Three Cheese Chicken Quesadillas

Quick and easy, cheesy quesadillas with three different cheeses and juicy chicken, topped with home-made salsa. These three cheese chicken quesadillas are so easy to make and are great as a snack, for lunch or dinner! They’re stuffed with cheddar cheese, mozzarella, queso fresco, sour cream, peppers, tomatoes and avocado, and served with homemade avocado salsa!

cheesy chicken quesadillas with salsa

Ingredients for Chicken Quesadillas

Here are the main ingredients you’ll need to make these three cheese quesadillas with chicken!

  • Chicken Thigh: you can also use chicken breast for making the chicken filling.
  • Bacon: adding bacon to the filling gives it a great, smoky flavor!
  • Mozzarella, Cheddar & Queso Fresco: three types of cheese is always better than one! Feel free to use your favorite types of cheese, too! Don’t have all three? Use at least one type!
  • Sour Cream: for filling the quesadillas. This makes the filling even more creamy. You can also serve more sour cream on the side.
  • Avocado, Tomatoes, Cilantro & Lime: for making the homemade avocado salsa for serving.
  • Flour Tortillas: use large flour tortillas for best results. Corn tortillas will also work.

How to Make Three Cheese Chicken Quesadillas

These cheesy and juicy chicken quesadillas are quick and easy to prepare! Here’s how to make this easy chicken dinner recipe!

  1. Begin with the smoky bacon: Heat a large frying pan over medium/high heat. Render the bacon slices until they’re crispy, then remove the bacon, dice it and place into a large bowl.
  2. Keep the bacon fat and prepare the chicken next. Add to the hot pan the diced onion and sauté until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the diced chicken into the pan along with a drizzle of canola oil and the cumin, chili powder and black pepper. Fry the chicken until it’s golden brown and completely cooked.
  3. Finish making the filling: combine with the cooked chicken in a large bowl along with the diced bacon, onion and the remaining filling ingredients.
  4. To assemble the chicken quesadillas: place about ¾ cup of chicken filling onto each tortilla round, spreading to the edges over one half. Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken filling, and then fold in half.
  5. Heat a large pan or grill over medium heat and grease lightly with butter or oil. Place the prepared quesadillas onto the preheated pan/grill and fry slowly, until shell is golden brown and crispy. Remove the golden quesadillas, cut them into portions and serve with fresh salsa.
  6. For the salsa: simply combine the diced tomato and avocado in a large mixing bowl. Add the green onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice and the seasonings. Toss everything together when you’re ready to enjoy the quesadillas!

More Recipes!

Enjoyed these chicken quesadillas? Check out some of my other recipes you’re sure to enjoy!

Easy Three-Cheese Chicken Quesadillas

20 minutes prep + 25 minutes cook
8 servings
Quick and easy chicken quesadillas with three types of cheese, juicy chicken filling and homemade avocado salsa for serving.

Ingredients 

  • 8 large flour tortilla
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cubed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 thick slices smoked bacon
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups grated medium cheddar cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup crumbled queso fresco
  • 1/2 small onion, diced
  • 2 green scallions, finely diced
  • 1 large Roma tomato, diced
  • 1/2 large avocado, diced
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For Salsa:

  • 1 large Roma tomato, diced
  • 1 large avocado, diced
  • 1 green scallion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro
  • juice from 1 lime
  • 1/2 cup mild red taco sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

For Making the Filling:

  • Begin with the smoky bacon: Heat a large frying pan over medium/high heat. Render the bacon slices until they're crispy, then remove the bacon, dice it and place into a large bowl.
  • Keep the bacon fat and prepare the chicken next. Add to the hot pan the diced onion and sauté until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the diced chicken into the pan along with a drizzle of canola oil and the cumin, chili powder and black pepper. Fry the chicken until it's golden brown and completely cooked.
  • Finish making the filling: combine with the cooked chicken in a large bowl along with the diced bacon, onion and the remaining filling ingredients.

Assembling & Cooking:

  • To assemble the chicken quesadillas: first spread a spoonful of sour cream onto each tortilla. Place about ¾ cup of chicken filling onto each tortilla round, spreading to the edges over one half. Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken filling, and then fold in half.
  • Heat a large pan or grill over medium heat and grease lightly with butter or oil. Place the prepared quesadillas onto the preheated pan/grill and fry slowly, until shell is golden brown and crispy. Remove the golden quesadillas, cut them into portions and serve with fresh salsa.

Homemade Salsa:

  • For the salsa: simply combine the diced tomato and avocado in a large mixing bowl. Add the green onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice and the seasonings. Toss everything together when you're ready to enjoy the quesadillas!

Nutrition

Calories: 534kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 1283mg | Potassium: 607mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1007IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 431mg | Iron: 3mg