Quesadillas de Pollo en Chile Colorado (Red Chilli Chicken Quesadillas)
Crisp golden tortillas oozing with stretchy cheese and shredded chicken in a smoky red chilli sauce.
Made with Chile colorado sauce and Flour tortillas and Shredded chicken (pollo deshebrado). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.75 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix your shredded chicken (see the base recipe) with your ready made chile colorado sauce (see the base recipe) in a pan and warm for 5 minutes until hot and coated.
5 min - 2
Lay 4 flour tortillas (see the base recipe) on a board. Scatter half the cheese over them, spoon over the chicken and onion and cover with the rest of the cheese.
- 3
Top each with a second tortilla and press down firmly.
- 4
Brush a large frying pan with a little oil and heat over a medium heat. Cook each quesadilla for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and the cheese has melted.
6 min - 5
Rest for 2 minutes, cut into wedges and serve with soured cream and lime.
Tips
- Do not overfill. Too much sauce makes the tortilla soggy and leaks out.
- Use a lid or a plate on top for the first minute so the cheese melts through.
- Mozzarella gives the best stretch, but cheddar or Monterey Jack work.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten fresh. Cooked quesadillas keep 1 day in the fridge and reheat in a dry pan until hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I use corn tortillas?
Yes, though they are smaller and more brittle. Use two small tortillas per quesadilla and fold instead of stacking.
Can I make them in the oven?
Yes. Bake on a tray at 220C for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp.
Can I make a vegetarian version?
Yes. Replace the chicken with cooked mushrooms or black beans in the same sauce.
More made with chile colorado sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.