Chicken Avocado Quesadilla (Printable)

Grilled chicken breast, creamy avocado mash, melted cheese, and caramelized onions folded in warm flour tortillas.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Avocado Mash

08 - 2 ripe avocados
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Assembly

12 - 4 large flour tortillas, 10-inch diameter
13 - 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
14 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - Cooking spray or olive oil for grilling

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
02 - In a bowl, toss chicken breasts with olive oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Grill chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
03 - In a separate bowl, mash avocados with lime juice, cilantro, and salt until mostly smooth with some chunks remaining.
04 - Lay out tortillas. On half of each tortilla, spread a generous layer of avocado mash. Top with sliced chicken, red onion, and cheese. Fold tortillas in half to enclose the filling.
05 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat and lightly coat with cooking spray or olive oil. Cook quesadillas two at a time for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and cheese is melted.
06 - Remove from skillet and let cool slightly. Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms simple ingredients into something that tastes like you ordered takeout, but better and fresher.
  • The entire meal comes together in under 40 minutes, which means you can actually relax afterward.
  • Every bite delivers that perfect contrast of creamy avocado, melted cheese, and crispy edges that keeps you reaching for another wedge.
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting time for the chicken, cutting into it too early releases all the juices and leaves you with dry meat.
  • Use ripe avocados that give slightly when pressed, underripe ones will not mash properly and overripe ones can taste bitter.
  • Keep the heat at medium when cooking the quesadillas, too high and the outside burns before the cheese melts.
03 -
  • Press down gently on the quesadilla with a spatula while it cooks to help the cheese melt faster and the tortilla crisp evenly.
  • If you are making a batch for a crowd, keep finished quesadillas warm in a 200-degree oven while you cook the rest.
  • A squeeze of fresh lime juice over the finished wedges right before serving adds a bright pop that wakes up every flavor.
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