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

Scale

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