Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Oh, my associates. 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 bought round to creating it and taking images 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 means 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 components. Simply use what you will have.

I don’t even care if I sound loopy. I’ve been raving to all of my brothers and sisters, associates and strangers on the grocery retailer even, about this fashion to make use of up leftovers ever since I first landed on it, nearly 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

Elements and Substitutions

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

Cheese – Monterey jack cheese is my go-to right here, however no matter gentle, melty cheese you will have readily available will work effectively.

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

Turkey – No matter leftover turkey you will have readily available post-Thanksgiving will work. I all the time use our roast turkey. Should you occur to run wanting turkey, you may sub rotisserie hen right here to take advantage of any remaining facet dishes.

Inexperienced Bean Casserole – My favourite green bean casserole brings fantastic 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 will 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 effectively! They add an amazing, 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 via about one million skillets through the years. 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 nearly each single day. It’s skinny sufficient to slip cleanly underneath 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
Slicing board

Find out how to Make a Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Gathering the Elements: 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 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 frivolously 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 wish to layer very small quantities of the inexperienced bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and candy potatoes over the hen. 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.

Knowledgeable 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, once 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 somewhat slower to permit all the components time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. Should 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 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 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 an exquisite factor.

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

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

Serving Solutions

The one factor I by no means skip is somewhat dish of cranberry on the facet for dipping. homemade cranberry sauce is the traditional transfer, however hot pepper cranberry sauce brings somewhat warmth that performs effectively in opposition to all that savory filling. A spoonful of cranberry chutney or cranberry pepper jelly is nice 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

Incessantly Requested Questions

What’s one of the best 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 could 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, retaining the tortilla throughout the bounds of the pan.

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

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 nasty factor. Use a slotted spoon and go away the juice behind.

How do I slice a quesadilla with out making a large number?

Among the finest issues I’ve realized is to attend a few minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese continues to be loads scorching, 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 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.