Thanksgiving Quesadilla

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

quesadilla filled with Thanksgiving sides and turkey too — Thanksgiving Quesadilla - Barefeet within the Kitchen 80

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.

personal note mary — Thanksgiving Quesadilla - Barefeet within the Kitchen 81

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 when you don’t have all of the elements. Simply use what you have got.

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. Slightly little bit of this and slightly little bit of that add as much as complete lot of deliciousness!

close up of quesadilla with all the thanksgiving dishes — Thanksgiving Quesadilla - Barefeet within the Kitchen 82

Substances and Substitutions

Tortillas – I want the flavour and texture of flour tortillas, fingers down. However, you’ll be able to go together with corn tortillas in order for you. (If you happen to select to make use of corn tortillas, you’ll want two and also you gained’t be capable to fold them as described beneath.)

Cheese – Monterey jack cheese is my go-to right here, however no matter gentle, melty cheese you have got 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 hold from sticking to the pan.

Turkey – No matter leftover turkey you have got readily available post-Thanksgiving will work. I all the time use our roast turkey. If you happen to occur to run in need of turkey, you’ll be able to sub rotisserie rooster right here to profit from any remaining aspect dishes.

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

Stuffing – Whereas it lasts (which isn’t lengthy) I embrace a few of this sausage apple cranberry stuffing. Any stuffing you have got 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 assist .

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

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

all the leftover thanksgiving sides on the counter — Thanksgiving Quesadilla - Barefeet within the Kitchen 83

Notes on Tools

Large nonstick skillet. I’ve been by 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 with out 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 mild on my nonstick pan.
Sharp knife
Reducing board

ingredients on tortilla for quesadilla — Thanksgiving Quesadilla - Barefeet within the Kitchen 84

Tips on how to Make a Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Gathering the Substances: Earlier than I begin cooking, I collect all the elements and place them subsequent to the range for simple meeting.

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

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

Buttering the Tortilla: I evenly butter one aspect of a tortilla. As soon as the pan is scorching, I set it buttered aspect down within the pan.

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

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

Folding It Over: Now you’ll gently fold the aspect 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 rigorously flip the folded quesadilla over to the opposite aspect and let it proceed cooking for one more 2-3 minutes.

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

folded quesadilla cooking on stove — Thanksgiving Quesadilla - Barefeet within the Kitchen 87

Professional Tip

This can be a actually hearty quesadilla. Even when you’re solely including slightly bit of every ingredient, all of it provides up. And, whenever you’re working with a thick quesadilla like this, warmth administration performs an enormous position. Whereas I usually prepare dinner my quesadillas over medium warmth, I prepare dinner this one slightly slower to permit all the elements time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. If you happen to’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 Arms – I discover it easiest to simply use my fingers 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 scrub up whereas the quesadilla is getting toasty within the pan. Additionally, disposable gloves are a ravishing factor.

Chopping Filling Substances Finely – Chop these elements smaller than you assume. The items of turkey and inexperienced beans have to be tiny and bite-size, or it’s going to be messy making an attempt to eat it. Purpose for ½” items.

Protecting Layers Skinny – Whereas it could be tempting to pack as a lot as doable into these quesadillas, endurance is essential. Cramming an excessive amount of filling into these quesadillas will forestall them from cooking evenly, and the tortilla could not be capable to hold all the things contained.

Serving Ideas

The one factor I by no means skip is slightly dish of cranberry on the aspect for dipping. homemade cranberry sauce is the basic transfer, however hot pepper cranberry sauce brings slightly warmth that performs effectively in opposition to all that savory filling. A spoonful of cranberry chutney or cranberry pepper jelly is nice right here too, when you’ve got a jar within the fridge.

thanksgiving quesadilla — Thanksgiving Quesadilla - Barefeet within the Kitchen 88

Make Forward & Storage

Tips on how to Retailer: Leftover quesadilla wedges may be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 days.

Tips on how to Reheat: I often reheat the quesadilla in a nonstick skillet on medium warmth, to refresh the crispiness. It’s also possible to reheat within the air fryer.

Extra Quesadilla Recipes

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

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

I often 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, retaining the tortilla inside the bounds of the pan.

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

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

How do I slice a quesadilla with out making a large number?

The most effective issues I’ve discovered is to attend a couple of minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese remains to be lots scorching, however it binds the opposite elements higher.

Place all the quesadilla fillings subsequent to the range for simple meeting. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low warmth. Flippantly butter one aspect of the tortilla with butter and place it within the scorching pan. Generously sprinkle cheese over the tortilla and prime half of 1 aspect with turkey.
Working shortly, prime the turkey with inexperienced bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and candy potatoes. Fold the cheese aspect 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 aspect.
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 reduce it into wedges whereas it’s scorching and serve heat with cranberry sauce.