Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my associates. I’m very excited to share this with you at the moment. I dreamed up this quesadilla a few years in the past and at last obtained round to creating it and taking photographs 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

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 method 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 in the event you don’t have all of the substances. Simply use what you’ve 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 fashion to make use of up leftovers ever since I first landed on it, virtually two years in the past. A bit of little bit of this and a bit of little bit of that add as much as complete lot of deliciousness!

close up of quesadilla with all the thanksgiving dishes

Substances and Substitutions

Tortillas – I desire the flavour and texture of flour tortillas, palms down. However, you possibly can go together with corn tortillas if you’d like. (In case you select to make use of corn tortillas, you’ll want two and also you received’t be capable to fold them as described beneath.)

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

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’ve got available post-Thanksgiving will work. I at all times use our roast turkey. In case you occur to run wanting turkey, you possibly can sub rotisserie hen right here to take advantage of 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 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 chew the kernels add.

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

Candy Potatoes – When you’ve got them, don’t sleep on including sweet potatoes as properly! They add a terrific, 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 Tools

Large nonstick skillet. I’ve been by way of about one million skillets through the years. For the previous a number of years this has been my on a regular basis champ, and it crisps a totally loaded quesadilla with no factor sticking.
Grater
Flexible nylon turner. I attain for this turner virtually each single day. It’s skinny sufficient to slip cleanly underneath the folded quesadilla but sturdy sufficient to flip it with out dropping the filling, and the nylon is light on my nonstick pan.
Sharp knife
Reducing board

The way to Make a Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Gathering the Substances: Earlier than I begin cooking, I collect the entire substances 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 wish to shred the cheese and chop the turkey and inexperienced bean casserole into tiny items.

Buttering the Tortilla: I calmly butter one aspect of a tortilla. As soon as the pan is sizzling, 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 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 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 remaining 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 either side are good and crispy, use your spatula to switch the quesadilla to a chopping board and slice into wedges whereas nonetheless sizzling. Serve heat with cranberry sauce.

Professional Tip

This can be a actually hearty quesadilla. Even in the event you’re solely including a bit of bit of every ingredient, all of it provides up. And, if 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 the entire substances time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. In case you’d prefer to prepare 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 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 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 wonderful factor.

Chopping Filling Substances Finely – Chop these substances smaller than you suppose. The items of turkey and inexperienced beans must be tiny and bite-size, or it’s going to be messy making an attempt 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, 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 maintain the whole lot contained.

Serving Recommendations

The one factor I by no means skip is a bit of dish of cranberry on the aspect for dipping. homemade cranberry sauce is the traditional transfer, however hot pepper cranberry sauce brings a bit of warmth that performs properly 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 way to Retailer: Leftover quesadilla wedges may be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 days.

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

Extra Quesadilla Recipes

Often Requested Questions

What’s one of the simplest 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, clean movement. Then, I raise the quesadilla simply sufficient to have the ability to flip it over on the folded edge, retaining the tortilla throughout the bounds of the pan.

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

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

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

Among the best issues I’ve discovered is to attend a few minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese remains to be loads sizzling, but it surely binds the opposite substances higher.

Place the entire quesadilla fillings subsequent to the range for simple meeting. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low warmth. Calmly butter one aspect of the tortilla with butter and place it within the sizzling 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 chopping board and reduce it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling and serve heat with cranberry sauce.