Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas (Print Version)

Crispy tortillas filled with BBQ chicken, melted cheese, and a sweet-spicy kick.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken Filling

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded (rotisserie or grilled)

→ Hot Honey BBQ Sauce

02 - 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons hot honey (or regular honey + 1 teaspoon hot sauce)
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Quesadillas

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

→ For Serving

12 - Sour cream
13 - Lime wedges
14 - Hot sauce

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine BBQ sauce, hot honey, smoked paprika, and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Add shredded chicken and toss until evenly coated.
02 - Lay out tortillas on a flat surface. On half of each tortilla, layer mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Top with equal portions of BBQ chicken, diced red onion, and cilantro if using. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, then fold tortillas in half to enclose filling.
03 - Heat 1/2 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place one quesadilla in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until tortilla is golden brown and cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining quesadillas, adding more butter as needed.
04 - Transfer cooked quesadillas to a cutting board and let rest for 1 minute before slicing into wedges.
05 - Serve warm with sour cream, lime wedges, and additional hot sauce on the side if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The way sweet honey and smoky BBQ sauce cling to every shred of chicken creates this incredible sticky glaze that seeps into the tortilla
  • These come together in under 30 minutes using leftover or rotisserie chicken, making them perfect for last minute dinners
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting period or the cheese will ooze out everywhere when you slice them
  • Medium heat is crucial because high heat burns the honey before the cheese melts
03 -
  • Let your butter foam and subside before adding the first quesadilla for the most even browning
  • Use a sharp knife and one decisive slicing motion instead of sawing back and forth