These BBQ Chicken Quesadillas are one of our family’s favorite go-to easy dinners. They’re loaded with tender chicken, tangy bbq sauce, tender veggies, melty cheese, and a little crunch from the tortilla. It all gets cooked up to golden, crispy perfection that comes together fast, and tastes amazing!
I’ve made lots of quesadillas in my life, and for me, this one wins every time! It’s the perfect combo of sweet and smoky BBQ sauce with shredded chicken and gooey cheese. It gets cooked into crispy perfect with the gooey cheese in the middle.
It’s quick enough for a busy weeknight (ready in only about 15 minutes, thanks to using rotisserie chicken or leftovers), but tasty enough to impress. Its super easy to customize depending on what you have in the fridge.
Why You’ll Love These
- Quick and Easy: Ready in less than 20 minutes, these are great for a fast lunch, or dinner option!
- Delicious Flavors: Juicy chicken, crispy bacon, tangy barbecue sauce, and melty cheese come together in the perfect combination that is always a hit!
- Customizable Options: Swap the onions for red peppers, skip the bacon, try different cheese blends, you name it! You can make these however you want!
Ingredients Needed
This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Barbecue Chicken Quesadilla Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- Shredded Chicken: Perfect for using leftover rotisserie chicken
- Barbecue Sauce: Use your favorite brand, smoky, sweet, or spicy all work. My favorite is Sweet Baby Ray’s Original
- Shredded Cheese: I like using a mix of cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack. Whatever you have around.
- Flour Tortillas: Any size, but I like large tortillas so they are easier to load up.
- Red Onion: Adds a little extra tanginess
- Crumbled Bacon: Adds a little saltiness and extra crunch and flavor
- Fresh Cilantro: Brightens up the flavor and color!
- Butter, Oil, or Nonstick Spray – For greasing the pan, butter or oil will give you a little extra crunch.
How to make Barbecue Chicken Quesadillas?
Step 1: Sauté the Onion. Add a little olive oil to a skillet over medium high heat, then add chopped red onion and cook for a few minutes until tender. Add in the bacon bits and cook for a couple extra minutes to make them extra crispy.
Step 2: Mix the Filling. Add the shredded chicken, barbecue sauce, and seasonings to the pan with the bacon and onion and mix together until evenly coated. Remove the filling and set it aside.
Step 3: Assemble the Quesadillas. Grease the skillet and add a tortilla to the pan. Sprinkle shredded cheese over half of the tortilla, then the barbecue chicken mixture, and more cheese. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro. Fold the tortilla in half to close.
Step 4: Cook until Golden. Cook until the cheese inside is melted and the tortilla is golden. Let the cooked quesadilla rest for a couple minutes, then slice if up into pieces and serve hot with sour cream, ranch, salsa, or more BBQ sauce if desired.
Tips and Tricks:
- Don’t Overload: We want the quesadillas full, but not too full. If they’re too full it will be tricky to flip them without the stuffing falling out.
- Use Freshly Shredded Cheese: Shred your own cheese for a more even melt, without any anti-clumping agents added.
- Want a Kick: Add some sliced or diced jalapenos to the chicken mixture to add a little spice.
Storage Instructions
Quesadillas are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored if needed. Let them cool completely and wrap in foil, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet or air fryer to crisp them back up.
These BBQ Chicken Quesadillas are the perfect mix of flavors. If you love BBQ Chicken Pizza, this quesadilla gives the same vibes with an even easier to make dinner option. The perfect mix of sweet, smoky, cheesy, and crunchy! Perfect for a weeknight dinner, game day snack, quick lunch or whenever you want for a flavorful, fast option!
More Barbecue Favorites
If you make this Barbecue Chicken Quesadilla Recipe please leave a comment and 🌟 rating letting me know what you think! If you post the photo on Instagram, please tag me – I’d love to see what you’re making!
BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients
BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
- olive oil
- 1 cup diced red onion
- 1 cup bacon bits (or cooked and crumbled bacon)
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 6 large flour tortillas
- 4 cups shredded cheese (I like a mix of mozzarella, cheddar, and pepper jack)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
Instructions
- Add a little oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and cook for a couple minutes until the onion starts to soften. olive oil, 1 cup diced red onion
- Add in the bacon bits and cook for a couple more minutes until it crisps up. 1 cup bacon bits
- Add the chicken, and bbq sauce to the pan and mix it all together. Scoop into another bowl and set it aside. 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken, 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- Add a little more oil to the pan and add in a large tortilla. 6 large flour tortillas
- Sprinkle a little shredded cheese over half of the tortilla, then a scoop of the chicken mixture. Add a couple more Tablespoons of cheese over the mixture. Sprinkle with cilantro. 4 cups shredded cheese, 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- Fold the tortilla in half and let it cook on the bottom side until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and continue cooking on the other side until the tortilla is golden, and the inside is warm and melted.
- Repeat with additional tortillas and filling.
- Let the quesadillas sit for about 2 minutes, then slice and serve with sour cream, and more bbq sauce if desired.
Notes
- Don’t Overload: We want the quesadillas full, but not too full. If they’re too full it will be tricky to flip them without the stuffing falling out.
- Use Freshly Shredded Cheese: Shred your own cheese for a more even melt, without any anti-clumping agents added.
- Want a Kick: Add some sliced or diced jalapenos to the chicken mixture to add a little spice.
Nutrition
These BBQ Chicken Quesadillas were first posted on September 5, 2012. The photos and blog post were updated for clarity on August 22, 2025.
The Apron Gal says
I am definitely making these! I am on a BBQ chicken kick right now!
aimeeberrett says
BBQ chicken is one of the best combinations, isn’t it! Let me know if you make this.