Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my buddies. I’m very excited to share this with you right this moment. I dreamed up this quesadilla a few years in the past and at last bought round to creating it and taking pictures 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 approach 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 straightforward to adapt on the fly. So, don’t fear in the event you don’t have all of the components. Simply use what you’ve gotten.

I don’t even care if I sound loopy. I’ve been raving to all of my brothers and sisters, buddies 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 little bit little bit of this and just a little 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 choose the flavour and texture of flour tortillas, arms down. However, you possibly can go together with corn tortillas in order for you. (When you select to make use of corn tortillas, you’ll want two and also you gained’t have the ability to fold them as described beneath.)

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

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

Turkey – No matter leftover turkey you’ve gotten available post-Thanksgiving will work. I all the time use our roast turkey. When you occur to run in need of 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 fantastic 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 gotten 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 chew the kernels add.

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

Candy Potatoes – In case you have them, don’t sleep on including sweet potatoes as effectively! 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 via 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

How one can Make a Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Gathering the Elements: Earlier than I begin cooking, I collect the entire components 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 Elements: Whereas it heats, you’ll need to shred the cheese and chop the turkey and inexperienced bean casserole into tiny items.

Buttering the Tortilla: I calmly 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 need to layer very small quantities of the inexperienced bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and candy potatoes over the rooster. I exploit 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 closing 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 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 reducing 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 just a little bit of every ingredient, all of it provides up. And, while 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 just a little slower to permit the entire components time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. When 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 Palms – I discover it easiest to only 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 scrub up whereas the quesadilla is getting toasty within the pan. Additionally, disposable gloves are a stupendous factor.

Chopping Filling Elements 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. Goal for ½” items.

Maintaining Layers Skinny – Whereas it is likely to be tempting to pack as a lot as potential into these quesadillas, persistence is essential. Cramming an excessive amount of filling into these quesadillas will forestall them from cooking evenly, and the tortilla might not have the ability to maintain every little thing contained.

Serving Ideas

The one factor I by no means skip is just a little dish of cranberry on the facet for dipping. homemade cranberry sauce is the basic transfer, however hot pepper cranberry sauce brings just a little warmth that performs effectively 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

How one can Retailer: Leftover quesadilla wedges could be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 days.

How one can Reheat: I normally reheat the quesadilla in a nonstick skillet on medium warmth, to refresh the crispiness. It’s also possible to reheat within the air fryer.

Extra Quesadilla Recipes

Steadily 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, easy movement. Then, I elevate the quesadilla simply sufficient to have the ability to flip it over on the folded edge, preserving the tortilla inside the bounds of the pan.

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

I usually don’t have to. However, if one thing has a whole lot 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?

The most effective issues I’ve realized is to attend a few minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese remains to be a lot sizzling, nevertheless it binds the opposite components higher.

Place the entire quesadilla fillings subsequent to the range for simple 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 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 reducing board and reduce it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling and serve heat with cranberry sauce.