These chicken fajita quesadillas have all of the flavors you would expect in traditional chicken fajitas. Stuffed inside crispy tortillas is seasoned chicken, crisp tender peppers, onions, and melted cheese.
The perfect dinner for a busy weeknight and is easily served with a variety of toppings and dips.
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Here are some quick weeknight dinner recipes that are also ready quickly and perfect for busy weeknights. This Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup is a family favorite as well as this Ravioli Casserole.
Why You'll Love These Chicken Quesadillas
- Quick & Easy: This chicken fajita quesadilla recipe comes together quickly and makes a fast meal, especially if you're using ingredients like precooked chicken or store-bought flour tortillas to make this an easy recipe.
- Customizable: Switch up the cheeses, and add some kick to your quesadillas by using pepper jack cheese.
- Party Favorite: Easy to make in large quantities and makes a great appetizer at parties.
Ingredients in Chicken Fajita Quesadillas
It takes simple ingredients to make the seasoning for the fajita mixture as well as the filling and melty cheese for this recipe.
Fajita Seasoning
- salt
- pepper
- chili powder
- cumin powder
- cayenne
- garlic powder
Fajita Chicken Quesadillas
- boneless skinless chicken breast*
- red bell peppers, julienned
- green bell pepper, julienned
- yellow onion, sliced
- mozzarella cheese
- shredded cheddar cheese
- flour tortillas (I use the large burrito tortillas sliced in half)
- olive oil
- cooking spray
See the recipe card for the full ingredient amounts and complete directions.
How to Make Chicken Fajita Quesadillas
Combine the fajita seasoning in a small bowl and set aside.
Trim fat from the chicken breasts and pound out to ½ inch thickness.
Add the chicken to a Ziploc bag and add in the spices. Close the bag and massage with your fingers to coat the chicken well and shake the bag to cover the chicken.
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add one tablespoon of olive oil.
Cook the chicken for 6 minutes on each side.
Meanwhile, thinly slice the peppers and onions.
Remove the chicken from the pan and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing to ensure tender chicken pieces.
Add the remaining olive oil to the pan and add the sliced veggies.
Saute until the veggies are crisp-tender. About 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the pan.
Mix together the shredded cheese in a bowl and slice the chicken into thin strips.
Using a nonstick skillet, spray with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.
Adding one tortilla at a time, fill half of each tortilla will a thin layer of cheese, layer with the veggies, and strips of chicken, and top with the cheese blend.
Fold the tortilla on top of the filling and heat in the pan for about 1 to 2 minutes. Fry until the bottom half of the tortilla is golden brown. Adjust the temperature if needed and flip the tortilla to heat the other side.
Remove the quesadillas from the heat and repeat the steps to make the quesadillas.
Slice the tortillas in half and serve with garnishments of choice.
When serving these Chicken Fajita Quesadillas, they can be served with a variety of toppings. One of our favorites is serving these quesadillas with this Homemade Red Salsa.
Freshly made guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, sliced red onions, and a side of tortilla chips easily make these chicken fajita quesadillas a fulfilling meal.
Mexican rice and refried beans are great sides for this chicken quesadilla recipe.
Substitutions in Chicken Fajita Quesadillas
Quesadillas are very customizable. Here are some easy substitutions to make fajita style quesadillas:
Cheese - Mozzarella cheese and shredded cheddar cheese are used in this recipe but Monterey Jack cheese and Pepper Jack cheese are great choices for this chicken quesadilla recipe. Make sure to use the right cheese for fajitas by choosing ones that melt easily.
Swap out the chicken - This fajita quesadilla recipe uses chicken fajita seasoning but you can use shredded beef or steak, and you can make shrimp fajita quesadillas. Another easy option to make this chicken fajita version is to use premade chicken strips or rotisserie chicken to cut down on time.
Variations in Fajita Quesadillas
Quesadillas are easy to make your own and here are some tasty combination options that still be an easy dinner idea:
- Classic - Seasoned chicken, red and green bell peppers, onion, and cheese.
- Veggie packed - Opt for corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas and saute some mushrooms along with the bell peppers.
- Make it spicy - Add some heat with the right cheese and add some chopped jalapenos to the veggie mix.
- Kid Friendly- Depending on if you have picky eaters, you can leave out the others or peppers and add more chicken on each tortilla to make versions that the whole family will enjoy.
- Make it easier- If you prefer to roast everything at once, these sheet pan chicken fajitas are another easy option
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key ingredients for a chicken fajita quesadilla?
The key ingredients in this fajita quesadilla recipe is a delicious fajita seasoning blend that is rubbed into the chicken strips that achieve a Southwestern flair. Crisp bell peppers, onions, and cheese that melts well are all important for fajita quesadilla recipes.
How can I make a healthy version of a chicken fajita quesadilla?
To make a healthy chicken fajita quesadilla, consider using whole wheat tortillas, and lean cuts of chicken, and increase the amount of veggies in the quesadillas. Also, opt for olive oil as the oil of choice when sauteing the veggies and heating the tortillas.
RELATED
📖 Recipe
Chicken Fajita Quesadillas
Ingredients
Fajita Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Chicken Fajita Quesadillas
- 1 pound chicken breasts*
- 1 red bell pepper - julienned
- 1 green bell pepper - julienned
- 1 yellow onion - sliced
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 10 flour tortillas - I use the large burrito tortillas sliced in half
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Combine the fajita seasoning in a small bowl and set aside.
- Trim fat from the chicken breasts and pound out to ½ inch thickness.
- Add the chicken to a Ziploc bag and add in the spices. Close the bag and massage with your fingers to coat the chicken well and shake the bag to cover the chicken.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add one tablespoon of olive oil.
- Cook the chicken for 6 minutes on each side.
- Meanwhile, thinly slice the peppers and onions.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing to ensure tender chicken pieces.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the pan and add the sliced veggies.
- Saute until the veggies are crisp-tender. About 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the pan.
- Mix together the shredded cheese in a bowl and slice the chicken into thin strips.
- Using a nonstick skillet, spray with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium heat.
- Adding one tortilla at a time, fill half of each tortilla will a thin layer of cheese, layer with the veggies, and strips of chicken, and top with the cheese blend.
- Fold the tortilla on top of the filling and heat in the pan for about 1 to 2 minutes. Fry until the bottom half of the tortilla is golden brown. Adjust the temperature if needed and flip the tortilla to heat the other side.
- Remove the quesadillas from the heat and repeat the steps to make the quesadillas.
- Slice the tortillas in half and serve with garnishments of choice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Popular Recipes
Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
Amy Liu Dong says
Hands down, one of the great quesadillas recipe i've come across the internet! This looks awesome and i will make this tomorrow!