Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my pals. I’m very excited to share this with you in the present day. 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 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 manner 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 when you don’t have all of the elements. Simply use what you could have.

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 fashion to make use of up leftovers ever since I first landed on it, virtually two years in the past. Just a little little bit of this and slightly 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 favor the flavour and texture of flour tortillas, arms down. However, you’ll be able to go along with corn tortillas in order for you. (Should you select to make use of corn tortillas, you’ll want two and also you received’t have the ability to fold them as described under.)

Cheese – Monterey jack cheese is my go-to right here, however no matter gentle, melty cheese you could have readily available will work nicely.

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

Turkey – No matter leftover turkey you could have readily available post-Thanksgiving will work. I all the time use our roast turkey. Should you occur to run in need of turkey, you’ll be able to sub rotisserie rooster right here to profit from any remaining facet dishes.

Inexperienced Bean Casserole – My favourite green bean casserole brings great flavors and texture to the combo.

Stuffing – Whereas it lasts (which isn’t lengthy) I embody a few of this sausage apple cranberry stuffing. Any stuffing you could have 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 help .

Candy Potatoes – You probably have them, don’t sleep on including sweet potatoes as nicely! 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 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 means of about one million 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 no factor sticking.
Grater
Flexible nylon turner. I attain for this turner virtually each single day. It’s skinny sufficient to slip cleanly below 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

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 flippantly 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 rooster. I take advantage of 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 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 an additional 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 when you’re solely including slightly 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 position. Whereas I usually cook dinner my quesadillas over medium warmth, I cook dinner this one slightly slower to permit all the elements time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. Should you’d prefer to cook dinner them quicker, I like to recommend heating the leftovers within the microwave for 30 seconds or so earlier than cooking the quesadillas.

Use Your Fingers – 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 gorgeous factor.

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

Protecting Layers Skinny – Whereas it may be tempting to pack as a lot as doable into these quesadillas, persistence is vital. Cramming an excessive amount of filling into these quesadillas will stop them from cooking evenly, and the tortilla could not have the ability to preserve all the pieces contained.

Serving Strategies

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 nicely 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

Retailer: Leftover quesadilla wedges may be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 days.

Reheat: I often 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 best 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 may be caught. After doing that, I slip the spatula beneath the quesadilla in a single fast, easy movement. Then, I raise the quesadilla simply sufficient to have the ability to flip it over on the folded edge, conserving the tortilla throughout the bounds of the pan.

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

I sometimes don’t must. However, if one thing has a variety of juices, you’re proper to be involved. An excessive amount of moisture is a nasty factor. Use a slotted spoon and depart the juice behind.

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

Among the finest issues I’ve discovered is to attend a few minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese continues to be a lot sizzling, 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. 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 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 chopping board and minimize it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling and serve heat with cranberry sauce.