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 eventually received round to creating it and taking photographs of it final fall. And let me let you know, 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 when you don’t have all of the substances. 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 fashion 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 slightly 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 desire the flavour and texture of flour tortillas, fingers down. However, you possibly can 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 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 nicely.

Butter – I take advantage of 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 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 take advantage of any remaining facet 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 embody 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 – You probably have them, don’t sleep on including sweet potatoes as nicely! They add an excellent, mildly candy distinction to the opposite savory substances.

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 Tools

Large nonstick skillet. I’ve been by way of 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 completely 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 mild on my nonstick pan.
Sharp knife
Chopping board

Tips on how to Make a Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Gathering the Substances: Earlier than I begin cooking, I collect all the substances 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 need to shred the cheese and chop the turkey and inexperienced bean casserole into tiny items.

Buttering the Tortilla: I evenly butter one facet of a tortilla. As soon as the pan is scorching, 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 prime 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 take advantage of 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 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 fastidiously 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 scorching. Serve heat with cranberry sauce.

Skilled Tip

It is a actually hearty quesadilla. Even when you’re solely including slightly 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 cook dinner my quesadillas over medium warmth, I cook dinner this one slightly slower to permit all the substances time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. In case you’d wish to cook 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 Fingers – 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 good looking factor.

Chopping Filling Substances Finely – Chop these substances 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. Goal for ½” items.

Conserving Layers Skinny – Whereas it is likely to be tempting to pack as a lot as doable into these quesadillas, endurance is essential. 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 Ideas

The one factor I by no means skip is slightly dish of cranberry on the facet for dipping. homemade cranberry sauce is the traditional transfer, however hot pepper cranberry sauce brings slightly warmth that performs nicely in opposition to all that savory filling. A spoonful of cranberry chutney or cranberry pepper jelly is sweet right here too, when you’ve got a jar within the fridge.

Make Forward & Storage

Tips on how to Retailer: Leftover quesadilla wedges may be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 days.

Tips on how to 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 one of the simplest 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, clean movement. Then, I elevate the quesadilla simply sufficient to have the ability to flip it over on the folded edge, retaining the tortilla throughout the bounds of the pan.

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

I usually don’t have to. 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 discovered is to attend a couple of minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese remains to be lots scorching, however it binds the opposite substances higher.

Place all the quesadilla fillings subsequent to the range for straightforward meeting. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low warmth. Frivolously butter one facet of the tortilla with butter and place it within the scorching pan. Generously sprinkle cheese over the tortilla and prime half of 1 facet with turkey.
Working shortly, prime 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 scorching and serve heat with cranberry sauce.