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Oh yes, it’s Margarita time!
Yes, I am well aware that it is Monday.
But hey, who the heck said you can’t have a little fun on Monday?
Plus, I already have margarita plans for you guys on friday (hint, it’s not a drink). I went a little Margarita crazy!
Honestly, I do not even know where to start with these.
The margarita chicken or the margarita guacamole?
Or actually, maybe I should start with how the weekend went? Yeah, let’s start there.
The weather was insane this weekend! And I mean insane in a good way.
Sun, sun, sun! Barely a cloud in the sky, it was awesome. The temps even warmed up to the forties and fifties on Sunday, but if you were in the sun it felt more like the sixties. Score!
Now, let’s hope that snow that was going on just four short days ago stays away. Snow in May is a completely normal thing up here in the mountains. Really, one day it is sunny and sixty and the next it’s thirty and snowing. Let’s just think positive thoughts though, sunny, sunny skies!
Wow I really need to stop talking about the weather.
Let’s talk Margarita’s!
Alright, technically I did not make real margaritas, but trust me these quesadillas are the next best thing. No wait, to me they are the best and closest thing I am gonna get to a real margarita. Remember guys, I am only the young age of the nineteen and to be honest I am not into alcohol. Love cooking with it, but straight up? It’s just not my thing.
Yes, yet another reason why I am maybe the weirdest person you have (virtually) ever met.
So these quesadillas? They are so good, so cheesy and so fun.
The marinade for the chicken is basically like mixing up a margarita. Just take away the ice and add some olive oil. Then let that chicken marinate for a least thirty minutes to soak up all that flavor!
Ah huh! Yeah people, it’s five o’ clock somewhere!
My favorite though is the Margarita Guacamole. Obviously.
I have no words for this guacamole. It left everyone at the table speechless. Seriously, it’s just that good. I not only topped the quesadillas with the guacamole, but I put the guacamole in the quesadilla. Yes, in the quesadilla. Just do it, you will not regret it.
Oh and I always put rice in my quesadillas. Always. You gotta have rice. I don’t know why, but it just makes them good. I learned that from my dad. He always put rice in our quesadillas when we were younger and I guess I must have liked them, cause now I cannot make a quesadilla without the rice. I just can’t.
Margarita Chicken Quesadilla with Margarita Guacamole
Ingredients
Margarita Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or tenders
- 1/4 cup tequila
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Jalapeño, minced (remove the seeds for less heat)
- zest of 1 lime
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
Margarita Guacamole
- 3 avocados, mashed
- 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
- 1/4 fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 in Jalapeño, seeded and diced (I left half of my seeds )
- zest of 1 lime
- juice of 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1-3 tablespoons tequila, I used 1
- salt, to taste
To Make the Quesadilla
- 8 whole wheat flour tortillas
- 1 cup cooked white or brown rice
- 4 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 4 ounces pepperjack cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup pickled jalapeños, optional
- olive oil for toasting
Instructions
- Whisk the tequila, olive oil, lime juice, orange juice and honey in a bowl. Add the garlic, jalapeño, lime zest, cumin, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Add chicken to a ziplock bag or baking dish and pour marinade ingredients over top. Marinate (in the fridge) for 2-24 hours, flipping chicken a few times. When you're ready to prepare the quesadillas, preheat the grill to medium high heat and grill the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes per side or until cooked through. Allow to cool five minutes and then chop into bit size pieces or shred with a fork. Set aside.
- While the chicken is cooling make the margarita guacamole. Mash the avocados (I left mine pretty chunky, but go as chunky or smooth as you want) in a medium size bowl. Add the tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, jalapeño, lime zest, lime juice, orange juice and tequila. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat an electric griddle or skillet over medium heat. Add a bit of olive oil.
- Place 4 tortillas down, covering each with a bit of both cheeses, then evenly distribute the margarita guacamole over top (I saved some of the guacamole for dipping). Then evenly distribute the rice, then add the diced chicken. Add the pickled jalapeños and sprinkle with a little more of both cheeses. Place the tortilla on the griddle or skillet, then cover with the other tortilla. Cook until the bottom is crispy and golden brown, then gently flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until crispy and golden.
- Cut into fourths and serve with the remaining Margarita Guacamole.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Maybe this Margarita Monday will be the next big craze!
Love the marinade for this chicken! Yes to rice in quesadillas! Thank you T!
Thank you for taking the time to try out this recipe! So glad to hear you enjoyed it! xT
It was very good. Best marinade yet for tequila chicken, even if you don’t make this recipe! I did not add the rice…. filling, empty carbs. Othwise delish.
Hi Deb! I am so glad you loved this recipe! Thank you so much!
Looks delish!!! What brand of tortillas did you use?
Hey Lani I prefer Old El Paso or Mission!