By: Denise Bustard22 Comments
Posted: 3/21/15Updated: 8/28/20
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The quesadilla recipe you need in your life: chicken avocado caprese quesadillas! With creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and gooey mozzarella all finished up with a drizzle of balsamic reduction, they are ready in just 30 minutes.
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 the one I crave the most are these avocado caprese chicken quesadillas!
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 in a crispy tortilla is just a good life choice, plain and simple!
Reasons you’ll ♡ avocado caprese chicken quesadillas
- classic caprese 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. To make your own at home, try cooking a whole chicken in the Instant Pot or the slow cooker and use it in multiple meals through the week.
- 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!
Cooking the quesadillas
I like to cook two quesadillas at a time, but if you are new to cooking quesadillas, start with one. Add a large tortilla to a non stick pan, and scatter mozzarella, basil leaves, tomato halves, 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 and enjoy!
My favorite quesadilla trick
While I haven't cooked them this way in the photos, I've started cooking all my quesadillas with a tasty trick: place a small amount of shredded mozzarella cheese in the pan before placing the tortilla in. This way, the quesadilla gets a crispy cheese crust on the outside!
This is my favorite way to take quesadillas from OK to ah-mazing! Let me know if you give this a try 🙂
Cooking quesadillas ahead
Quesadillas can be cooked ahead, but I do not recommend it for this recipe as the avocado and basil leaves will brown.
Here are a few tips if you do want to cook them ahead:
- leave out the avocado and basil
- cook, then cool, wrap in plastic wrap and store in a meal prep container for up to 4 days (best consumed within the first 2 days)
- heat in a frying pan or on a sandwich press to get them crispy again
Freezing quesadillas
- leave out the avocado and basil
- cook, cool, wrap in plastic, then store in a freezer bag or meal prep container for up to 3 months.
- thaw in the fridge or on the counter- I do not recommend the microwave as it can make them soggy
- heat in a frying pan or on a sandwich press to get them crispy again
More 30 minute meals
- 42 Healthy 30 Minute Dinners
- 30 Minute Dinners for Meal Prep Sunday
- Maple Ginger Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
- Teriyaki Salmon Glaze
- Zucchini Noodle Pad Thai
Recipe video
Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped this avocado caprese chicken quesadillas. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or onFacebook.
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Avocado Caprese Chicken Quesadillas
5 from 3 votesPrep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Print Rate
The quesadilla recipe you need in your life: chicken avocado caprese quesadillas! With creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and gooey mozzarella all finished up with a drizzle of balsamic reduction, they are ready in just 30 minutes.
4
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 ½ cups rotisserie chicken (shredded)
- salt and pepper
- 2 avocados (sliced - half avocado per quesadilla)
To serve
- balsamic reduction
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!
Video
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1quesadilla, Calories: 613kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Cholesterol: 90mg, Sodium: 937mg, Potassium: 877mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1597IU, Vitamin C: 37mg, Calcium: 633mg, Iron: 3mg
Author: Denise Bustard
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Italian
© 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.
Meet Denise Bustard
Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.
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Reader Interactions
Leave a Comment
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 🙂
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Denise says
Thank-you, Tammi! I need some, too! 😉
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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!!
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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!
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Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Best quesadillas ever!! Love the avocado!
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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!
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Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
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!
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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!
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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!Reply
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!
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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!Reply
Denise says
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!
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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!
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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 😉
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marcie says
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!
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Denise says
Thanks, Marcie!
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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!
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Denise says
Thanks, Andrea! Feeling much better today! Hope you like it!
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