If you're looking for the perfect game day snack or quick weeknight dinner, these Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas are about to become your new favorite! Crispy on the outside, gooey and spicy on the inside - they're seriously addictive. I made these last weekend when Emily had friends over, and let me tell you, they disappeared faster than I could say "quesadilla"!
The combination of spicy buffalo sauce, tender shredded chicken, and melty cheese wrapped in a crispy tortilla is just unbeatable. Plus, they're ready in under 20 minutes! Want more delicious chicken recipes? My homemade grilled chicken salad is another quick meal that pairs perfectly with these quesadillas for a complete dinner.
Why You Will Like This Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas Recipe
- Ready in just 16 minutes from start to finish
- Uses simple ingredients you probably already have
- Perfect balance of spicy, creamy, and cheesy flavors
- Crispy exterior with gooey, melty cheese inside
- Easy to customize with your favorite hot sauce level
- Great for using up leftover rotisserie chicken
- Kid-friendly if you adjust the spice level
- Perfect for game day, quick dinners, or appetizers
Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
- 2½ cups shredded chicken
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1½ tablespoons butter, divided
- 2½ cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese, divided
- 5 large flour tortillas
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
This recipe comes together so quickly! I've broken down the steps to make it super easy to follow.
Preparing the Buffalo Chicken Mixture
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, green onions, ranch dressing, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Mix everything together until the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce and seasonings. (I sometimes add a little extra buffalo sauce if I'm feeling particularly spicy that day!)
Cooking the Quesadillas
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and melt ½ tablespoon butter.
- Lay a tortilla flat and cover half of it with ¼ cup shredded cheese.
- Top the cheese with about ½ cup of the buffalo chicken mixture.
- Add another ¼ cup of cheese on top of the chicken (the double layer of cheese helps hold everything together).
- Fold the tortilla in half, creating a half-moon shape.
- Place the quesadilla in the hot skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy, and the cheese is completely melted.
- Remove from the skillet and repeat with the remaining tortillas, adding a little more butter to the pan for each quesadilla.
- Let the quesadillas rest for about 1 minute before cutting into wedges – this helps keep all that cheesy goodness inside!
I like to cut mine with a pizza cutter – it makes perfect triangles without squishing out all the filling! Have you ever tried that trick?
Storage and Reheating Tips
These buffalo chicken quesadillas are best enjoyed fresh off the skillet when they're at their crispiest, but if you have leftovers, here's how to store and reheat them:
Storage
- Store leftover quesadillas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For meal prep, you can make the buffalo chicken filling ahead of time and store it separately for up to 4 days.
- I don't recommend freezing fully assembled quesadillas as they tend to get soggy when thawed.
Reheating
- Stovetop (best method): Reheat in a dry skillet over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes per side until the cheese bubbles and the tortilla crisps up again.
- Oven: Place on a wire rack (this is important to avoid sogginess!) and heat at 350°F for about 5 minutes until warmed through.
- Air fryer: My personal favorite! Heat at 350°F for 3-5 minutes for that perfect crispy texture.
Avoid using the microwave if possible – it'll make your once-crispy quesadillas sad and soggy!
Variations You'll Love
Want to switch things up? Here are some delicious variations on these buffalo chicken quesadillas:
- Creamy Blue Cheese: Swap the ranch for blue cheese dressing for a more authentic buffalo wing experience.
- Extra Veggies: Add diced bell peppers, corn, or diced celery for extra crunch and nutrition.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of buffalo sauce to make them kid-friendly or extra spicy.
- Different Cheese: Try pepper jack for extra heat or mozzarella for extra stretchiness.
- Low-Carb Option: Use low-carb tortillas or large lettuce leaves for a lighter version.
Emily loves when I make a "bar" with different fillings so everyone can customize their own quesadilla. It's a fun dinner activity!
What to Serve With Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
These quesadillas are delicious on their own, but pairing them with the right sides takes them to the next level:
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping (a must in our house!)
- Sour cream or Mexican crema
- Fresh celery and carrot sticks – the coolness balances the heat perfectly
- Asian-inspired beef lettuce wraps for a fun fusion appetizer spread
- A simple green salad with ranch dressing
- Grilled chili cilantro lime chicken for a complete protein-packed meal
- Guacamole or sliced avocado to cool down the spice
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas pair perfectly with sour cream, Mexican crema, or ranch dressing. You can also serve them with a side salad, celery sticks, or blue cheese dip for a complete meal.
Each buffalo chicken quesadilla contains approximately 560 calories, with 32g carbohydrates, 36g protein, and 31g fat per serving.
The key ingredients for buffalo chicken quesadillas are shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, green onions, ranch dressing, Mexican-blend cheese, and seasonings like garlic and onion powder, all wrapped in a flour tortilla.
Yes, this recipe uses butter (1½ tablespoons divided) in the skillet to achieve that perfect golden-brown crispy exterior on the quesadillas.
Recipes You May Like
- Dairy-Free Marry Me Chicken – another delicious chicken dinner option with amazing flavors
- Healthy Buffalo Chicken Wraps – if you love these quesadillas, you'll adore these wraps too!
- Philly Cheesesteak Sliders – another perfect game day or party appetizer
Conclusion
These Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas are the perfect combination of crispy, spicy, and cheesy – everything you want in a quick meal or appetizer! They've become a regular in our dinner rotation because they're so easy to make and everyone loves them.
Whether you're feeding a hungry family on a busy weeknight or hosting friends for the big game, these quesadillas will always be a hit. The best part? They're ready in just 16 minutes from start to finish!
Don't forget to save this recipe to Pinterest for later – and let me know in the comments if you try them!
Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
Equipment
- Large Non-stick Skillet
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken Mixture
- 2 ½ cups shredded chicken cooked, can use rotisserie chicken
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- ¼ cup green onions sliced
- 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
For Assembly
- 1 ½ tablespoons butter divided
- 2 ½ cups Mexican-blend cheese shredded, divided
- 5 flour tortillas large
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, green onions, ranch dressing, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper until well combined.
- Working in batches of 2, melt ½ tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Layer half of each tortilla with ¼ cup shredded cheese, ½ cup shredded chicken mixture, and another ¼ cup shredded cheese.
- Fold the tortilla over and cook the quesadillas in the skillet for 1 to 2 minutes per side until the cheese has fully melted and the quesadillas are golden brown.
- Repeat with the remaining tortillas, adding more butter to the pan as needed.
- Allow quesadillas to rest for 1 minute before cutting into wedges.
- Serve with sour cream, Mexican crema, or ranch dressing for dipping.
Notes
You can customize the spice level by adjusting the amount of buffalo sauce.
Meal prep tip: Make the buffalo chicken mixture ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For best results when reheating, use a skillet, oven, or air fryer rather than a microwave to maintain crispiness.
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