The quesadilla recipe you need in your life: tender chicken, avocado, juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and gooey mozzarella. This Chicken Quesadilla with Avocado is simple and ready in a flash!
When I need a meal on the table quickly, quesadillas are my go-to. We love making healthy chicken quesadillas, spinach feta breakfast quesadillas, and even sweet potato black bean quesadillas. But this is the one I crave the most!
The Caprese flavor combination is classic and one I crave year-round: juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella, and balsamic vinaigrette or reduction. Pairing it with avocado and chicken and surrounding it with a crispy tortilla is just a good life choice, plain and simple!
Reasons youโll โก avocado caprese chicken quesadillas
- Classic flavors paired with avocado is so incredibly tasty!
- They are ready in under 15 minutes for an easy dinner
- it's a great way to use up rotisserie or pre-cooked chicken
Ingredients you'll need
- Chicken- I used shredded rotisserie chicken for this recipe. You can use leftover baked chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
- Tomatoes- use your favorite tomato. Pictured here are cherry tomatoes (halved), but roma tomatoes would also work well.
- Mozzarella- use your favorite mozzarella cheese. I'm using pizza mozzarella because it melts really well, but fresh mozzarella is more traditional in caprese salad and could also work for these quesadillas.
- Basil- fresh basil brings the necessary sweet and herbacious flavors to the quesadilla. Dried basil won't work the same and I urge you to try to find fresh basil
- Avocado- go for a good, ripe avocado, and slice into thin slices. See How to Cut an Avocado
- Tortillas- I use a large flour tortilla; corn could potentially work well, too.
- Balsamic reduction- sometimes called balsamic glaze, you should be able to find it in the salad dressing aisle. If not, make your own 2-ingredient balsamic reduction!
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Best Chicken Quesadillas
I like to cook two quesadillas at a time, but if you are new to cooking quesadillas, start with one.
- Melt butter in a large skillet. Add a large tortilla and sprinkle or scatter mozzarella, basil leaves, tomato halves, shredded chicken, and avocado slices over half of the tortilla. Season with salt and pepper.
- Press the other side of the tortilla over, and firmly press onto the fillings.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden brown. Drizzle with balsamic reduction, if desired and enjoy!
Variations
This isn't your basic chicken quesadilla recipe with just melty cheese and chicken. It is an elevated twist on a classic that is still super easy. If you'd like to try different variations of this recipe, these are some of my favorite options:
- Chicken, avocado, tomatoes, mushrooms, Monterey jack cheese. Served with sour cream.
- Chicken, pepper-jack, cheddar cheese, guacamole and salsa. Serve with chopped green onions and hot sauce.
- Chicken, avocado, tomatoes, basil, oregano, bell peppers, served with dips of choice such as pesto.
- Chicken, shredded cheese, chopped veggies, a sprinkle of chili powder and cumin. Serve with pico de Gallo.
Recipe video
Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped this avocado caprese chicken quesadillas. Itโs so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or on Facebook.
More 30 minute meals
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Avocado Caprese Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients
Quesadillas
- 4 large tortillas
- 16 slices mozzarella cheese
- 1 bunch fresh basil (approx 10 leaves per quesadilla)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved - approx 8-10 tomatoes per quesadilla)
- 1 ยฝ cups rotisserie chicken (shredded)
- salt and pepper
- 2 avocados (sliced - half avocado per quesadilla)
To serve
Instructions
- Spray a large non-stick frying pan with oil and heat over medium heat.
- While pan is heating, assemble quesadillas as shown in photos above, by scattering mozarella, basil leaves, tomato halves, chicken and avocado slices over half of the tortilla. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer to frying pan, press the empty side firmly onto the filled side. Cook until golden brown, 2-4 minutes.
- Gently flip the quesadilla and cook until the other side is golden brown, another 2 or so minutes.
- Serve immediately, and don't forget to drizzle generously with the balsamic drizzle!
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Video
Nutrition Information
© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Rayne says
I make these religiously for my gal and her family... Love them!
Lisa says
I made these this week. They are awesome! Even my 14 month old ate some! This will be a new regular at my house!
Denise says
I'm so happy you liked them Lisa! It's always great to find food the kiddos will like ๐
Denise says
Thank-you, Tammi! I need some, too! ๐
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
What a great easy weeknight meal! I love the caprese flavors. Sorry you had the flu... that's the worst. Glad you're feeling better!!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
I would be alllllll over these quesadillas Denise. This is exactly the kind of meal I love! I bought a big bottle of balsamic vinegar with the intention of making a reduction but haven't quite gotten there yet. You've convinced me!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Best quesadillas ever!! Love the avocado!
Denise says
Aww thanks, Mary Frances! I was a big baby this week-end, and was thankful that I had made/photographed these quesadillas last week-end!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Oh no, sorry to hear you got hit with the flu bug, that's never fun ๐ My kiddos caught it too and it's been an insane week. Hope you feel better soon! Love these creative quesadillas, they look incredible!
Denise says
Oh, I'm sorry your kiddos have the flu, Kelly! It's almost worse when it's your kids, I think! I am so lucky that Kai and Ben didn't get it (I'm actually starting to think it was something I ate). Thanks, Kelly!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
I guess you could always buy the balsamic reduction, too, if you were being super lazy (like I often want to be on weekdays!)
This would possibly be my idea of 'food heaven'. Just love avocado, chicken, cheese ... and quesadillas. Thanks for the idea!
Denise says
I am going to keep my eyes peeled for balsamic reduction next time I'm at the grocery store- I've never seen it before! Thanks, Helen!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Sorry the flu hit your house. We have been so lucky this year, we haven't gotten sick once! AND we forgot to get flu shots this year. I think we're just about in the clear! The quesadillas look delicious! Love all flavors!
Denise says
Oh I hope you haven't jinxed yourself now, Natalie ๐ I didn't get a flu shot this year, but I heard it wasn't very effective. Thanks!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Denise, you made and photographed these in a fog of post-flu recovery?!!! These are gorgeous and look sooooo delicious!! Wowza!!!! well, I'm glad you are on the road to recovery!! I seriously cannot wait to try these!
Denise says
Ha ha, I should have specified, Alice, I actually made/photographed them last week-end, but wrote them up in the 'fog'...There wasn't much happening in my kitchen this week-end ๐
marcie says
Sorry the flu bug caught you, Denise! Playing catch up is NO fun. ๐ Caprese is one of my favorite things in the world, so I'm loving these quesadillas with the avocado and chicken added to make it even more substantial!
Denise says
Thanks, Marcie!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
I hope you feel better soon, Denise. These quesadillas are perfect! I love all of the flavors here. I will have to try these, and I have some balsamic glaze in the fridge, so I'm good to go!
Denise says
Thanks, Andrea! Feeling much better today! Hope you like it!