Chicken Avocado Quesadilla (Printable)

Juicy grilled chicken meets creamy avocado in crispy, cheese-filled tortillas. A satisfying Mexican-American favorite ready in 35 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon 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 lime juice
10 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Assembly

12 - 4 large flour tortillas, 10-inch
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 Steps:

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

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant quality but comes together in your own kitchen in about half an hour.
  • The creamy avocado mash adds a fresh brightness that makes these quesadillas feel light despite the melted cheese.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully in a dry skillet, so you can make extra and enjoy them the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting step after grilling the chicken, or all the juices will run out when you slice it and the meat will turn dry.
  • Use medium heat when cooking the quesadillas, because high heat will burn the tortilla before the cheese has a chance to melt.
  • If your avocados are too hard, they won't mash properly and the filling will feel chunky and uneven.
03 -
  • Press down gently on the quesadilla with a spatula while it cooks to help the cheese melt evenly and the tortilla crisp up.
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, keep finished quesadillas warm in a 200-degree oven while you finish the rest.
  • For extra flavor, brush the outside of the tortilla with a little melted butter before cooking.
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