Tandoori Chicken Quesadilla (Printable)

Tender tandoori-spiced chicken layered with cheese and yogurt sauce in a crispy tortilla wrap.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Tandoori Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
02 - 120 ml plain Greek yogurt
03 - 15 ml lemon juice
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2.5 cm piece fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1.5 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1.5 tsp ground coriander
08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1 tsp garam masala
10 - 0.5 tsp turmeric powder
11 - 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
12 - 0.5 tsp salt
13 - 15 ml vegetable oil

→ Yogurt Sauce

14 - 120 ml plain Greek yogurt
15 - 15 ml fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - 15 ml lemon juice
17 - 0.5 tsp ground cumin
18 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Quesadilla Assembly

19 - 4 large flour tortillas
20 - 170 g shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese
21 - 0.5 small red onion, thinly sliced
22 - 1 small green bell pepper, thinly sliced
23 - Butter or oil, for greasing pan

# Directions:

01 - Mix yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, paprika, garam masala, turmeric, cayenne, and salt in a bowl. Add chicken strips and toss until fully coated. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes until cooked through and slightly charred. Remove from heat.
03 - Whisk together yogurt, chopped cilantro, lemon juice, cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
04 - Lay one tortilla flat. Sprinkle one-quarter of the cheese over half the tortilla, then layer with one-quarter of the cooked chicken, sliced red onion, and green bell pepper. Lightly drizzle with yogurt sauce, then fold tortilla in half. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
05 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly grease with butter or oil. Cook each quesadilla for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until golden and cheese has melted.
06 - Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve immediately with extra yogurt sauce on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like your two favorite takeout places teamed up and got it exactly right on the first try.
  • The yogurt marinade keeps the chicken ridiculously tender, even if you overcook it a little.
  • You can prep the chicken in the morning and have dinner on the table in ten minutes flat.
  • It's messy in the best way—every bite drips a little sauce and you don't even care.
02 -
  • Don't skip the marinade time—even 15 minutes makes a huge difference in flavor and tenderness.
  • Cook the chicken over medium-high heat so it gets a little char; that smoky edge is half the reason these taste so good.
  • Use a gentle hand with the yogurt sauce inside the quesadilla or it'll squirt out the sides when you flip it.
  • If your tortillas are cold from the fridge, warm them for a few seconds in the microwave so they fold without cracking.
03 -
  • Press down on the quesadilla with a spatula while it cooks—it helps the cheese melt evenly and keeps everything from sliding around.
  • If you don't have garam masala, mix equal parts cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom; it's not exact, but it gets you close enough.
  • Double the yogurt sauce recipe and keep it in the fridge; it's incredible on grilled vegetables, grain bowls, and roasted potatoes.
  • Let the quesadilla rest for 30 seconds after you take it off the heat so the cheese sets slightly and doesn't spill everywhere when you cut it.
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