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 acquired round to creating it and taking images 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 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 simple to adapt on the fly. So, don’t fear if you happen to don’t have all of the substances. 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, associates 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. A bit of little bit of this and a bit of 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 want the flavour and texture of flour tortillas, fingers down. However, you possibly can go along with corn tortillas if you need. (In case 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 beneath.)

Cheese – Monterey jack cheese is my go-to right here, however no matter gentle, melty cheese you may have 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 may have available post-Thanksgiving will work. I at all times use our roast turkey. In case you occur to run in need of turkey, you possibly can sub rotisserie rooster right here to profit from any remaining aspect dishes.

Inexperienced Bean Casserole – My favourite green bean casserole brings fantastic 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 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 chunk the kernels add.

Mashed Potatoes – Mashed potatoes add some creamy, wealthy taste and help .

Candy Potatoes – In case you have them, don’t sleep on including sweet potatoes as effectively! They add an important, 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 Gear

Large nonstick skillet. I’ve been by about 1,000,000 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 no 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
Reducing board

The way to Make a Thanksgiving Quesadilla

Gathering the Substances: Earlier than I begin cooking, I collect the entire substances and place them subsequent to the range for simple 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 calmly 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 high 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 aspect of the tortilla over the fillings and press down with the again of a spatula.

Cooking: You’ll let it prepare 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 either 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

This can be a actually hearty quesadilla. Even if you happen to’re solely including a bit of bit of every ingredient, all of it provides up. And, while you’re working with a thick quesadilla like this, warmth administration performs an enormous position. Whereas I usually prepare dinner my quesadillas over medium warmth, I prepare dinner this one a bit of slower to permit the entire substances time to heat and develop toasty whereas the cheese melts. In case you’d wish to prepare 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 simply 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 a gorgeous factor.

Chopping Filling Substances Finely – Chop these substances smaller than you suppose. 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.

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

Serving Solutions

The one factor I by no means skip is a bit of dish of cranberry on the aspect for dipping. homemade cranberry sauce is the basic transfer, however hot pepper cranberry sauce brings a bit of 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, when you’ve got a jar within the fridge.

Make Forward & Storage

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

The way to Reheat: I normally reheat the quesadilla in a nonstick skillet on medium warmth, to refresh the crispiness. It’s also possible to reheat within the air fryer.

Extra Quesadilla Recipes

Steadily 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 perhaps 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, preserving the tortilla inside the bounds of the pan.

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

I sometimes 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 multitude?

Top-of-the-line issues I’ve realized is to attend a few minute and let it relaxation earlier than slicing. The cheese continues to be lots sizzling, nevertheless it binds the opposite substances higher.

Place the entire quesadilla fillings subsequent to the range for simple meeting. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low warmth. Evenly butter one aspect of the tortilla with butter and place it within the sizzling pan. Generously sprinkle cheese over the tortilla and high half of 1 aspect with turkey.
Working rapidly, 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 prepare 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 prepare dinner the opposite aspect.
Proceed to prepare 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 lower it into wedges whereas it’s sizzling and serve heat with cranberry sauce.