Cheesy Hot Honey Chicken Quesadillas (Printable)

Crispy tortillas filled with hot honey glazed chicken and melty cheeses, topped with cool jalapeño cream.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1 teaspoon salt
07 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
08 - 0.33 cup honey
09 - 2–3 tablespoons hot sauce

→ Jalapeño Cream Sauce

10 - 1 cup sour cream
11 - 1–2 fresh jalapeños, deseeded and finely chopped
12 - 1 teaspoon lime juice
13 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Quesadillas

14 - 8 large flour tortillas
15 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
16 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
17 - 2 tablespoons butter
18 - Fresh cilantro, chopped for garnish

# Method:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. In a bowl, toss chicken with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated. Add chicken to skillet and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and fully cooked. In a small bowl, whisk together honey and hot sauce. Pour over cooked chicken, toss well to coat, and keep warm.
02 - In a bowl, mix together sour cream, chopped jalapeños, lime juice, and salt. Stir well, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
03 - Lay a flour tortilla flat. Sprinkle about 1/8 of the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese over one half. Top with a portion of the hot honey chicken. Add a little more cheese, then fold the tortilla in half.
04 - Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt a little butter. Cook each quesadilla for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown and cheese is melted. Remove from skillet and let rest for 1 minute before cutting into wedges.
05 - Drizzle or serve with jalapeño cream sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • The hot honey glaze strikes that perfect balance between sweet and spicy that keeps everyone reaching for seconds
  • They come together in under 30 minutes but taste like something from a restaurant
  • The cool jalapeño cream sauce cuts through the richness like magic
02 -
  • Don't crowd the skillet when cooking the chicken or it'll steam instead of sear
  • The hot honey mixture can burn quickly, so add it to the chicken after it's fully cooked
  • Letting quesadillas rest for a minute after cooking prevents the cheese from immediately running out when you cut them
03 -
  • If your tortillas are stiff, wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20 seconds before folding
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it creates the most even, golden crust
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