This avocado caprese chicken quesadilla recipe is a fresh and delicious quesadilla remix! Ready in 30 minutes, this is the perfect weeknight dinner or lunch.
Life has been going at a very fast pace lately…because I swear just yesterday it was January…and now it’s mid-March!
This week I was side-tracked from my breakneck pace to a complete standstill thanks to a very bad case of the flu.
So in the fog of post-flu recovery, today’s post is going to be very short and sweet! Which is fitting because this avocado caprese chicken quesadilla recipe is ready in a flash.
This chicken quesadilla recipe combines all the flavors of caprese salad: basil, mozza, fresh tomatoes. Then I decided to add shredded rotisserie chicken (as I’ve said before, I live with a man who is constantly asking “where’s the meat?!” when I cook vegetarian- these quesadillas would be equally good without the chicken). And it felt natural to add avocado slices to the mix…maybe I was still dreaming of my Avocado Caesar Salad from a few weeks back?
This avocado caprese chicken quesadilla recipe was good on their own, but a tiny bit bland, so I whipped up a basalmic reduction to drizzle over the quesadillas. It’s not the prettiest, but it sure is delicious!
These guys make for a great lunch or dinner! They are fast to throw together, although you will need to set aside 20 minutes or so to prep your balsamic reduction.
Don’t skip the reduction! It is well worth the extra time. I found that prepping it the day before and letting it sit in the fridge overnight helped it get that syrupy kind of consistency that was just perfect for drizzling. If you don’t have the time to do that, though, don’t worry! The reduction may be a bit more liquidy, but it will still taste great!
So there you have it. Avocado caprese chicken quesadillas…now, can you say that three times fast?
Avocado Caprese Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
Ingredients
Balsamic Reduction
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoons brown sugar
Quesadillas
- 4 12- inch tortillas
- 16 slices of mozzarella cheese
- 1 bunch of fresh basil approx 10 leaves per quesadilla
- 1 pint of cherry tomatoes halved (approx 8-10 tomatoes per quesadilla)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- salt and pepper
- 2 avocados sliced (half avocado per quesadilla)
Instructions
Balsamic reduction:
- In a small pot, combine the vinegar and brown sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer (uncovered), stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes, until reduced by half.
- Cool as much as possible before serving (place in fridge if possible).
- Best chilled overnight, but may be used once cooled to room temperature.
Quesadillas:
- 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, flip the empty side over the filled side. Place a dinner plate over the quesadilla, cover with a pot lid, and cook until golden brown, 2-4 minutes.
- Gently flip the quesadilla, re-apply the dinner plate and pot lid, 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!
Balsamic reduction from Rachel Ray
Products used in this recipe:
Lisa
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
I’m so happy you liked them Lisa! It’s always great to find food the kiddos will like 🙂
Tammi @Momma's Meals
This is beautiful. I need me some of these quesadilla’s STAT!
Denise
Thank-you, Tammi! I need some, too! 😉
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel
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
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
Best quesadillas ever!! Love the avocado!
Denise
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
Oh no, sorry to hear you got hit with the flu bug, that’s never fun 🙁 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
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
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
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
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
Oh I hope you haven’t jinxed yourself now, Natalie 😉 I didn’t get a flu shot this year, but I heard it wasn’t very effective. Thanks!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
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
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 😉
marcie
Sorry the flu bug caught you, Denise! Playing catch up is NO fun. 🙁 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
Thanks, Marcie!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C
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
Thanks, Andrea! Feeling much better today! Hope you like it!