Pesto Chicken Quesadillas

These Pesto Chicken Quesadillas are ready in just 10 minutes, and are a delicious leftover chicken recipe using just 5 ingredients. They are perfect for dinner, lunch and for sending for school lunches.

Disclosure: I am participating in the Chicken Farmers of Canada campaign managed by SJ Consulting. I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Pesto Chicken Quesadillas

If you are looking for a quick and delicious lunch or dinner, this Pesto Chicken Quesadilla recipe is for you!

We’ve enjoyed this type of quesadilla in our home for years, so it was due time to highlight one of our all-time favourite meals. Quesadillas are a quick and easy recipe to make, yet this particular blend between two tortillas are such a hit.

For this recipe you need only 5 ingredients: tortillas, pesto, chicken (cubed or shredded), diced peppers and shredded cheese. Not only is it a simple recipe, yet it’s even faster to make than those famous 30 minute meals.

With schedules starting to fill again, and back to school upon us – an effortless and delicious meal is more than welcome. Don’t you agree? Whether you need to use up leftovers, or need a dinner on the table STAT, this is a tried and true recipe that checks every box when it comes to a favourite meal.

We usually serve these with a side of caesar salad, yet you can also try this tasty Fiesta Mexican Rice too.

You can also send these quesadillas to school, they make a great Non-Sandwich School Lunch Idea. It’s never too early to avoid that school lunch rut, so why not start the year off on a good start with options. Yet don’t forget small side containers of sour cream, salsa and/or guacamole for dipping.

While you can make your own Homemade Pesto, store bought will be just as good. This recipe also allows for variations based on preference.

Not only can you add whichever colour of peppers you have on hand, yet you can also make tasty additions such as green onion and spinach.

Quesadilla Making Tips:

To get that perfect crispy quesadilla, make sure to use non-stick cooking spray in the pan and spray each time you make a new quesadilla. After 203 minutes of cooking, peek at the bottom and see if the tortilla is starting to brown and if it’s stiff and not bending when slightly lifted.

To flip a quesadilla, I like to use a plate that is the same size as the pan I’m cooking in. When it’s time to flip, I remove the pan lid and place a plate flipped over onto the pan. Lift the pan off the stove and quickly flip all, so the quesadilla is resting on the plate. Voila!

When it comes to the chicken used for this recipe, you also have a few options. You can bake boneless skinless chicken breasts ahead of time so that prep time is minimal. Yet oftentimes, we make this with leftover chicken.

One sure thing, is that we always look for the Raised by a Canadian Farmer logo when choosing our chicken.

This logo means the chicken is grain-fed, free of added hormones and steroids, and raised right here in Canada according to nationally-set, high food safety and animal care standards.

Did you know that 90% of Canadian chicken farms are family owned and operated, passed down from generation to generation? Creating and maintaining over 78,000 Canadian jobs in various sectors; supporting chicken Canadian will create jobs, help local communities and grow the Canadian economy. While this is important at all times, I think right now our economy needs that extra support.

So next time you are buying chicken at your grocer, look for this logo. Don’t hesitate to ask your grocer for it as well.

To learn more about Canadian Chicken, connect with them online – Facebook: Canadian Chicken, Twitter: @ChickenFarmers, Instagram: @ChickenDotCA and Pinterest: ChickenDotCA.

More Chicken Recipes to Try:

• Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
• Easy Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
• Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
• Baked Hawaiian Chicken
• French Onion Chicken Bake
• Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken