Chipotle Chicken (No-Flip!) Quesadilla

My husband tends to be more of an “appreciator” of food rather than a “creator”, but if there’s one thing he likes to make it’s quesadillas.  And he’ll make them out of anything.  Leftover hamburger in the fridge?  It goes in a quesadilla.  One more spoonful of peanut butter left in the jar?  Peanut butter quesadilla coming right up (don’t worry, no cheese!).  Hard-boiled egg?  He slices it up with his little egg mandoline (bought from TV, I believe), mixes with an obscene amount of mayo, adds cheese and nukes it all in a tortilla.  James Beard hasn’t come knocking on our door just yet over these, but you gotta give the guy points for creativity.

So when I had leftover shredded chipotle chicken from the delicious Slow-Cooker Chili Chicken Tacos recipe from Everyday Food I made the other day, I took a little inspiration from my better half and grilled up a quesadilla on my Breville.  The best part about it, aside from the succulent chicken (which was even more flavorful the next day), was the fact that it only took 3 minutes to grill on the panini press and I didn’t have to undergo the perilous task of attempting to flip it!  I originally intended just to eat half and save the rest, but wouldn’t you know – I took down the whole thing. 🙂

Chipotle Chicken (No-Flip!) Quesadilla

INGREDIENTS:

Slow-cooker Chili Chicken, shredded (see recipe at Everyday Food)*
Flour tortillas
Shredded cheese, such as mild cheddar or a Mexican blend
Sour cream
Salsa
Cilantro

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat (375 degrees).

Sprinkle a layer of cheese on top of one tortilla.  Add shredded chicken evenly over the cheese.  Add more cheese on top and close the quesadilla with a second tortilla.

Carefully transfer the quesadilla to the panini grill.  Grill 3-4 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas are crisp.  Slice into wedges and top with sour cream and salsa and garnish with cilantro.  Serve immediately and enjoy!

* Alternatively, you could use any other leftover chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken, shred it with two forks, and season with a little chili powder to taste and/or mix in a chopped chipotle chile in adobo (careful – they’re spicy!)

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KathyPanini Happy, online since 2008, is more than just a sandwich blog. Here, you'll find hundreds of my original panini recipes, my guide to choosing a panini press and a whole lot of other creative uses for the panini press.
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20 Comments

  1. sharon wrote:

    It’s almost time for bed, but this is making me hungry!

    Posted 10.25.08 Reply
  2. HoneyB wrote:

    Looks so good!

    Posted 10.26.08 Reply
  3. Arlene wrote:

    Ummm! that looks wonderful. I use my Breville for quesadillas, too, even though I have a quesadilla maker that cuts them into little wedges. The Breville is on the counter; the other is not. It’s a no brainer.

    Posted 10.26.08 Reply
  4. Noble Pig wrote:

    Mmmmm, sounds delicious! My hubby makes quesadilla’s out of everything too!

    Posted 10.26.08 Reply
  5. Kristen wrote:

    My mouth is watering. Mmmmmmmm!!!

    Posted 10.26.08 Reply
  6. Kim wrote:

    I would so love one of those right about now!

    Posted 10.26.08 Reply
  7. Lo! wrote:

    I love the panini press for quesadillas… as does DH (there must be a male connection here).

    And these sound fantastic.

    Posted 10.26.08 Reply
  8. Pam wrote:

    You gotta love using leftovers for quesadillas. I’ve never thought of using my panini grill for quesadillas – great idea.

    Posted 10.26.08 Reply
  9. Jenny wrote:

    If there’s one thing my family never gets tired of, it’s quesadillas! These look terrific!

    Posted 10.28.08 Reply
  10. grace wrote:

    very few things can top a crisp quesadilla when it comes to ease, quickness, leftover-usage, and deliciousness. lovely. 🙂

    Posted 10.28.08 Reply
  11. Sandie wrote:

    Love the versatility of quesadillas. With just about anything you have on hand, or care to purchase, you can satisfy most tastes, from savory cravings to a sweet tooth. How many foods can claim that?!

    Posted 10.28.08 Reply
  12. So glad I found your blog since my momjust sent me a panini maker. Glad to see how many possibilities this new appliance offers!

    Posted 10.28.08 Reply
  13. Arlene wrote:

    Great minds think alike. Have you sen Deb’s recipe for Kalua pig quesadillas? Please stop by Food of Love for an interesting challenge and the link to Deb’s fabulous website, which you may already know.

    Posted 10.29.08 Reply
  14. RecipeGirl wrote:

    Nice to have a few of those *worth-making* slow cooker recipes tucked away for chilly days. I like what you did with it!

    (I don’t think my husband could make a quesadilla!)

    Posted 10.29.08 Reply
  15. So simple and so easy to make. I love the no-flip concept. It’s perfect for those who are a little clumbsy…like me.

    Posted 10.30.08 Reply
  16. What a great idea! My next quesadillas are going into the panini press.

    Posted 10.30.08 Reply
  17. I just finished breakfast and now I was one of these quesadillas for lunch!

    Posted 11.1.08 Reply
  18. Jude wrote:

    I’m also guilty of making anything goes quesadillas. Whatever gets rid of the leftovers in the fridge, right?

    Posted 11.1.08 Reply
  19. Jason wrote:

    I love chipotles! I will give these a shot soon!

    Posted 11.11.08 Reply
  20. Constance wrote:

    I made a variation of this the other day. If you use four cheese nacho cheese as a spread on the tortilla and cook chicken breast seasoned to your likings its amazing! My hubby loved them!! I love my panini grill!!!

    Posted 1.28.10 Reply