Baked Chicken Quesadillas made in the oven so you can make multiple quesadillas at the same time! Stuffed with Mexican seasoned chicken and capsicum/bell peppers, plenty of gooey cheese and enclosed with crispy golden brown tortilla, this is how you can make quesadillas for a crowd without standing over the stove, making them one by one. 🙂
Last month I went on a mini break with friends and we hired a gorgeous swanky house right on the beach at Sapphire Beach (Coffs Harbour) on the New South Wales North Coast. And my darling friends, they insisted that I mustn’t do much cooking, that I must relax.
Well! Isn’t it lucky that I did get a bit organised with a shopping list and meal plan. Because in the entire 4 nights / 5 days we were there, we only went out for ONE MEAL. In fact, other than that brief 2 hour outing, we only left the house for a short 20 minute stroll on the beach before we declared that the pool and our sun lounges were beckoning us back (along with the frozen mango daiquiris we had planned to start making the minute the clock ticked over to 12 o’clock).
.
There were only 4 of us, and yet making Quesadillas for lunch was still a pain. As I stood over the stove cooking them one by one, popping them in the oven and praying they would stay crispy until I finished, I vowed to find a way to make a big batch in one go.
So I figured how to make crispy Chicken Quesadillas in the oven. 🙂
It wasn’t as easy as just wacking stuffed folded tortillas in the oven. I found a few little tricks made quite a difference:
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Letting the filling cool. As a general rule for anything, it’s takes longer to get a crispy surface in the oven than in a fry pan. So if you use hot filling, the extra steam inside the quesadilla makes the tortilla too soggy to go crispy (unless you way overcook it to the point of very brown);
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Spray the tray with oil and pop it in the oven to heat up. Yup, that really helps make the underside get crispy once it is flipped; and
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Crank up the oven – but not too much, otherwise the edges get too brown before the surface gets crispy all over.
I stuffed these Baked Chicken Quesadillas with the makings of Chicken Fajitas! Seasoned chicken, onion and capsicum / bell peppers. Plus cheese of course. Mustn’t forget the cheese!
There’s no denying that they don’t come out quite as shatteringly crispy as you can make them on the stove by pressing down firmly on the quesadillas while they cook. But these are still crispy – crispy enough!
Also the other thing I observed is that the tortilla starts to wrinkle after around 20 minutes. Here they are after I had been faffing around with the camera for around 30 minutes – you can see how different they look to when they are fresh out of the oven (photo above).
Small compromises for the sheer convenience of of being able to make a big batch in one go!
I hope you find this Oven Baked Chicken Quesadillas recipe handy! I’ve always felt like quesadillas are like pancakes – only make them in select circumstances, when there aren’t too any people to feed.
But now you can make quesadillas for a crowd – even with two trays so you can make 8 at the same time – or more if you have a large oven! – Nagi x
PS You can see how crispy they are in the video (below recipe) when I am stacking the quesadillas. 🙂
More things stuffed between crispy flatbreads!
Things stuffed inside crispy flatbreads are always a good thing! I’ve done a few over the years:
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Gozleme – Crispy Turkish olive oil flatbreads stuffed with spinach and feta
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And though not stuffed, this ever popular Easy Soft Flatbreads has to make the list (use as naan for curries, Greek Gyros, Doner Kebab, Chicken Shawarma – the options are extensive!)
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Oven Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients
Chicken
- 400 g / 14 oz chicken , cut into small bite size pieces (thigh, breast or tenderloin)
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder (or sub with onion powder)
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- 1/2 tsp salt + black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Filling
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 small onion , diced (brown, white, yellow)
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 red capsicum / bell pepper , diced
- 1 green capsicum / bell pepper , diced
Quesadillas
- 4 flour tortillas (20cm/8")
- Olive oil spray
- 1 cups grated cheese, or more to taste (tasty, cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack or other melting cheese of choice) (Note 1)
Instructions
- Place Chicken ingredients in a bowl and mix to coat chicken.
- Heat oil in skillet over high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for 1 minute. Then add capsicum and cook for 2 minutes until starting to soften. Transfer into bowl.
- Return skillet to the stove. Add chicken and cook until browned. Add to same bowl. Set aside until the filling cools (to speed it up, cover and refrigerate, and/or spread out on plate).
- Preheat oven to 220C / 430F (standard) or 200C/390F (fan / convection).
- Spray baking tray lightly with olive oil. Heat in the oven while you assemble the quesadillas.
- Divide the filling between the tortillas, covering half the surface. Top with cheese. Fold in half and press down gently but firmly.
- Remove baking tray from oven. Transfer quesadillas onto tray (you should hear a soft sizzle).
- Bake for 8 minutes. Then turn the quesadillas (over the folded edge) then press down with the egg flip. Bake for a further 8 minutes or until the surface is crispy.
- Remove from oven and serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
a) Cooling the filling first (reduces steam inside the quesadilla while baking);
b) Heating oiled baking tray; and
c) Cooking in a fairly hot oven. 3. You can make 2 trays of this at the same time. It will take around 5 minutes longer and the trays should be swapped partway through. The tray that ends up at the bottom will probably need a few minutes longer after you take the top one out. 4. Oven Baked Chicken Quesadillas nutrition per serving (1 quesadilla).
Nutrition Information:
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Oven Baked Chicken Quesadillas recipe video!
LIFE OF DOZER
Usually when I go away, I send Dozer to a Golden Retriever boarder’s place where he rules the house with other Goldies. However on this occasion, he was injured (#DefectDog) so I sent him to my mother’s place where he would be free of temptations to rumble with other Goldies.
My mother (and actually, my whole family) get sick pleasure in torturing me when I go away and they don’t send me Dozer updates unless I plead multiple times. Finally, she sent me ONE photo – this one.
Humph. His usual boarder is so much better. I get daily reports and tons of photos – without any begging!!!
Loved it, you had 3 rules and I had been breaking them all. Thank you so much. Everyone wants to fry of coarse but I’m a working mom so….. p.s. liver the name Dozer, I’m old so fragal rock ruled for me in 1st grade. That’s the name I gave my first dog ever. Rock on dozer!
I won’t tell anyone Amanda 🤫 😂
After setting fire to my frying pan (long story) the day I needed to make quesadillas, I was on the prowl for a good oven baked version. I came across this website via a Google search and it really saved me. Thanks Nagi! I’ll be checking out your other recipes too!
I couldn’t help but laugh Brian – I’m glad the quesadillas were a hit and hopefully you don’t set fire to anything else in the near future! – N x
Another success! Baked quesadillas got the thumbs up from everyone. Even made my own tortillas, which were great too. Thanks Nagi! Love your recipes.
Wahoo, sounds like you nailed it Beth!
Hahaha! Like Sheila, i also googled quesadillas baked in the oven, and should have known this site would pop up! I’m making cheese quesadillas for my local Legions’ bingo today and just realized i can only cook one at a time on my one burner cook top. Nagi to the rescue! I will follow your directions to the letter! Thank you!
Wahoo! Enjoy Lisa!
I’m excited to try this! I googled “quesadillas made in the oven” as I knew there must be a better way for my family of 4! This is where my search led me 🙂 I am wondering if it might work to set another oiled pan on top to press them and possibly just flip the quesadillas halfway in between if needed?
Sounds like a great idea Sheila!
Yes ur input was very helpful and I’m thankful u took time to write out step by step how u made these lushious quesadillas . Again, thanx❣️
You’re so welcome Brenda!!
Hi Nagi,love your recipes. Just wanted to say i cook my quesadillas in my sanwich press. Works fabulously and easy to clean.
I have made these about a dozen times since I first came across it. I think one of the times I actually cooked the chicken for this. Usually, including tonight, I use the left over split chicken breasts from the night before. Maybe a little salsa on the side. These are fantastic!
Glad you enjoyed it Jason! Thanks for letting me know! N x
Dear Nagi,
we (me and my daughter), two Romanians living in Germany just tried your Mexican receipt written by an Australian 😉 What can be more international than that ?
Thank you for the a great. The food was really great (both of us agree on that) and we already planned the next of your delicious foods to try.
Regards
I LOVE THAT!!! Let’s add to that: You – two Romanians living in Germany, just tried my Mexican recipe written by a Japanese gal living in Australia!! 😂 N xx
🤣🤣🤣
I made these last night for the first time and they were great! I was skeptical about them getting crispy enough in the oven but they did. Perfect! Made it exactly as written. This recipe is a keeper!
LOVE HEARING THAT Shelley! N x ❤️
I made these last night for the first time and they were great! I was skeptical about them getting crispy enough in the oven, but they were perfect! Followed the recipe exactly. This is a keeper!!
LOVE HEARING THAT Shelley! N x ❤️
Yummmm can’t wait to try your quesadilla recipes I am sure they will be as marvellous as the others we have enjoyed .. thank you so much for sharing your love of food Nagi
This is delicious! Huge hit with my kids and husband! Follow the directions and it will turn out perfect! The tortillas are perfectly crispy, I wasn’t really expecting that!
That’s wonderful to hear Tiffany! So glad you enjoyed this! N xx
I just made this and its delicious, I highly recommend using spinach tortilla it taste better than wheat tortilla:)
I love hearing that Ashley!! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it! N x
While making them I noticed that in the video you added garlic powder to the chicken
But in the recipe you wrote to add Onion powder to the chicken.
Onion or garlic powder
Hi Dua! I do interchange 🙂 But Garlic is probably what I use more, I will update the recipe! N x
Made these tonite and my son declared them “AWESOME,” and I have to agree. So glad I found your recipe. This is definitely a keeper.
I’m so pleased to hear that Glenda! Thanks for letting me know! N xx ❤️
I made these today, had a chicken breast thawing and I didn’t know what to do with it. Used one green bell pepper, and sautéed button mushrooms as well.
My husband first made faces (cheese problem, mushroom problem), and then he devoured them with a look of bliss. He couldn’t stop raving.
You are *hands down* my new cookbook.
Thank you for the amazing recipes. I adore you!
I’m so pleased to hear that Saleha! Thanks for letting me know! N xx ❤️
Hi, I’m going to make this for dinner tonight and just noticed that the recipe says onion powder for the chicken but it is garlic powder in the video. Could you clarify the ingredients for me, please?
So far, my husband like all of your recipes I have tried. Whenever I have something new on the dinner table, he asks me if this is from the Australian lady’s recipe, haha. He trusts you! 😉
Hi Lina! So pleased you enjoy my recipes, thank you! I use garlic and onion interchangeably in this recipe, I will update the recipe to say either. 🙂 You won’t notice either way, just grab the CLOSEST JAR! 😂 (And I will update the recipe to say this 🙂 ) N x
Nagi you are my hero!
I am not a cook, as in I can’t look at raw ingredients and think of a way to combine them into a great meal. I’ve bought many cookbooks before but most of them are filled with obscure meals that my family won’t eat with one or two good recipes in between. Then I stumbled upon your site….So far every one of your recipes has been a hit and suddenly everyone thinks I can cook, haha
Thanks for the great review Angie! I’m SO pleased to hear you enjoyed this and other recipes you’ve tried! N xx
Love, love these quesdillas! Followed your recipe exactly the first time. Perfection! Second time used leftover roast beef, leftover green chili’s, leftover refried beans, and used flour tortillas I buy directly from factory in Cabo San Lucas mexico. Great wat to clean our the fridge!
I’m so happy to hear that Donna Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know – N xx