Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my pals. I’m very excited to share this with you at present. I dreamed up this quesadilla a few years in the past and at last received round to creating it and taking images 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 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 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, pals 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. A bit 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

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 if you need. (If you happen to select to make use of corn tortillas, you’ll want two and also you gained’t be capable of fold them as described under.)

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

Butter – I exploit salted butter in all of my recipes, except in any other case said. It helps the tortilla brown and hold 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. If you happen to occur to run in need of 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 combination.

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 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 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 way 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 totally loaded quesadilla with no 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 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 straightforward 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 frivolously 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 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 exploit my fingers 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 remaining 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 rigorously flip the folded quesadilla over to the opposite facet 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.

Skilled Tip

It is a actually hearty quesadilla. Even in the event you’re solely including slightly 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 slightly slower to permit the entire substances time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. If you happen to’d wish 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 Arms – I discover it easiest to only 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 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 stupendous factor.

Chopping Filling Substances Finely – Chop these substances 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 attempting to eat it. Goal for ½” items.

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

Serving Recommendations

The one factor I by no means skip is slightly dish of cranberry on the facet 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 sweet right here too, when you have a jar within the fridge.

Make Forward & Storage

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

The way 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

Often 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 carry 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 have to. However, if one thing has a number of juices, you’re proper to be involved. An excessive amount of moisture is a foul factor. Use a slotted spoon and depart the juice behind.

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

Probably the greatest issues I’ve realized is to attend a few minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese continues to be loads sizzling, however it binds the opposite substances higher.

Place the entire 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 prime half of 1 facet with turkey.
Working shortly, prime 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 chopping board and minimize it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling and serve heat with cranberry sauce.