Description
This Bacon Ranch Chicken Quesadillas recipe combines lean ground chicken, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar cheese seasoned perfectly with ranch seasoning, all stuffed inside warm tortillas. Ready in just 30 minutes, these quesadillas make for a delicious and satisfying meal, great for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Cheese
- 1 lb Ground Chicken (97/3 lean to fat ratio)
- 6 slices Bacon, cut into strips
- 8 oz Cheddar cheese, shredded
Seasoning
- 2 Tbsp Ranch Seasoning
Base
- 8 Tortillas (6-inch Mission Carb Balance tortillas preferred)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the bacon strips until crispy. Remove the cooked bacon strips and place them on paper towels to drain excess grease, reserving the skillet for the next step.
- Cook the ground chicken: In the same skillet with the rendered bacon fat, add the ground chicken. Cook thoroughly over medium-high heat until no pink remains, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- Combine ingredients: Add the ranch seasoning and cooked bacon pieces back into the skillet with the cooked ground chicken. Stir thoroughly to evenly distribute the seasoning and bacon, cooking until no visible ranch seasoning remains. Transfer the mixture to a bowl or plate and set aside.
- Prepare the quesadillas: Heat the same skillet or a large griddle over medium-low to medium heat. Lightly spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place one tortilla flat on the skillet.
- Assemble the quesadilla: On one half of the tortilla, sprinkle 2 tablespoons (about 14g) of shredded cheddar cheese. Layer about 40-45g of the ground chicken and bacon mixture over the cheese, then add another 2 tablespoons of cheese on top.
- Fold and cook: Using a spatula, carefully fold the tortilla in half over the filling. Hold the folded side closed for a few seconds to let the cheese begin melting. Cook the quesadilla for 1-2 minutes per side until both sides are golden brown and the cheese is fully melted. Adjust heat as needed to avoid burning the tortilla.
- Serve: Remove from the skillet, slice if desired, and serve warm. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
Notes
- Use a non-stick skillet or griddle for best results to prevent sticking and tearing the tortillas.
- Adjust the ranch seasoning amount according to your taste preference.
- For added flavor, you can include diced onions or bell peppers when cooking the ground chicken.
- Serve with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for extra taste.
- Allow quesadillas to cool slightly before slicing to prevent filling from spilling out.
