with or alongside the jalapeño cream sauce. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro if desired.
Notes
- For milder heat, reduce the amount of hot sauce and jalapeños.
- Use corn tortillas for a gluten-free option if available.
- The quesadillas can be kept warm in a low oven while cooking the rest.
- Fresh lime juice adds brightness to the jalapeño cream sauce; adjust to taste.
- Butter helps achieve a golden crisp texture when grilling the quesadillas.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Keywords: Cheesy Hot Honey Chicken Quesadillas, spicy chicken quesadilla, honey hot sauce chicken, jalapeño cream sauce, grilled quesadilla recipe
