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applebees quesadillas

Applebee's Quesadillas Recipe

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 2 .*
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
  • 1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup green bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • Sour cream, for serving
  • Salsa, for serving

Method
 

  1. Toss the shredded chicken with the chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, add the seasoned chicken, and sear for 2 to 3 minutes until the edges are golden. Set aside.
  2. In the same pan over medium heat, cook the sliced bell pepper and onion for 4 to 5 minutes until softened and lightly colored. Set aside on a plate.
  3. Lay each tortilla flat, spread the Monterey Jack and cheddar over the full surface, pile the chicken and vegetables over one half, and fold the tortilla into a half-moon.
  4. Wipe the skillet clean, melt 1/2 tbsp butter over medium heat, and cook 1 quesadilla for 2 to 3 minutes per side until deep golden brown. Repeat with the remaining butter and quesadilla.
  5. Transfer to a cutting board, slice each quesadilla into 3 triangles, fan the wedges on a plate, and serve with sour cream and salsa alongside.

Notes

The filling can be made up to 2 days ahead and kept in the fridge, which makes this genuinely fast on a weeknight. The one thing to resist is assembling the quesadillas early and letting them sit; the tortilla absorbs moisture from the filling and won't crisp properly. Build and cook them fresh, even if everything else is prepped.