One Pan Quesadillas

We all want one of those easy to make, quick to fix, super performer meals that everyone just loves. This one pan quesadilla recipe takes about 20 minutes to prepare, uses simple ingredients, and has virtually no clean up.

You can easily adjust the filling and use what you have on hand or substitute ingredients that fit your diet requirements and family's taste perfectly. See the variations step below to find out how you can turn this quesadilla into vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and even breakfast.

No matter what you choose to fill it with, the texture will be slightly crispy outside and mouthwatering delicious inside. Everyone at your table will be saying yum!

Supplies

Baking Pan 9x13x1 (inches)

Aluminum Foil

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

Olive Oil

3 Medium Round Super Soft Flour Tortillas

1 1/2 Cups Cooked Chicken

1 16 oz. Can Black Beans (you won't use quite all of it)

1 1/2 Cups Sharp Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Salsa

Sour Cream

You can use any type of cooked chicken. Pre-cooked chicken strips from the refrigerator section at the grocery store work great. Use them straight from the bag and tear them in small pieces as you put them on the flour tortillas for a "no clean up the dishes version."

Open the can of black beans, drain, and rinse in the can by filling the can with water and holding a slotted spoon over the top of the can to drain.

Open the package of shredded cheese.

You can measure the chicken, black beans, and cheese into 1 1/2 cup portions, or you can use them straight from the packages and can for the "no clean up the dishes version."

I like to spoon salsa and sour cream into small bowls to serve with the quesadillas.

Step 2: Prepare Oven

Be sure that the top rack in the oven is in the slot about 6 inches from the top. In my oven that is the second row.

Turn the oven to 375 Degrees Fahrenheit so it can preheat while you are preparing the quesadillas.

Step 3: Lay Out the Flour Tortillas

Begin by covering a 9x13x1 pan with aluminum foil. This makes it super easy to just throw the foil away (recycle of course!) and not have to wash a pan after cooking. No dishes to wash always gets my attention!

Next coat the foil covered pan with olive oil. I pour about 3 tablespoons in the middle of the foil and use a paper towel to smooth it over the whole surface.

Place 3 medium size soft flour tortillas on the pan cascading them from left to right. Laying them out like this will make it easy to fill and flip so they all fit on one pan.

Step 4: Add the Filling to the First Quesadilla

Begin with filling the flour tortilla on the right side of the pan. Spoon about 1/2 cup cooked chicken (bite size pieces), 1/2 cup black beans, and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese on the right half of the tortilla.

After filling, take the left side of the tortilla and fold it over to the right. Use a little pressure to be sure it lays down flat.

Open the middle tortilla with the right half laying on top of the first prepared tortilla. You will be putting the filling for this one on the left side.

Step 5: Add the Filling to the Second Quesadilla

Spoon chicken, black beans, and cheddar cheese on the left side of the tortilla.

Fold the right side over the filled tortilla. It will be facing the opposite direction of the first tortilla as in the picture.

Press down to be sure it lays flat.

Step 6: Add the Filling to the Last Quesadilla

The final tortilla will be laying open with the right side flat on the pan and the left half extending over the left side of the pan.

Place fillings on the flat surface of the tortilla in the pan and fold to the right as in the picture.

Press down so the final quesadilla is flat. All three tortillas are filled and are folded flat in the pan.

Finally, carefully pour about a tablespoon of olive oil on a paper towel. Rub the oil on top side of the first tortilla. Repeat for each tortilla so that they all have oil on the top. This helps them to get that golden brown color when you cook them.

Step 7: Bake in the Oven

Place pan in the preheated 375 degree Fahrenheit oven.

Bake for 10 minutes. It doesn't take long since the chicken is already cooked.

After 10 minutes turn the oven to broil. DO NOT LEAVE THE OVEN. Set the timer for 1 minute.

Open the oven door to check and see how brown they are getting. You may need to close the oven and let it cook another 30 seconds or so. Be sure to stay right there with it for the broiling part.

When you see they are golden brown, carefully remove the pan from the oven using potholders or oven mitts and set on a heat proof surface. I set mine on top of the stove if I haven't had a burner on. You can set it on the cabinet if you have a few potholders or a trivet to protect the surface.

Step 8: Cut Quesadillas in Half

Hold the hot pan steady with a potholder or oven mitt and cut each quesadilla in half with a knife. Be careful to just make a straight cut down so you don't tear the foil or scratch your pan. Alternately, you could use a spatula and transfer to a plate before you cut them.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy!

Arrange the six quesadillas on a plate and serve with salsa and sour cream. Enjoy them while they are hot!

If you have any leftovers, let them cool and store in the refrigerator. They heat up well in a toaster oven or microwave for a quick lunch or snack.

Step 10: Clean Up

If you used foil to cover the pan, just toss it in the recycle bin when you are finished. If you used a pan without the foil, it is pretty easy to hand wash or put in the dishwasher. The dish isn't very messy since all of the filling is inside the quesadillas.

Step 11: Variations

This recipe is one of the most adaptable recipes I know. It's also great for using up leftovers!

By Diet Preference:

Vegan - use only vegan friendly fillings such as vegetables, beans, rice, nuts, and dairy free cheese

Gluten Free - use gluten free tortillas

Dairy Free - Use lactose free cheese

Filling Variations:

Meats - Ham, Turkey, or Pork

Beans - Chickpeas or Cannellini

Veggies - Corn, Spinach, Mushrooms

Totally Different:

Chicken Bacon Ranch - Use Cooked Chicken, Bacon and Cheese; Serve with Ranch Dressing

Breakfast - Use Cooked Sausage, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, and Cheese; Serve with Salsa or Grits

Step 12: Looking for More Easy Recipes?

This is my first time writing an instructable. As I went through each step it felt like I was part of a family who loves doing what I love doing - cooking, teaching, and sharing recipes. Thank you for cooking with me!

After my daughter got married and moved away, I started a food blog to share our recipes. What I found out is that I love easy recipes so that's what I ended up putting on the website!

Visit us at foodandlifepath.com anytime and find other easy and delicious recipes to try.