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Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas take chicken quesadillas to the next level by adding onions, bell peppers, bacon and ranch dressing for an incredible flavor combo inside that cheesy crispy tortilla!

Not Your Ordinary Quesadillas

Similar to the restaurant-style Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas that you find at Chile’s restaurants, these quesadillas go over the top by including cooked bacon and a creamy ranch dressing to the chicken quesadillas. These quesadillas go a step further and add sautéed onions and bell peppers for additional flavor and texture.

More than just cheese inside a tortilla, these Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas use boldly seasoned cooked chicken. I like to use my Cajun Blackened Chicken, or BBQ Chicken, or my Rotisserie Chicken Breasts, or store-bought rotisserie chicken. The main thing is that the chicken has already been infused with flavor, and that flavor adds to the overall flavor of the quesadillas.

Secondly, you gotta have bacon. The bacon adds so much flavor and it is an ingredient that you don’t see much in quesadillas but it adds tremendous salty, savory flavor, and goes perfectly with the other ingredients.

Thirdly, ranch dressing gives it some creamy Ranch flavor that goes so well with the bacon. If you like to spice it up a bit, you could use salsa ranch dressing or fiesta ranch for some heat. For even bolder flavor, use my homemade Creamy Tomatillo Jalapeno Ranch Dip, or Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing, instead of the ranch dressing.

Lastly, this recipe includes cooked onions and bell pepper slices, similar to the vegetables used in fajitas. This adds a bit of smoky flavor.

How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas

To Make these Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas you need only six ingredients and about 30 minutes to prepare. You will need flour tortillas, cooked chicken, cooked bacon, onions and bell peppers, shredded cheese. This is a terrific recipe for using up leftovers.

If you don’t already have the chicken, bacon, and onions and bell peppers cooked, then you will need to cook those before you start. You can cook them all in one skillet. Add a little oil to a hot skillet over medium heat, and cook the bacon until brown and crispy. Remove the bacon and place on a plate covered with paper towels. Drain the bacon grease out of the pan except for about 2 tablespoons. Then cook the chicken in the bacon grease. When the chicken is no longer pink, add the sliced onions and bell peppers and cook for about 4 minutes until they are softened. Now you are ready to start making the quesadillas.

Using a knife, spread about a tablespoon of ranch dressing over the top of a flour tortilla.
Add the bite-sized cooked chicken pieces evenly over the ranch covered tortilla.
Place bite-sized pieces of cooked bacon on top of the cooked chicken.
Add the sautéed onions and bell peppers over the chicken and bacon.
Sprinkle a cup of shredded cheese on top of the chicken, bacon, and vegetables.
Place a second flour tortilla on top of the chicken, bacon, and vegetables, and line up as closely as possible with the bottom tortilla.
Place a skillet over medium heat, when hot, add oil. Then using a wide spatula, carefully place the quesadilla into the skillet with the oil. Cook for about 3 minutes. Watch carefully so the bottom tortilla does not burn. Using a wide spatula (or two) carefully turn the quesadilla to cook it on the other side for 2 or 3 minutes until that tortilla is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted.
Remove the quesadilla from the skillet and place on a plate. Slice the quesadilla into 4 pieces, creating four triangles. Enjoy!

Below is the step by step photos of how to cook the Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas. Some assembly is required for this recipe. 🙂

Below are photos of the Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas after they have been cooked in a skillet. The first photo shows the quesadilla as a whole, and the second photo shows the quesadilla after it has been sliced into 4 triangular pieces.

Tips For Perfect Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas

Use Well-Seasoned Chicken. Make sure that the cooked chicken you used is well seasoned. You can use taco seasoning, fajita seasoning, blackening seasoning, rotisserie chicken seasoning, or even Greek seasoning. The seasoning of the chicken adds flavor to this dish.
Spice Up The Ranch Dressing. If you want to kick up the bold flavors a bit, use a variation of the standard ranch dressing like Salsa Ranch or Fiesta Ranch dressing. I love adding my Creamy Tomatillo Jalapeno Ranch Dip instead of the ranch dressing.
Master the flip. Flipping a quesadilla is kind of like flipping a pancake, except it is thicker and the stuffing can fall out when you flip. Use a wide spatula, and you may need even 2 spatulas, one for each side, when you flip.
Avoid the flip. No worries if you can’t flip the quesadilla if your life depended on it. The shortcut is instead of flipping just fill half of one tortilla with the chicken and bacon mixture and fold the other half of the tortilla over the top. That can save you from having to turn or flip the quesadillas.

What Type Of Cheese To Use For Quesadillas

For quesadillas, you want to use a good quality cheese that melts really well like Monterey Jack and combine it with a little Cheddar, which doesn’t melt as well but does have great flavor. For a more Tex-Mex flair, combine shredded American with Cheddar for a very smooth texture. If you don’t have either of those then Mozzarella works well. If you want to go full-blown authentic Mexican style, then I recommend using a Mexican cheese like Queso Asadero or Queso Quesadilla for a smooth white, melty cheese!

What To Serve With Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas

Topping Ideas
1. Shredded Lettuce – cool crisp lettuce offsets the spicy heat of the quesadillas.
2. Sour Cream – adds a bit of cool, creamy goodness.
3. Pico De Gallo Salsa or chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic, and jalapeños.
4. Guacamole – makes everything better. Need I say more?!
5. Chopped Avocados – sometimes this is easier than making the guacamole.
Side Dish Ideas
1. Easy Homemade Mexican Rice – boldly seasoned rice as you find in Mexican restaurants.
2. Refried Beans – restaurant style
3. Charro Beans
4. Mexican Cabbage Slaw – perfect if you want a lighter, healthier side.

Other Mexican Dinner Recipe Ideas

Chicken Enchilada Skillet Dinner – This Mexican Skillet Dinner is great for a quick and easy delicious weeknight meal.
Ground Beef Tacos – These Ground Beef Tacos use soft corn tortillas and are so easy and delicious you can serve anytime.
Blackened Fish Tacos – Made with tender tilapia, sweet and spicy Mango Salsa and tangy Mexican Cabbage Slaw, these fish tacos explode with bold flavor!
Enchilada Suizas – Creamy, cheesy, slightly spicy, these white enchiladas are made with sour cream, mozzarella cheese, salsa verde, chicken, and corn tortillas, and make a wonderful Mexican dinner!
Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole – A one-pot Mexican dinner that your family will love!

How To Store Leftover Quesadillas?

You have to be careful to prevent soggy quesadillas. So place the quesadillas in a covered air-tight container and make sure there is no extra moisture in there. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days until you are ready to reheat.

How To Reheat Quesadillas?

Preferred Method. To reheat the quesadillas, heat a skillet over medium heat, and just a little oil and place the quesadilla in the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes and then flip to heat the other side. This is the best method to reheat to keep the tortillas crispy.

Microwave Method. You can also microwave the quesadillas. Place the quesadillas on a microwave-safe plate, and microwave for 2 or 3 minutes until heated through. The tortillas will more likely be software than if they were heated in a skillet.

Can You Freeze Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas?

Yes, you can freeze the quesadillas in air-tight containers or in plastic freezer bags for up to 2 months.

Give these Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas a try. They are easy and a great way to use up leftovers and you can have them on the table in about 30 minutes or less.

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