Description
Hot Honey Chicken Quesadillas combine crispy, spicy chicken with sticky honey heat and gooey melted cheese for an irresistible balance of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. Perfect for weeknight dinners or parties, these quesadillas are quick to prepare and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
Hot Honey Sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 1–2 tsp hot sauce (Frank’s, Cholula, or your favorite)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust heat)
- Optional: ½ tsp apple cider vinegar or lime juice
Quesadillas
- Large flour tortillas
- 1 ½–2 cups shredded cheese (best combo: mozzarella + sharp cheddar; or pepper jack if you prefer heat)
- Butter or oil for the pan
Optional Add-Ins
- Thinly sliced red onion
- Jalapeños
- Corn or diced bell peppers
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Make the Hot Honey: Warm the honey gently either in the microwave for 20–30 seconds or in a small pan on low heat. Stir in the hot sauce, red pepper flakes, and optional apple cider vinegar or lime juice to combine well. Set aside for later use.
- Season the Chicken: Heat olive oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the shredded or chopped chicken along with smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes until the chicken is warmed through and slightly crispy. Drizzle half of the hot honey sauce over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
- Build the Quesadillas: Place a large flour tortilla in a clean skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle a layer of shredded cheese evenly over the tortilla, then add the hot honey coated chicken and any desired optional add-ins such as red onion, jalapeños, corn, or bell peppers. Add another layer of cheese on top, which is crucial to help the quesadilla hold together, and then place a second tortilla over everything.
- Cook: Cook the quesadilla for 2–3 minutes on one side until it is golden brown and the cheese starts to melt. Press gently using a spatula, then carefully flip it over to cook the other side for another 2–3 minutes until golden and fully melted inside.
- Finish: Remove the quesadilla from the skillet and let it rest for about a minute to allow the cheese to set and create better cheese pull. Slice into wedges and drizzle the remaining hot honey sauce on top for a sweet and spicy finish. Optionally, serve with your favorite dips like ranch, chipotle mayo, or avocado crema for extra flavor.
Notes
- Using rotisserie chicken is a great time saver and adds extra flavor.
- Let the quesadilla rest for a minute before slicing for a better cheese pull.
- Add a pinch of flaky sea salt on top to enhance flavor.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes to control the heat level.
- You can easily adapt this recipe for air fryer or oven cooking methods if preferred.
- Feel free to customize with extra veggies or garnishes to your taste.
