Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my pals. 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 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.

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 for those who don’t have all of the components. 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 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 choose the flavour and texture of flour tortillas, fingers down. However, you possibly can go together with corn tortillas in order for you. (In the event you 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’ve got available will work nicely.

Butter – I exploit salted butter in all of my recipes, except in any other case said. It helps the tortilla brown and preserve 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 the event you occur to run wanting turkey, you possibly can sub rotisserie rooster right here to take advantage of any remaining facet 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 embody a few of this sausage apple cranberry stuffing. Any stuffing you’ve got will work.

Creamed Corn – I 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 – You probably have them, don’t sleep on including sweet potatoes as nicely! They add a fantastic, mildly candy distinction to the opposite savory components.

Cranberry Sauce – My boys and I 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

Notes on Tools

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 completely loaded quesadilla and not using a factor sticking.
Grater
Flexible nylon turner. I attain for this turner nearly 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
Chopping board

Find out how to Make a Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Gathering the Substances: Earlier than I begin cooking, I collect the entire components 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 evenly 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 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 rooster. I exploit 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 last 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 cook dinner undisturbed for 2-3 minutes, till the cheese begins to soften and the underside tortilla is a golden brown.

Flipping: I fastidiously 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 slicing board and slice into wedges whereas nonetheless sizzling. Serve heat with cranberry sauce.

Skilled Tip

It is a actually hearty quesadilla. Even for those who’re solely including a bit of bit of every ingredient, all of it provides up. And, while you’re working with a thick quesadilla like this, warmth administration performs an enormous position. Whereas I usually cook dinner my quesadillas over medium warmth, I cook dinner this one a bit of slower to permit the entire components time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. In the event 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 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 price 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 stupendous factor.

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

Conserving Layers Skinny – Whereas it is likely to be tempting to pack as a lot as potential into these quesadillas, endurance is essential. Cramming an excessive amount of filling into these quesadillas will stop them from cooking evenly, and the tortilla might not be capable to preserve all the pieces contained.

Serving Ideas

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

Make Forward & Storage

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

Find out how to Reheat: I normally reheat the quesadilla in a nonstick skillet on medium warmth, to refresh the crispiness. You may as well 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 is likely to be caught. After doing that, I slip the spatula beneath the quesadilla in a single fast, clean movement. Then, I carry the quesadilla simply sufficient to have the ability to flip it over on the folded edge, holding the tortilla throughout the bounds of the pan.

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

I usually 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 go away the juice behind.

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

Top-of-the-line issues I’ve realized is to attend a couple of minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese remains to be loads sizzling, but it surely binds the opposite components higher.

Place the entire quesadilla fillings subsequent to the range for straightforward meeting. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low warmth. Evenly butter one facet of the tortilla with butter and place it within the sizzling pan. Generously sprinkle cheese over the tortilla and high half of 1 facet with turkey.
Working shortly, high 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 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 facet.
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 slicing board and reduce it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling and serve heat with cranberry sauce.