Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my associates. I’m very excited to share this with you in the present day. I dreamed up this quesadilla a few years in the past and eventually bought round to creating it and taking photographs of it final fall. And let me let you know, it fulfills each meals fantasy I had after which some.

quesadilla filled with Thanksgiving sides and turkey too

I made this quesadilla for lunch the day after Thanksgiving. After which I made it once more for dinner for myself and for the remainder of the household too. After which? I made it once more on Saturday AND on Sunday. Yep, I did that. And I’ll fortunately be making this quesadilla once more, on repeat, for so long as the Thanksgiving sides final this yr.

I’ve made a lot of quesadillas. However, I’m telling you that this Thanksgiving quesadilla is formally my favourite approach to make use of the Thanksgiving leftovers, alongside my extra conventional turkey quesadilla when these leftovers lastly begin working out.

From begin to end, this quesadilla solely takes ten minutes to make. It’s constructed from leftovers, so it’s simple to adapt on the fly. So, don’t fear if you happen to don’t have all of the substances. Simply use what you might have.

I don’t even care if I sound loopy. I’ve been raving to all of my brothers and sisters, associates and strangers on the grocery retailer even, about this manner to make use of up leftovers ever since I first landed on it, nearly two years in the past. Just a little little bit of this and a bit of little bit of that add as much as entire lot of deliciousness!

close up of quesadilla with all the thanksgiving dishes

Components and Substitutions

Tortillas – I favor the flavour and texture of flour tortillas, palms down. However, you’ll be able to go along with corn tortillas in order for you. (In case you select to make use of corn tortillas, you’ll want two and also you gained’t have the ability to fold them as described under.)

Cheese – Monterey jack cheese is my go-to right here, however no matter gentle, melty cheese you might have readily available will work effectively.

Butter – I take advantage of salted butter in all of my recipes, except in any other case acknowledged. It helps the tortilla brown and maintain from sticking to the pan.

Turkey – No matter leftover turkey you might have readily available post-Thanksgiving will work. I at all times use our roast turkey. In case you occur to run wanting turkey, you’ll be able to sub rotisserie hen right here to take advantage of any remaining facet dishes.

Inexperienced Bean Casserole – My favourite green bean casserole brings fantastic flavors and texture to the combo.

Stuffing – Whereas it lasts (which isn’t lengthy) I embody a few of this sausage apple cranberry stuffing. Any stuffing you might have will work.

Creamed Corn – I really like including creamed corn (and even corn pudding if we’re fortunate sufficient to have any leftover!) to the quesadilla for the candy crisp chunk the kernels add.

Mashed Potatoes – Mashed potatoes add some creamy, wealthy taste and help .

Candy Potatoes – In case you have them, don’t sleep on including sweet potatoes as effectively! They add an excellent, mildly candy distinction to the opposite savory substances.

Cranberry Sauce – My boys and I really like to make use of some leftover cranberry sauce for dipping. Don’t choose me til you’ve tried it.

all the leftover thanksgiving sides on the counter

Notes on Gear

Large nonstick skillet. I’ve been by means of about 1,000,000 skillets through the years. For the previous a number of years this has been my on a regular basis champ, and it crisps a completely loaded quesadilla and not using a factor sticking.
Grater
Flexible nylon turner. I attain for this turner nearly each single day. It’s skinny sufficient to slip cleanly beneath the folded quesadilla but sturdy sufficient to flip it with out shedding the filling, and the nylon is light on my nonstick pan.
Sharp knife
Reducing board

The best way to Make a Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Gathering the Components: Earlier than I begin cooking, I collect all the substances and place them subsequent to the range for straightforward meeting.

Preheating the Pan: Set a big non-stick pan over medium-low warmth on the range to heat up.

Prepping the Components: Whereas it heats, you’ll wish to shred the cheese and chop the turkey and inexperienced bean casserole into tiny items.

Buttering the Tortilla: I flippantly butter one facet of a tortilla. As soon as the pan is sizzling, I set it buttered facet down within the pan.

Including Cheese and Turkey: Sprinkle half of the tortilla with about half the cheese, then layer the chopped turkey on high of the cheese.

Topping with the Relaxation: You’ll wish to layer very small quantities of the inexperienced bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and candy potatoes over the hen. I take advantage of my palms to position little items of every dish throughout half of the tortilla. As soon as I’ve all of the layers in place, I add a last layer of cheese.

Folding It Over: Now you’ll gently fold the facet of the tortilla over the fillings and press down with the again of a spatula.

Cooking: You’ll let it prepare dinner undisturbed for 2-3 minutes, till the cheese begins to soften and the underside tortilla is a golden brown.

Flipping: I fastidiously flip the folded quesadilla over to the opposite facet and let it proceed cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Serving: As soon as either side are good and crispy, use your spatula to switch the quesadilla to a slicing board and slice into wedges whereas nonetheless sizzling. Serve heat with cranberry sauce.

Skilled Tip

It is a actually hearty quesadilla. Even if you happen to’re solely including a bit of bit of every ingredient, all of it provides up. And, once you’re working with a thick quesadilla like this, warmth administration performs a giant function. Whereas I usually prepare dinner my quesadillas over medium warmth, I prepare dinner this one a bit of slower to permit all the substances time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. In case you’d wish to prepare dinner them quicker, I like to recommend heating the leftovers within the microwave for 30 seconds or so earlier than cooking the quesadillas.

Use Your Fingers – I discover it easiest to only use my palms to distribute small parts of potatoes and inexperienced beans and stuffing throughout the quesadilla. Sure, it’s messy, however the outcomes are value it and also you’ll have loads of time to clean up whereas the quesadilla is getting toasty within the pan. Additionally, disposable gloves are a gorgeous factor.

Chopping Filling Components Finely – Chop these substances smaller than you assume. The items of turkey and inexperienced beans should be tiny and bite-size, or it’s going to be messy attempting to eat it. Goal for ½” items.

Protecting Layers Skinny – Whereas it could be tempting to pack as a lot as attainable into these quesadillas, endurance is essential. Cramming an excessive amount of filling into these quesadillas will stop them from cooking evenly, and the tortilla might not have the ability to maintain every little thing contained.

Serving Solutions

The one factor I by no means skip is a bit of dish of cranberry on the facet for dipping. homemade cranberry sauce is the traditional transfer, however hot pepper cranberry sauce brings a bit of warmth that performs effectively towards all that savory filling. A spoonful of cranberry chutney or cranberry pepper jelly is nice right here too, in case you have a jar within the fridge.

Make Forward & Storage

The best way to Retailer: Leftover quesadilla wedges might be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 days.

The best way to Reheat: I normally reheat the quesadilla in a nonstick skillet on medium warmth, to refresh the crispiness. You can too reheat within the air fryer.

Extra Quesadilla Recipes

Regularly Requested Questions

What’s one of the best ways to flip a quesadilla with out spilling?

I normally use a big spatula to circle the bottom of the pan, checking for any areas the place the tortilla could be caught. After doing that, I slip the spatula beneath the quesadilla in a single fast, easy movement. Then, I raise the quesadilla simply sufficient to have the ability to flip it over on the folded edge, conserving the tortilla inside the bounds of the pan.

Ought to I pressure/drain any of the filling substances?

I sometimes don’t must. However, if one thing has a whole lot of juices, you’re proper to be involved. An excessive amount of moisture is a nasty factor. Use a slotted spoon and go away the juice behind.

How do I slice a quesadilla with out making a multitude?

Among the finest issues I’ve discovered is to attend a couple of minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese continues to be a lot sizzling, however it binds the opposite substances higher.

Place all the quesadilla fillings subsequent to the range for straightforward meeting. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low warmth. Frivolously butter one facet of the tortilla with butter and place it within the sizzling pan. Generously sprinkle cheese over the tortilla and high half of 1 facet with turkey.
Working rapidly, high the turkey with inexperienced bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and candy potatoes. Fold the cheese facet of the tortilla over the fillings and press it down over them. Cowl with a lid.
Let the quesadilla prepare dinner for 2-3 minutes. When the cheese is starting to soften and the underside tortilla is browning barely, uncover and flip the folded quesadilla over to prepare dinner the opposite facet.
Proceed to prepare dinner uncovered till all of the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crisp across the edges. Utilizing a spatula, switch the quesadilla again to a slicing board and lower it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling and serve heat with cranberry sauce.