Description
Recreate the famous Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla at home with crispy tortillas, melted cheese, tender chicken, and signature creamy jalapeño sauce in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons minced pickled jalapeños
- 2 teaspoons pickled jalapeño juice
- 2/3 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- Dash of salt
- 1 chicken breast
- 1 cup shredded cheddar & Monterey Jack cheese blend
- 1 slice American cheese
- 2 burrito-size flour tortillas
- Salt and pepper for seasoning
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy. Set aside to let flavors meld.
- Season chicken breast with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat vegetable oil in skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook chicken until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove from heat and slice into thin strips.
- Place tortilla in hot skillet. Add 1/4 cup shredded cheese and half slice of American cheese to one side.
- Layer half the sliced chicken over the cheese. Spread 1.5 tablespoons sauce on the empty tortilla half.
- Fold tortilla in half, pressing gently with spatula. Cook 2-4 minutes per side until golden and crispy.
- Remove from heat and cut into 4 triangular pieces using a pizza cutter. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use room temperature cheese for faster, more even melting throughout the quesadilla
- Don’t overfill – too much filling makes flipping difficult and creates a messy quesadilla
- Medium heat is key – too hot burns the tortilla before cheese melts properly
- The jalapeño sauce can be made 3 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container
- Leftover quesadillas reheat best in a skillet, not microwave, to maintain crispiness
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Fried
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesadilla
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: copycat taco bell recipe, chicken quesadilla recipe, mexican fast food copycat, creamy jalapeno sauce, easy quesadilla recipe, homemade taco bell, mexican chicken recipe, quick dinner recipe