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.

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

• Barbecue Chicken Wrap
• BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza
• BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger
• Crockpot Baked Beans
• Barbecued Pulled Chicken Slow Cooker
• BBQ Pasta Salad
• BBQ Bacon Chicken