Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my mates. 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 obtained 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 when you don’t have all of the components. Simply use what you have got.

I don’t even care if I sound loopy. I’ve been raving to all of my brothers and sisters, mates 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. Somewhat little bit of this and a bit little bit of that add as much as entire 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, arms down. However, you may go along with corn tortillas if you would like. (In the event 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 have got available will work properly.

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

Turkey – No matter leftover turkey you have got available post-Thanksgiving will work. I at all times use our roast turkey. In the event you occur to run in need of turkey, you may sub rotisserie rooster right here to take advantage of 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 embody a few of this sausage apple cranberry stuffing. Any stuffing you have 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 – When you have them, don’t sleep on including sweet potatoes as properly! They add an important, 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 and not using 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
Chopping board

How one can 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 flippantly butter one aspect of a tortilla. As soon as the pan is scorching, 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 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 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 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 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 aspect and let it proceed cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Serving: As soon as each side are good and crispy, use your spatula to switch the quesadilla to a reducing board and slice into wedges whereas nonetheless scorching. Serve heat with cranberry sauce.

Professional Tip

This can be a actually hearty quesadilla. Even when you’re solely including a bit 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 function. Whereas I usually cook dinner my quesadillas over medium warmth, I cook dinner this one a bit slower to permit the entire components time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. In the event you’d prefer 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 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 value 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 fantastic factor.

Chopping Filling Substances Finely – Chop these components 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. Purpose for ½” items.

Maintaining Layers Skinny – Whereas it is likely to be tempting to pack as a lot as potential into these quesadillas, endurance 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 the whole lot contained.

Serving Strategies

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

Make Forward & Storage

How one can Retailer: Leftover quesadilla wedges may 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. You may as well reheat within the air fryer.

Extra Quesadilla Recipes

Regularly 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, clean movement. Then, I raise the quesadilla simply sufficient to have the ability to flip it over on the folded edge, conserving 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 lots of juices, you’re proper to be involved. An excessive amount of moisture is a foul factor. Use a slotted spoon and go away the juice behind.

How do I slice a quesadilla with out making a multitude?

Among the best issues I’ve realized is to attend a few minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese remains to be loads scorching, nevertheless it 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 aspect of the tortilla with butter and place it within the scorching pan. Generously sprinkle cheese over the tortilla and high half of 1 aspect with turkey.
Working shortly, high 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 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 aspect.
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 minimize it into wedges whereas it’s scorching and serve heat with cranberry sauce.