Chicken Quesadilla Seasoning Recipes That Pack Serious Flavor

Chicken quesadillas don’t need to be bland—there are tons of ways to season the filling for extra character!

I often use a mix of cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and a pinch of oregano stirred directly into the cooked chicken.

For more heat, I’ll toss in a dash of chipotle powder or minced jalapeños while reheating the meat in the skillet.

The seasoning works best when added with a little broth or lime juice so it coats the chicken evenly without drying it out.

Sometimes I mix the spices right into the shredded cheese before layering everything onto the tortilla for a more even result!

1. Pantry Seasoning Mix

Embracing the authentic flavor of the recipe using your regular pantry mix is one of the best seasoning for chicken quesadilla.

You can also create this seasoning mix and keep it in the pantry to season your quesadillas right away. 

Here’s a quick look at a simple ingredient mix best to use with chicken quesadilla:

• 2 tablespoons of dried oregano
• 3 to 4 tablespoons of cumin
• 4 tablespoons of onion powder
• 4 tablespoons of paprika
• 2 tablespoons of salt 
• 1/2 tablespoon of black pepper

You’ll need around 1 tablespoon of this mix for every 1/2 lb of chicken meat used in the quesadilla chicken seasoning recipes.

2. Jalapenos and Chili Flakes

As an authentic Mexican recipe, the quesadilla is best enjoyed spicy. 

If that sounds like something right up your alley, you should consider spicing it up with jalapenos and chili flakes.

This recipe also includes coriander and cilantro, which I highly recommend that you add to the seasoning mix. 

Those two balance the spiciness of the chili flakes and add an earthy aroma with floral hints when you bite on the quesadilla.

3. Deep Frying the Quesadillas

Deep frying the quesadillas will yield a remarkably unique flavor along with a crispy crunch that adds an enjoyable texture to the quesadilla.

For this recipe, you’ll prepare the quesadillas as you normally do, starting off with veggies, chicken, and any cheese of your choice.

Once the quesadilla is ready, dip them in eggs then the frying mix, and fry them on both sides for a couple of minutes. 

Let them rest for a minute before you bite!

4. Braising the Chicken

Braised chicken has a tender interior, allowing the flavors and spices to penetrate even the deepest tissues of the chicken. 

However, the exterior of the chicken will be crispy and savory, thanks to the delicious Maillard reaction. 

This recipe also works great if you have leftover braised chicken and you don’t want them to go to waste!

5. Teriyaki Sauce

The sweet and sour teriyaki sauce adds some incredible umami flavor depth to the chicken.

While it might seem difficult at first, the sticky sauce is actually very easy to make with a base of sauce with mirin and sugar. 

Rather than drizzling the sauce over the tortillas, bake the chicken with the sauce before shredding it for the quesadilla.

You can also use store-bought teriyaki if you don’t have the time, but in both cases, omit the salt from your original recipe to avoid over-saltiness.

6. Hoisin Sauce

Another brilliant sweet and sour sauce that you doubles as a seasoning for chicken quesadilla is Hoisin sauce.

This one is also called the Chinese BBQ sauce because it has a unique smoky flavor that blends in perfectly with the toasted tortillas!

Remember that Hoisin sauce is quite sweet, so don’t add too much over the tortillas and spread it evenly. 

Also, add vegetables to balance the flavor out.

7. Chicken Marinade

 

When I prepare chicken quesadillas, I always find it a lot easier and more flavorful to start with chicken that I’ve already marinated the day before.

For this, I use a grilling marinade with some freshly squeezed lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, some extra virgin olive oil, as well as salt and pepper to taste.

You can also replace the salt and pepper with some soy sauce and brown sugar if you want to introduce some “sweet and sour” to your recipe.

8. Avocados

The combination of butter avocados with chicken makes for the best seasoning for quesadillas if you want to try out something new.

The slightly nutty flavor with an earthy undertone compliments the savory taste of chicken very well, especially if you add a tangy touch with some lime and cilantro!

This one is also a great way to include some avocados in your diet if you don’t fancy the raw flavor.

9. Sweet Chili

Sweet chili sauce, also known as “nam chim kai” or “Thai chili sauce”, is one of the perfect condiments to combine with a quesadilla.

The home-prepared sauce lasts for a long time and you can use it in a variety of ways.

For example, you can spread it over the tortillas if you want a slight kick.

Also, you can combine it with the chicken seasoning for added flavor or use it directly as a dip!

10. Harissa 

If you’re all about the heat, you should kick things up a notch and try out harissa. 

This Northwestern African paste-like sauce gives a serious heat punch to the quesadillas.

Harissa is made by combining red peppers along with garlic, cumin, coriander seeds, and caraway seeds in an olive oil base.

You can find harissa in the international section, but here’s a quick recipe to prepare the homemade chicken quesadilla seasoning right away!

11. Bruschetta Marinara and Parmesan Crust

This one is similar to the previously mentioned deep frying method, and like the other one, it can be a total game changer!

If it feels like too much work, you can simply skip the Marinara and try out the parmesan crust alone. 

The savory, nutty, flavor of the browned cheese is simply to die for but remember to use less salt while preparing the chicken.

12. Taco Bell Style Seasoning

For those who enjoy Taco Bell’s chicken quesadilla, this recipe will show you how to make an even better one at home!

At 0:47, Sean uses 7 ingredient seasoning mix to cook the chicken.

The spices include garlic powder, onion powder, cumin powder, salt, black pepper, red chili flakes/powder, and dried oregano.

You can also use any vegetables you like.

But, if you want the authentic flavor, you can go for chopped onions as well as red and yellow bell peppers (yellow ones are slightly sweet).

13. Cheese

There’s no better way to improve the flavor (and the presentation) of your quesadilla better than adding some extra cheese.

Not only does it add some melted goodness to the recipe, but the complex flavor of cheese can completely take your quesadilla to another level.

There are plenty of unique cheese types that go very well with quesadilla, including Cream cheese, Mozzarella, Pepper Jack, Cheddar, Chihuahua, and Oaxaca cheese.

14. Broil the Chickens on a Rotisserie

Broiled rotisserie chicken is one of the best ways to oven-roast a chicken. 

It’s also much healthier than frying the quesadilla chicken in terms of the final fat content. 

This makes it an excellent choice if you’re counting your calories and you don’t want to go overboard on one recipe.

This video shows you how to use leftover rotisserie chicken to prepare chicken quesadillas, but you can use less cheese or change their types to diet-friendly alternatives if you want.

15. Picante Sauce

Lastly, if you’re aspiring for an all-Mexican dish, you might want to spread some Picante sauce over the tortillas while preparing the quesadillas.

Picante sauce is actually pretty easy to prepare, and you only need serrano peppers (or jalapenos), onions, lime juice, and cilantro with tomato paste to create it. 

Here’s a quick recipe for a brilliant homemade Picante sauce.