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BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

I really, really love Mexican food. I love that cheesy goodness. Up until a few years ago I seriously made quesadillas for lunch 4-5 times a week. I’m a reformed quesadilla-holic, but we still go back from time to time. The best quesadillas we’ve ever made at home are of the bbq and chicken variety. It’s chicken, cheese, onions, cilantro, and a bit of bbq sauce. So simple, yet so good. I try not to eat as much cheese as I used to, but this is my go to meal when I’m feeling cheesy 🙂

bbq chicken quesadilla

We took our quesadillas to the next level this time with our homemade whole wheat tortillas. They were so fresh and soft. I was worried that they might be a tad too soft to fold over in a quesadilla, but it worked perfectly. We also use our own homemade bbq sauce in the quesadilla and for dipping.

The key to good quesadilla-making is preparation. The cooking process goes quickly, so make sure that you have everything you need organized and ready to go.

bbq chicken quesadilla ingredients 

bbq chicken quesadilla recipe

BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
Serves 6
These delicious quesadillas are cheesy goodness with a bbq-sauce twist!
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
55 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
55 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 chicken breasts
  2. 1 lb of Mexican quesadilla cheese (or your choice)
  3. 1/2 red onion, finely diced
  4. 1/4 C cilantro, chopped
  5. 1 C bbq sauce
  6. 2 tbsp olive oil (for chicken)
  7. 4 tbsp olive oil (for quesadillas)
  8. Whole wheat tortillas
  9. Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Saute chicken in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook until temp reaches 175F.
  2. Let chicken cool slightly and chop into chunks, about 1 inch square.
  3. Heat nonstick pan over med-high heat. Add about 1/2 tbsp olive oil and spread around pan.
  4. Place tortilla in pan and cover with cheese.
  5. Sprinkle on red onion, chicken, and cilantro. Drizzle with bbq sauce.
  6. Cook until cheese is mostly melted, then fold over. Continue cooking until tortilla is golden brown.
  7. Remove from heat and slice each into 3 pieces. Serve with extra bbq sauce for dipping
Notes
  1. We used our own bbq sauce (http://savedbythekale.com/favorite-homemade-barbecue-sauce/) and whole wheat tortillas (http://savedbythekale.com/homemade-whole-wheat-tortillas/)
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Best Smoked Chicken

Smoked Chicken Recipe

Like most people, Jim and I eat lots of chicken. So much so that it tends to get really boring (there’s only so many times that you can sautĂ© chicken before you go insane!). Smoked chicken is one of our favorite ways of getting around the mundaneness of it. It’s healthy, tender, and oh-so-tasty! Plus it’s super versatile. We like to smoke 2-3 chickens at a time and use them throughout the week. You can shred or slice it up and make the most amazing quesadillas, sandwiches, or just eat it as an entree itself. 

It’s really simple but it does take a little while to cook. The cooking time isn’t a big deal, you just need to make sure that you plan ahead. 

Smoked Chicken Recipe

Easy Smoked Chicken
Serves 6
Smoked chicken is a delicious and versatile ingredient. Use it to make the best sandwiches and quesadillas around.
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
4 hr
Total Time
4 hr 15 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
4 hr
Total Time
4 hr 15 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 large chickens
  2. 1 C bbq rub or seasoning
Instructions
  1. Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees using your favorite wood (we used hickory for this recipe)
  2. Completely cover chicken with bbq rub and place in smoker
  3. Smoke for 4 hours, or until meat thermometer inserted into thigh reads 180 and breast reads at least 175.
Notes
  1. We used this rub (http://savedbythekale.com/sweet-smoky-bbq-rub-recipe/).
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Brunswick Stew

Here comes another barbecue recipe! I know we’ve been posting lots of these lately, but we’ve been in a bbq mood. There’s something about fall and the slightly cooler weather that makes us want to barbecue.

There are several standard side dishes that go with barbecue; cole slaw, baked beans, fries, etc. In Georgia we have something called Brunswick Stew. It’s basically bbq soup, which is just as awesome as you would think. It has lots of veggies and lots of ‘cue, and is an outstanding as a side dish. It’s also great on its own with a bottle of hot sauce and some saltine crackers.

 Brunswick Stew Recipe

Brunswick stew (according to local historians) originated on the islands near Brunswick, GA, about 45 minutes away from us. Traditionally it has corn, lima beans or butter beans, tomato, and whatever kind of meat you have on hand. Most bbq joints use some of their pork or brisket. We use whatever kind of bbq left overs we have… this time it was pulled pork and chicken. Deee-lish!

Brunswick Stew Recipe

Brunswick Stew
Serves 8
A Georgia favorite! Brunswick stew is a corn, lima bean, and tomato soup with loads of pulled pork.
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
2 hr
Total Time
2 hr 10 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
2 hr
Total Time
2 hr 10 min
Ingredients
  1. 4 quarts water
  2. 1 28oz canned whole peeled tomatoes (crushed by hand)
  3. 2 lbs meat (your choice: pulled pork, chicken, brisket)
  4. 1 bag frozen corn
  5. 1 bag frozen baby lima beans
  6. 6 cloves garlic
  7. 1 large onion medium dice
  8. 5 tbsp bbq rub
  9. 3 tbsp worcester sauce
  10. 1/2 C ketchup
  11. 2 tbsp brown sugar
  12. 1/2 stick butter
Instructions
  1. Sautee the onion in 1/2 stick butter until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  2. Combine onions and all other ingredients in large pot and cook for 2 hours.
  3. Adjust seasoning if needed
Notes
  1. We used this rub (http://savedbythekale.com/sweet-smoky-bbq-rub-recipe/)
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Our Favorite Homemade Barbecue Sauce

BBQ sauce is one of those things that people are really picky about. There are so many different styles that everyone typically has their favorite, and they tend to stick to it. Our goal when working on our own bbq sauce recipe was to come up with something that most, if not many, people would really like. This is our recipe for general purpose sauce that can go on anything and can be used any way you want. It’s good for pouring on food as well as cooking into food. It’s great for dipping and makes a wonderful condiment. 

homemade bbq sauce recipe

Our Favorite Homemade Barbecue Sauce
Yields 3
A delicious, all-purpose barbecue sauce that's sure to please.
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
25 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
25 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 C ketchup
  2. 1 C water
  3. 2/3 C white wine vinegar
  4. 4 Tbsp light brown sugar
  5. 1 Tbsp honey
  6. 1 Tbsp fresh ground black pepper
  7. 1/2 Tbsp onion powder
  8. 1 Tbsp ground mustard
  9. 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Notes
  1. Use your favorite vinegar in this recipe. White wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, and champagne vinegar all work well. Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
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 What kind of sauce do you prefer? Tomato-based, vinegar-based, mayo-based? Tell us in the comments!