Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my mates. I’m very excited to share this with you at this time. I dreamed up this quesadilla a few years in the past and at last obtained 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 method 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 should you don’t have all of the components. Simply use what you may have.

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 fashion to make use of up leftovers ever since I first landed on it, virtually 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

Components and Substitutions

Tortillas – I desire the flavour and texture of flour tortillas, fingers down. However, you may go together with corn tortillas in order for you. (In case you select to make use of corn tortillas, you’ll want two and also you gained’t be capable of fold them as described under.)

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

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

Turkey – No matter leftover turkey you may have available post-Thanksgiving will work. I all the time use our roast turkey. In case you occur to run wanting 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 combo.

Stuffing – Whereas it lasts (which isn’t lengthy) I embrace a few of this sausage apple cranberry stuffing. Any stuffing you may 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 – When you have them, don’t sleep on including sweet potatoes as nicely! They add an awesome, 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 choose me til you’ve tried it.

all the leftover thanksgiving sides on the counter

Notes on Gear

Large nonstick skillet. I’ve been by about 1,000,000 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 below the folded quesadilla but sturdy sufficient to flip it with out shedding the filling, and the nylon is mild on my nonstick pan.
Sharp knife
Chopping board

The best 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 frivolously 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 fingers 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 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 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.

Skilled Tip

It is a actually hearty quesadilla. Even should you’re solely including just a little 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 position. Whereas I usually cook dinner my quesadillas over medium warmth, I cook dinner this one just a little slower to permit all the components time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. In case 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 Arms – 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 scrub up whereas the quesadilla is getting toasty within the pan. Additionally, disposable gloves are a stupendous 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. Purpose for ½” items.

Maintaining Layers Skinny – Whereas it is likely to be tempting to pack as a lot as attainable into these quesadillas, endurance is vital. Cramming an excessive amount of filling into these quesadillas will forestall them from cooking evenly, and the tortilla might not be capable of maintain every part contained.

Serving Solutions

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 traditional transfer, however hot pepper cranberry sauce brings just a little warmth that performs nicely towards all that savory filling. A spoonful of cranberry chutney or cranberry pepper jelly is nice right here too, when you have a jar within the fridge.

Make Forward & Storage

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

The best way to Reheat: I often reheat the quesadilla in a nonstick skillet on medium warmth, to refresh the crispiness. You too can reheat within the air fryer.

Extra Quesadilla Recipes

Often Requested Questions

What’s the easiest way 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 is likely to be caught. After doing that, I slip the spatula beneath the quesadilla in a single fast, clean movement. Then, I carry 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 a number 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 large number?

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