Chipotle Chicken Filling For Quesadillas Recipes

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Stir in the chipotle peppers and tomatoes. Cook until most of the liquid from the tomatoes has evaporated and the mixture is thickened, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Stir in the scallions, honey, chicken, salt and cilantro. Keep warm.
• Heat a sauté pan over medium heat and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Lay a tortilla in the pan and heat until hot to the touch but not crisp (air pockets may form). Flip the tortilla over, then sprinkle ⅔ cup of the cheese evenly overtop, being careful to keep it off the pan. Spread a generous ½ cup of the chicken mixture over half of the tortilla. When the cheese is mostly melted, fold the tortilla over to cover the filling and form a half-moon shape. Cook until the tortilla is crisp and golden and the cheese is melted, adjusting the heat as necessary, a few minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Let the quesadillas rest a few minutes to allow the filling to set, then cut into wedges. Serve with sour cream and lime wedges, if desired.
• Note: If you have a large griddle, use that to make the quesadillas so you can make a few at a time. Also, be sure to serve your quesadillas hot of the pan (or off the griddle), otherwise, they'll get soggy and the cheese will harden. If this does happen, you can pop them in a 350 F degree oven to heat them up, but they won't be as crisp and gooey as they are fresh. The chicken mixture can be made up to 2 days ahead, cooled, covered, and refrigerated.
• Note: The nutritional information does not include the optional ingredients.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked quesadillas can be frozen for up to 3 months. After defrosting in the refrigerator, reheat them, wrapped in foil, in a 325°F oven until hot, 20 - 30 minutes.

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and serrano chile; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and stir-fry 1 minute. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Transfer to a medium bowl and wipe skillet clean with a paper towel.
• Chope chipotle chile; place in a small bowl with adobo sauce and mash with fork. Add to onion mixture in bowl; add chicken and toss. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Place a tortilla on a cutting board and spread with 1 cup chicken mixture. Top with 1/2 cup cheese and another tortilla. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• With paper towel, lightly oil skillet and place over medium-high heat until it is very hot but not smoking. Cook quesadillas one at a time, turning over once, until cheese is melted, 4-5 minutes total.
• Transfer with spatula to cutting board; cover with aluminum to keep warm. Cut the quesadillas into quarters - serve with your choice of accompaniments (source cream, salsa, etc).

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN FILLING FOR QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Heat a saucepan over medium heat; add oil. When oil is hot, add onion, garlic, oregano, and pepper; cook until onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add stock and chicken; bring to a simmer, cover, and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove chicken from pan, and set aside.
• Add chipotles, tomatoes, star anise, and cinnamon, and simmer until liquid is reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Shred chicken, and return to sauce. Simmer gently until most of the liquid has been absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick and star anise before using.

GRILLED CHIPOTLE-CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Lay chicken on a grill over medium heat (you can hold you hand 1 or 2 inches above grill level only 4 to 5 seconds) or put chicken in a grill pan over medium heat. Cook chicken 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through (cut to check). Slice cooked chicken breasts into 1/4 in.-thick slices. Keep grill or grill pan hot.
• In a small bowl, whisk together chipotle chile, sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, and cilantro.
• Spread 1 tablespoon chipotle-lime sauce on each of the tortillas. Top 4 of the tortillas each with 1/2 cup cheese and a quarter of the chicken slices, then cover with the remaining tortillas (sauce side down). Put each quesadilla on a dinner plate.
• Slide quesadillas off the plates onto the grill over medium heat, or slide into a grill pan over medium heat (you may need to grill the tortillas in batches). Grill uncovered turning once, until cheese is melted and both sides are golden, about 2 minutes each side (use a large spatula and tongs to flip the quesadillas). If grilling in batches, keep finished quesadillas warm in a 200 degree oven until ready to serve.
• Slice each quesadilla into wedges and serve with salsa on the side.