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 images 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 12 months.

I’ve made a lot of quesadillas. However, I’m telling you that this Thanksgiving quesadilla is formally my favourite means to make use of the Thanksgiving leftovers, alongside my extra conventional turkey quesadilla when these leftovers lastly begin operating 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 should you don’t have all of the elements. Simply use what you’ve gotten.

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 fashion to make use of up leftovers ever since I first landed on it, nearly two years in the past. A bit of little bit of this and just a little little bit of that add as much as entire lot of deliciousness!

close up of quesadilla with all the thanksgiving dishes

Elements and Substitutions

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

Cheese – Monterey jack cheese is my go-to right here, however no matter delicate, melty cheese you’ve gotten available will work effectively.

Butter – I exploit salted butter in all of my recipes, until in any other case said. It helps the tortilla brown and preserve from sticking to the pan.

Turkey – No matter leftover turkey you’ve gotten available post-Thanksgiving will work. I all the time use our roast turkey. Should you occur to run wanting turkey, you’ll be able to sub rotisserie hen right here to benefit from any remaining aspect 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 embrace a few of this sausage apple cranberry stuffing. Any stuffing you’ve gotten 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 chew 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 incredible, 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 choose me til you’ve tried it.

all the leftover thanksgiving sides on the counter

Notes on Gear

Large nonstick skillet. I’ve been via about 1,000,000 skillets over time. 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 dropping the filling, and the nylon is mild on my nonstick pan.
Sharp knife
Chopping board

Tips on how to Make a Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Gathering the Elements: Earlier than I begin cooking, I collect all the elements 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 Elements: 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 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 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 exploit my arms 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 cook 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 an additional 2-3 minutes.

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

Skilled Tip

It is a actually hearty quesadilla. Even should you’re solely including just a little 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 cook dinner my quesadillas over medium warmth, I cook dinner this one just a little slower to permit all the elements time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. Should you’d wish to cook dinner them sooner, I like to recommend heating the leftovers within the microwave for 30 seconds or so earlier than cooking the quesadillas.

Use Your Palms – I discover it easiest to simply use my arms to distribute small parts of potatoes and inexperienced beans and stuffing throughout the quesadilla. Sure, it’s messy, however the outcomes are price 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 lovely factor.

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

Preserving Layers Skinny – Whereas it is perhaps tempting to pack as a lot as doable into these quesadillas, persistence is vital. Cramming an excessive amount of filling into these quesadillas will forestall them from cooking evenly, and the tortilla might not be capable to preserve every thing contained.

Serving Strategies

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

Make Forward & Storage

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

Tips on how to Reheat: I normally reheat the quesadilla in a nonstick skillet on medium warmth, to refresh the crispiness. You may also reheat within the air fryer.

Extra Quesadilla Recipes

Continuously Requested Questions

What’s one of the simplest 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 is perhaps caught. After doing that, I slip the spatula beneath the quesadilla in a single fast, easy movement. Then, I elevate the quesadilla simply sufficient to have the ability to flip it over on the folded edge, preserving the tortilla throughout the bounds of the pan.

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

I usually don’t must. However, if one thing has loads 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 best issues I’ve realized is to attend a few minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese continues to be loads scorching, nevertheless it binds the opposite elements higher.

Place all the quesadilla fillings subsequent to the range for straightforward meeting. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low warmth. Calmly butter one aspect of the tortilla with butter and place it within the scorching pan. Generously sprinkle cheese over the tortilla and high half of 1 aspect with turkey.
Working shortly, high 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 cook 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 cook dinner the opposite aspect.
Proceed to cook 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 reducing board and minimize it into wedges whereas it’s scorching and serve heat with cranberry sauce.

Thanksgiving Quesadilla – Barefeet within the Kitchen