Ingredients

One of my favorite aspects of this Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla recipe is that it requires only a handful of ingredients. Referring to the Taco Bell menu, you’ll see that this delicious dish isn’t complicated.

Chicken

You can prepare the chicken for this recipe however you prefer. I usually season mine with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, then sauté it in a skillet on the stovetop. Shredded chicken prepared in an Instant Pot or a slow cooker works great too. Grilled chicken is another option. During the summer months, we often grill chicken to use in various recipes, including this one! Both chicken breast and chicken thighs work well.

Tortillas

I recommend using flour tortillas over corn tortillas for this Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla. You have a few size options: use a large burrito-sized tortilla, adding ingredients on one side and folding the other side over, or use two regular taco-sized tortillas (as shown here), one for the top and one for the bottom. If you want mini quesadillas for kids or as bite-sized party food, try street taco size.

Cheese

I cannot emphasize enough how much better freshly shredded cheese is compared to the pre-bagged kind. If pre-shredded cheese is what you have on hand or prefer to use, that’s fine. Use a three-cheese Mexican blend. However, I highly recommend shredding a couple of blocks yourself. The taste is far superior, and the cheese melts more efficiently. Since melty cheese is mandatory for Taco Bell Chicken Quesadillas, and since cheese contributes significantly to the flavor, this is the way to go. I typically use Sharp Cheddar, Pepperjack, and/or Monterey cheese for these quesadillas.

Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce (aka Creamy Jalapeno Sauce)

The star of the show is truly the Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce. To whip up this quick sauce, you’ll need plain non-fat Greek yogurt, pickled jalapenos, pickled jalapeno juice/brine, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and salt. Don’t worry if you don’t have some; pickled jalapenos can typically be found in a jar where pickles are sold at your local grocery store. The jalapeno juice required for this quesadilla sauce is just the juice (brine) in the jar, so you don’t have to buy two separate things!

Variations and Substitutions

Protein

While this Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla recipe obviously calls for chicken, the beauty of making it at home is the customization! You can swap in steak, barbacoa, carnitas, or ground beef instead if you prefer. I have great recipes for barbacoa and carnitas already on C&C! You can also omit the protein for a vegetarian cheese quesadilla.

Greek Yogurt vs. Mayo in Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce

Taco Bell’s Quesadilla Sauce recipe includes mayo, as do most other recipes I’ve seen. I’ve made it with both mayo and Greek yogurt, and you honestly can’t tell the difference. I prefer using Greek Yogurt because it makes the quesadilla sauce, and the chicken quesadilla itself, much healthier and lower in calories. But you can use either!

Other Ingredients

The original Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla is quite simple, which is one of the things I like most about it. However, if you want to jazz it up a bit, the possibilities are limitless! Consider adding fajita vegetables like peppers and onions, mixing in some chopped tomatoes, or throwing in black beans. Yum!

Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla Instructions

Start by Preparing Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce

This sauce is incredibly easy to make. Simply mix together the ingredients in a bowl. If you prefer a smoother sauce, you can blend it in a food processor. Mincing the jalapeños beforehand can keep it pretty smooth without extra steps.

Chicken Quesadilla Directions

Mix the chicken with about half of the Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce.

Spray a large skillet with non-stick spray. Place the bottom tortilla and add half of your cheese. You can either mix the different types of shredded cheese together or use one type on the top and one on the bottom.

Top the cheese layer with the chicken tossed in Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce.

Add an additional layer of cheese and top with a second tortilla. Press down. Cook for a couple of minutes per side, or until the cheese has melted and the quesadilla reaches your desired crispiness. One of my favorite aspects of making these chicken quesadillas at home is that I can make them crispier!

Remove the quesadilla from the skillet and allow it to cool slightly before slicing into wedges.

Serve with…

Serve your Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla with a side of the quesadilla sauce for dipping and some sour cream. Additional great options to serve alongside include guacamole, pico de gallo, homemade queso, cilantro-lime rice, or salsa.

FAQs

How do I store and reheat Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla?

Wrap the quesadilla in aluminum foil or store it in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator. The Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla reheats best in the oven or a toaster oven. The stovetop works well too, but I don’t recommend using the microwave as it will make the quesadilla soggy. Freezing these quesadillas is also not recommended.

How long can I use Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce?

The Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and used for up to five days. You can also use this sauce beyond quesadillas! It’s fantastic for tacos, burritos, burgers, chicken sandwiches, nachos, and more.

What sauce does Taco Bell use for their quesadillas? Can I buy it?

The sauce Taco Bell uses for their quesadillas is called Creamy Jalapeno Sauce. While many of their sauces are available for purchase in grocery stores or on Amazon, this one isn’t available. However, the recipe included here tastes exactly like it and is simple to make, yielding a lot of sauce, all while being a healthier alternative.

Is Taco Bell’s Creamy Jalapeno Sauce the same as Creamy Chipotle sauce?

While they are similar, the creamy chipotle sauce uses chipotle peppers, which are red and have a smokier flavor. The creamy jalapeno sauce is based on jalapenos. Otherwise, the sauces share similar ingredients.

What cheese is best for quesadillas?

Cheddar, Pepperjack, and Monterey are my top choices for cheese in quesadillas. They are flavorful and melt easily. I highly recommend shredding your own cheese instead of using store-bought shredded cheese.

Can I make a large batch version of these Taco Bell Chicken Quesadillas?

Making a large batch is perfect for parties! To simplify the process, cook them in the oven on a baking sheet rather than one at a time on the stove. Just bake at 375 degrees for about eight minutes or until the cheese has melted and the tortillas are crispy to your liking.