America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Chicken, Mushroom, and Poblano Quesadillas for Two

By Steve Dunn

Published on April 3, 2023

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 2

Chicken, Mushroom, and Poblano Quesadillas for Two

Ingredients

4 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin1 poblano chiles, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine¼ cup water ¼ teaspoon vegetable oil ⅓ teaspoon plus ¼ teaspoon table salt, divided1¼ cups shredded rotisserie chicken 2 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (½ cup)2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (½ cup)1½ teaspoons minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce ½ teaspoon ground cumin 2 (10-inch) flour tortillas ¼ cup vegetable oil for frying

Before You Begin

White mushrooms can be used in place of cremini. Ten-inch tortillas might also be labeled “large burrito” tortillas. For a less spicy quesadilla, remove the seeds from the chipotle chile prior to mincing. Two fish spatulas work well for flipping the quesadillas in step 3.

Instructions

  1. Cook mushrooms, poblano, and water in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat, stirring occasionally, until skillet is almost dry and mushrooms begin to sizzle, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add ¼ teaspoon oil and ⅓ teaspoon salt, and toss until vegetables are evenly coated. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are well browned, 4 to 6 minutes longer. Transfer vegetables to large bowl. Add chicken, cheeses, chipotle chile, cumin, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt to vegetables and stir to combine. Wipe out skillet.
  2. Spread one-half of filling over half of each tortilla, leaving ½-inch border at edge. Fold tortillas over filling and press firmly to seal. Set wire rack in rimmed baking sheet and line with single layer of paper towels.
  3. Heat ¼ cup oil in now-empty skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Place quesadillas in skillet, pressing into pan with thin spatula, and cook until browned on both sides and cheese has melted, 1½ to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to prepared rack. Cool for at least 3 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.
Chicken, Mushroom, and Poblano Quesadillas for Two
Photography by Beth Fuller. Styling by Catrine Kelty.

Chicken, Mushroom, and Poblano Quesadillas for Two

Save

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 2

Ingredients

4 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin
1 poblano chiles, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine
¼ cup water
¼ teaspoon vegetable oil
⅓ teaspoon plus ¼ teaspoon table salt, divided
1¼ cups shredded rotisserie chicken
2 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (½ cup)
2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (½ cup)
1½ teaspoons minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce
½ teaspoon ground cumin
2 (10-inch) flour tortillas
¼ cup vegetable oil for frying

Ingredients

4 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin
1 poblano chiles, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine
¼ cup water
¼ teaspoon vegetable oil
⅓ teaspoon plus ¼ teaspoon table salt, divided
1¼ cups shredded rotisserie chicken
2 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (½ cup)
2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (½ cup)
1½ teaspoons minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce
½ teaspoon ground cumin
2 (10-inch) flour tortillas
¼ cup vegetable oil for frying

Ingredients

4 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin
1 poblano chiles, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine
¼ cup water
¼ teaspoon vegetable oil
⅓ teaspoon plus ¼ teaspoon table salt, divided
1¼ cups shredded rotisserie chicken
2 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (½ cup)
2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (½ cup)
1½ teaspoons minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce
½ teaspoon ground cumin
2 (10-inch) flour tortillas
¼ cup vegetable oil for frying

Why This Recipe Works

Gooey on the inside. Crispy on the outside. Stuffed with any variety of cheesy and delicious fillings. Quesadillas are a go-to snack for these reasons and many more because it only takes a few minutes and a few ingredients to make something truly delicious. But building a dinner quesadilla means it has to be sturdy enough to stand up to its robust contents. We tweaked a standard quesadilla recipe to do just this. First, by first folding one tortilla around the fillings to make a half-moon shape, which prevented the ingredients from pouring out the side. Second, we took inspiration from deep-fried quesadillas and added more oil to the pan to encourage the tortilla to crisp and puff lightly, giving important structure.

Want more? Read the whole story

Before You Begin

White mushrooms can be used in place of cremini. Ten-inch tortillas might also be labeled “large burrito” tortillas. For a less spicy quesadilla, remove the seeds from the chipotle chile prior to mincing. Two fish spatulas work well for flipping the quesadillas in step 3.

Instructions

  1. Cook mushrooms, poblano, and water in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat, stirring occasionally, until skillet is almost dry and mushrooms begin to sizzle, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add ¼ teaspoon oil and ⅓ teaspoon salt, and toss until vegetables are evenly coated. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are well browned, 4 to 6 minutes longer. Transfer vegetables to large bowl. Add chicken, cheeses, chipotle chile, cumin, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt to vegetables and stir to combine. Wipe out skillet.
  2. Spread one-half of filling over half of each tortilla, leaving ½-inch border at edge. Fold tortillas over filling and press firmly to seal. Set wire rack in rimmed baking sheet and line with single layer of paper towels.
  3. Heat ¼ cup oil in now-empty skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Place quesadillas in skillet, pressing into pan with thin spatula, and cook until browned on both sides and cheese has melted, 1½ to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to prepared rack. Cool for at least 3 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.