Description
This Blooming Chicken Quesadilla Ring is a fun and festive twist on a classic quesadilla. Layers of tender shredded chicken mixed with creamy cheese, sautéed peppers, and onions are wrapped in flour tortillas, baked until golden and crispy, and served with fresh salsa, guacamole, and sour cream for dipping. Perfect for parties or a crowd-pleasing appetizer, this recipe combines warm spices and gooey melted cheese into an impressive savory ring that’s as visually stunning as it is delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 2 bell peppers, sliced (red, yellow, green or orange, or combination)
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
Chicken Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (1 brick, approx. 250 grams)
- ¼ cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ tbsp taco seasoning
- 3 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or homemade)
Quesadilla Ring
- 12 medium flour tortillas (10″ – 12″)
- Additional ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Additional ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Cooking spray
To Serve
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375℉ (190℃) and line a large baking sheet or pizza tray with parchment paper or lightly greased foil for easy cleanup.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onion and bell peppers and sauté, stirring often, until softened and golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Prepare Chicken Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the room temperature cream cheese, sour cream, lime juice, ¼ cup shredded mozzarella, ¼ cup shredded cheddar, and taco seasoning. Mix thoroughly until smooth and fully combined.
- Combine Chicken and Vegetables: Add the shredded cooked chicken and the cooled sautéed onions and peppers to the cheese mixture. Stir gently until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Slice Tortillas: Cut each of the 12 medium flour tortillas in half, creating 24 semicircles.
- Fill Tortillas: Distribute the chicken filling evenly among the 24 tortilla halves, using about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons per piece. Spread the filling while leaving a small border around the edges.
- Roll Tortillas: Carefully roll each tortilla half into a cone shape, making sure they are tight enough to hold the filling inside but not so tight that the filling will spill out.
- Arrange Base Layer: Place a small round bowl in the center of the prepared baking tray. Arrange half of the tortilla cones around the bowl with the pointed ends touching it to form the base layer of the ring.
- Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle half of the additional shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses evenly over the base layer of cones.
- Create Second Layer: Arrange the remaining cones on top of the base layer to form a second ring. Top with the remaining shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese, then carefully remove the bowl from the center.
- Prepare for Baking: Lightly spray the edges of the tortillas with cooking spray or brush with oil to help them crisp up during baking.
- Bake: Place the quesadilla ring on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the tortilla edges are golden and crispy.
- Garnish and Serve: Carefully transfer the quesadilla ring to a serving platter. Garnish with the thinly sliced green onions if desired. Place a bowl of salsa in the center of the ring and serve with sour cream and guacamole on the side for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use cooked shredded chicken such as rotisserie or leftover homemade chicken for easy preparation.
- Room temperature cream cheese blends more smoothly with the other ingredients.
- Be gentle when rolling the tortilla cones to avoid the filling spilling out.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute flour tortillas with corn or gluten-free tortillas of similar size.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container and reheated in the oven for best texture.
- Adjust taco seasoning amount to suit your preferred spice level.
