Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my pals. I’m very excited to share this with you immediately. 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 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 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 elements. 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, pals 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. A 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, palms down. However, you may go along with corn tortillas if you’d like. (For those who 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 might have available will work effectively.

Butter – I exploit 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 at all times use our roast turkey. For those who occur to run wanting turkey, you may sub rotisserie rooster right here to benefit from any remaining aspect 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 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 chunk the kernels add.

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

Candy Potatoes – When you have them, don’t sleep on including sweet potatoes as effectively! They add an important, mildly candy distinction to the opposite savory elements.

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 underneath 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
Slicing board

Find out how to 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 calmly 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 exploit my palms 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 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 an additional 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.

Knowledgeable Tip

This can be a actually hearty quesadilla. Even for those who’re solely including just a little bit of every ingredient, all of it provides up. And, if you’re working with a thick quesadilla like this, warmth administration performs an enormous position. Whereas I usually prepare dinner my quesadillas over medium warmth, I prepare dinner this one just a little slower to permit all the elements time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. For those who’d prefer 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 palms 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 phenomenal factor.

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

Maintaining Layers Skinny – Whereas it may 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 hold every little thing contained.

Serving Options

The one factor I by no means skip is just a little dish of cranberry on the aspect 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 sweet right here too, if in case you have 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 often 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

Steadily Requested Questions

What’s one of the simplest 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, holding 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 whole lot 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 multitude?

Probably the greatest issues I’ve realized is to attend a few minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese remains to be lots 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. Evenly 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 shortly, 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 slicing board and reduce it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling and serve heat with cranberry sauce.