Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas (Printable version)

Crispy tortillas stuffed with BBQ chicken in hot honey glaze, melted cheese blend, and fresh toppings.

# What you'll need:

→ Chicken Filling

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded (rotisserie or grilled)
02 - 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons hot honey (or regular honey mixed with 1 teaspoon hot sauce)
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Quesadilla Assembly

06 - 4 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
07 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
09 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
10 - 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for cooking

→ Optional Garnishes

12 - Sour cream
13 - Fresh lime wedges
14 - Hot sauce

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together BBQ sauce, hot honey, smoked paprika, and garlic powder in a medium bowl until fully combined. Add shredded chicken and toss to coat evenly in the sauce mixture.
02 - Arrange tortillas on a flat surface. On one half of each tortilla, layer a portion of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Distribute BBQ chicken evenly over the cheese, then top with diced red onion and cilantro if desired. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, then fold tortillas in half to enclose filling.
03 - Melt 1/2 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place one quesadilla in the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until tortilla is golden brown and cheese is fully melted. Add more butter as needed and repeat with remaining quesadillas.
04 - Transfer cooked quesadillas to a cutting board and let rest for 1 minute. Slice each quesadilla into 3 to 4 wedges.
05 - Arrange quesadilla wedges on serving plates and accompany with sour cream, fresh lime wedges, and additional hot sauce for those who prefer extra heat.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The hot honey and BBQ sauce create this perfect sticky glaze that clings to every shred of chicken
  • These come together in under thirty minutes but taste like they took all day
  • The crispy tortilla gives way to gooey melted cheese in every single bite
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting period or the cheese will run everywhere when you try to slice
  • Medium heat is crucial here because high heat burns the tortilla before the cheese melts
  • Pressing gently while cooking helps the cheese stick to the tortilla so nothing falls apart
03 -
  • Use a mix of mozzarella and cheddar because mozzarella gives you those classic cheese pulls while cheddar adds flavor
  • Butter in the pan makes a huge difference in the tortilla texture compared to oil or cooking spray

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