Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my buddies. I’m very excited to share this with you as we speak. I dreamed up this quesadilla a few years in the past and at last received 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 yr.

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 straightforward to adapt on the fly. So, don’t fear for those who don’t have all of the components. Simply use what you might have.

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, virtually two years in the past. Slightly little bit of this and somewhat little bit of that add as much as complete lot of deliciousness!

close up of quesadilla with all the thanksgiving dishes

Components and Substitutions

Tortillas – I favor the flavour and texture of flour tortillas, fingers down. However, you possibly can go along with corn tortillas if you would like. (In case you select to make use of corn tortillas, you’ll want two and also you gained’t be capable to fold them as described under.)

Cheese – Monterey jack cheese is my go-to right here, however no matter gentle, melty cheese you might have 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 hold from sticking to the pan.

Turkey – No matter leftover turkey you might have available post-Thanksgiving will work. I all the time use our roast turkey. In case you occur to run in need of turkey, you possibly can sub rotisserie rooster right here to profit from any remaining aspect 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 embrace a few of this sausage apple cranberry stuffing. Any stuffing you might have 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 properly! They add an excellent, 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 Gear

Large nonstick skillet. I’ve been by way 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 totally loaded quesadilla with out a factor sticking.
Grater
Flexible nylon turner. I attain for this turner virtually 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 right way to Make a Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Gathering the Components: Earlier than I begin cooking, I collect all the 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 Components: 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 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 rooster. I take advantage of 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 ultimate 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 fastidiously flip the folded quesadilla over to the opposite aspect and let it proceed cooking for one more 2-3 minutes.

Serving: As soon as each 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

It is a actually hearty quesadilla. Even for those who’re solely including somewhat bit of every ingredient, all of it provides up. And, whenever 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 somewhat slower to permit all the components time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. In case you’d wish to prepare 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 Palms – 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 fantastic factor.

Chopping Filling Components Finely – Chop these components smaller than you assume. 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 is likely to be tempting to pack as a lot as attainable into these quesadillas, persistence is essential. Cramming an excessive amount of filling into these quesadillas will stop them from cooking evenly, and the tortilla could not be capable to hold the whole lot contained.

Serving Strategies

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

Make Forward & Storage

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

The right way to 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

Often Requested Questions

What’s the easiest way 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 carry 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 must. However, if one thing has a whole lot 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?

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 lots sizzling, however it binds the opposite components higher.

Place all the quesadilla fillings subsequent to the range for straightforward meeting. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low warmth. Frivolously 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 rapidly, 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 minimize it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling and serve heat with cranberry sauce.