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If only all Mondays could include these quesadillas.
Wouldn’t that be amazing?! Well, now they can, because I have pretty good feeling you guys are going to LOVE this recipe. I mean, cheesy Mexican food on a Monday?
Yes, please!
These quesadillas are such a fun way to start the week. My weekend was pretty non-eventful, but still a great weekend. I spent a little sister time with Asher watching Mary-Kate and Ashley movies (more on these later…I still love them at 23 years old), planning her summer trip to Italy after watching When in Rome (I like the way the girl thinks), and working on a food photography presentation for an upcoming conference I’m speaking at (yeah, nervous times like ten!). I didn’t really do anything too fun food-wise, so this recipe just felt kind of perfect for today!
And really when is Mexican food ever a bad idea? Hint…it’s always a the best idea…duh.
So I have to tell you guys a little secret…I know that Cinco De Mayo is still a few weeks away, but I’ve been secretly planning for it for weeks now, I am SO excited. And I have so many Mexican-ish recipes to share between now and May 5th (which happens to fall on a Friday this year making it all the more fun) that I figured I might want to start now and spread them out a bit. Didn’t want to completely overwhelm you guys with my Cinco inspired recipes the entire first week of May, so we’ll start today!
Plus, I feel like there’s been so much talk of Easter, that you guys just might be looking for a delicious and easy dinner for tonight. Hoping you are, because these quesadillas, filled with chipotle chicken, peppers, rice, and lots of cheddar, need to happen in everyone’s kitchen’s soon. <–for real.
Let me explain these quesadillas and how they came to be. It’s kind of rare that I don’t always have food ready for eating in the fridge at any given time. I’m constantly cooking and baking (and making messes in the process), but then there are those times when I either don’t cook for a day or I tested a bunch of baking recipes and only have desserts on hand (my mom’s kind of dinner…fortunately I don’t think she would actually go there).
These are the nights I improvise and use whatever I have on hand. I’m pretty sure I’ve probably told you guys this same story a time or two before, but honestly some of my best recipes come out of just throwing things together. It takes me back to the days when I first started to cook and I’d just use the odds and ends that were in the fridge at the time. My Dad taught me pretty well how to just throw a bunch of ingredients into a dish and pray for the best.
With these cheesy quesadillas I had an idea of where I wanted them to go, and how I wanted them to taste, so I grabbed what I had, which was rice (I always have rice in the fridge around here), chicken, one poblano pepper, a can of tomatoes and some seasonings. In less than an hour, these quesadillas were ready. I knew the second I pulled them out of the oven that they were going to be so freaking good. I mean, the cheese oozing out from inside practically had me jumping for joy.
A few important factors to these…
…instead of just cooking the chicken in a skillet with spices, I decided to sear the chicken and simmer it with fire roasted tomatoes and chipotle peppers. I wanted an extra saucy chicken (surprise, surprise), and a chicken that would be anything but dry. Once the chicken is fully cooked, just shred it right in the pot and toss with the sauce.
…with every quesadilla I make you will notice two things, there’s always rice and plenty of cheese! And typically peppers too. These have all the three.
…typically quesadillas are pan-fried on the stove, but I’m going to be honest, I was just lazy and didn’t feel like dirtying up the stove top. So instead I opted to cook these in the oven, and you know what? They actually turned out amazing. The tortillas got crispy on the outside and the cheese that oozed out got that nice golden, almost fried like crust, so good.
…to finish, I drizzled them with a little lime yogurt and topped with fresh mango, cilantro and sliced avocado. Perfection.
Now come on, after reading all that you guys have to admit these sound perfect for dinner tonight, right?
Yes, yes, YES!
Cheesy Mexican dinner for the win!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
PS. Margaritas on a Monday may or may not be the best idea ever. <–maybe just one.
Hello Teigen!
Would you recommend crispy potatoes or jackfruit substitute rather than chicken for a vegetarian version?
I’m excited to try this soon!
Hmm! I have never tried jackfruit, so I can’t really say for sure. I think potatoes would be awesome! 🙂 Hope you love these!
Be still my drooling heart….I just finished dinner and I want to devour these insanely gorgeous Quesadillas…perfection…I can already taste them…This is like the pinnacle of go-to food that makes you swoon. Your photo’s make these guys even more appealing, if that is even possible….I need to go lie down now… 🙂
Haha oh my gosh! SO happy you like them Tammy! Hopefully you get to try them soon!
Seriously yum! My Monday night could use a great Mexican meal 🙂
Mondays always could!! Thanks Laura!
Definitely making these! Was the chicken overly spicy with two adobo peppers? I have a sensitive spice baby I’m cooking for. haha!
Hi!! So I definitely like spicy, but it’s not overly so. I’d say use one though just to be safe. You will have all the flavor, but just less heat! Let me know if you have questions. Thank you! 🙂
These are right up my alley! I’ve been secretly planning Cinco de Mayo myself…for like months now! Hands down favorite food day. Good luck planning your conference, I’m sure you’ll do great! 🙂
Its a big planning day! Even bigger food day!
Thanks Lindsay I hope so!
Wow these quesadillas look amazing!!
Thanks Sara!
My husband would love these.
Awesome!!
Your comment about planning for Cinco de Mayo made me laugh out loud. I have been wanting to have a house-warming party since I purchased my house a year ago, but life has been busy! We have now gotten the house into a good working order to have a bunch of people over and I said “let’s do a Cinco de Mayo/housewarming party.” I’ve been planning for it now for about a month 🙂 Taco and nacho bar with all the fixings and margaritas, galore!
OH MY GOSH!! That sounds like so much fun!! Congrats on the house and party!!
Omg, quesadillas are just the best and these look so good!
(: Thanks Tori!!
‘Taco Tuesday’ revisited….
I am so making these tomorrow night.
Of course have to substitute a couple of things…but know it will be delish.
thank you. Happy Monday .
Well I hope you love them Leslie! Thank you!
SOOO delicious…cinco de mayo is probably my favorite food holiday (uh hello tacos & margs & guac) so i can’t wait to see what else you have in store! xx
Ah me too!! Thanks so much Jess! Stay tuned!!
hmmmmm i’m already hungry!! I have some tortillas in my pantry, I think I might just do this dish.
https://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt/
Haha, yes! Love having the ingredients without running to the store! Hope you love them Ruth!
These look loaded!!!! Best way to have quesadillas. And I still watch Disney films ?
Haha yes! They’re the best. Thanks so much Mariana!
These quesadillas sound absolutely amazing, especially with the chipotle peppers. Can’t wait to give these a try!
Thanks Andrea!! Hope you love them as always (:
These quesadillas are all kinds of awesome. Drooling over here.
Awh thank you Alida!