Grilled Chipotle-Chicken Quesadillas
Dan Goldberg
Total Time 35 mins

Grilling adds a mildly smoky note, the perfect complement to big flavors like lime, cilantro, and chile. Plus there’s no dirty skillet to clean. Serve these chicken quesadillas with store-bought pico de gallo or other salsa. Or, if you have a little more time, make our fresh Pico de Gallo.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Lay chicken on a grill over medium heat (you can hold your hand 1 to 2 in. above grill level only 4 to 5 seconds) or put chicken in a grill pan over medium heat. Cook chicken 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through (cut to check). Slice cooked chicken breasts into 1/4-in.-thick slices. Keep grill or grill pan hot.

Step 2
2

In a small bowl, whisk together chipotle chile, sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, and cilantro.

Step 3
3

Spread 1 tbsp. chipotle-lime sauce on each of the tortillas. Top 4 of the tortillas each with 1/2 cup cheese and a quarter of the chicken slices, then cover with the remaining tortillas (sauce side down). Put each quesadilla on a dinner plate.

Step 4
4

Slide quesadillas off the plates onto the grill over medium heat, or slide into a grill pan over medium heat (you may need to grill the quesadillas in batches). Grill uncovered, turning once, until cheese is melted and both sides are golden, about 2 minutes each side (use a large spatula and tongs to flip the quesadillas). If grilling in batches, keep finished quesadillas warm in a 200° oven until ready to serve.

Step 5
5

Slice each quesadilla into wedges and serve with salsa on the side.

Step 6
6

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Step 7
7

Dress it up: Turn this everyday recipe into fun party fare by setting up a quesadilla bar with assorted fillings for your guests to choose, then grill their customized quesadillas to order. Some of our favorite fillings:

Step 8
8

Cheeses: Try shredded Monterey jack, cheddar, or goat cheese.

Step 9
9

Meats and seafood: Set out platters of grilled chicken, steak slices, bacon, and cooked shrimp.

Step 10
10

Vegetables: Round it out with canned black or pinto beans (rinsed and drained); grilled corn, peppers, summer squash, zucchini, and onions; and sliced fresh green onions.

Step 11
11

Sauces: Serve with the chipotle-lime sauce, pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream.

Ingredients

 4 boned, skinned chicken breast halves
 1 tablespoon olive oil
  Salt and freshly ground black pepper
 1 canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained and minced
 1/4 cup sour cream
 1/4 cup mayonnaise
 1 tablespoon lime juice
 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
 8 corn tortillas (6 in. each)
 2 cups grated Monterey jack cheese

Directions

Step 1
1

Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Lay chicken on a grill over medium heat (you can hold your hand 1 to 2 in. above grill level only 4 to 5 seconds) or put chicken in a grill pan over medium heat. Cook chicken 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through (cut to check). Slice cooked chicken breasts into 1/4-in.-thick slices. Keep grill or grill pan hot.

Step 2
2

In a small bowl, whisk together chipotle chile, sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, and cilantro.

Step 3
3

Spread 1 tbsp. chipotle-lime sauce on each of the tortillas. Top 4 of the tortillas each with 1/2 cup cheese and a quarter of the chicken slices, then cover with the remaining tortillas (sauce side down). Put each quesadilla on a dinner plate.

Step 4
4

Slide quesadillas off the plates onto the grill over medium heat, or slide into a grill pan over medium heat (you may need to grill the quesadillas in batches). Grill uncovered, turning once, until cheese is melted and both sides are golden, about 2 minutes each side (use a large spatula and tongs to flip the quesadillas). If grilling in batches, keep finished quesadillas warm in a 200° oven until ready to serve.

Step 5
5

Slice each quesadilla into wedges and serve with salsa on the side.

Step 6
6

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Step 7
7

Dress it up: Turn this everyday recipe into fun party fare by setting up a quesadilla bar with assorted fillings for your guests to choose, then grill their customized quesadillas to order. Some of our favorite fillings:

Step 8
8

Cheeses: Try shredded Monterey jack, cheddar, or goat cheese.

Step 9
9

Meats and seafood: Set out platters of grilled chicken, steak slices, bacon, and cooked shrimp.

Step 10
10

Vegetables: Round it out with canned black or pinto beans (rinsed and drained); grilled corn, peppers, summer squash, zucchini, and onions; and sliced fresh green onions.

Step 11
11

Sauces: Serve with the chipotle-lime sauce, pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream.

Grilled Chipotle-Chicken Quesadillas

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