Description
This Blooming Chicken Quesadilla Ring is a fun and flavorful appetizer or party dish that combines sautéed bell peppers and onions with a creamy, cheesy chicken filling wrapped in crispy flour tortillas. Baked to golden perfection, this impressive ring is perfect for sharing, served alongside salsa, guacamole, and sour cream for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 2 bell peppers (red, yellow, green, or orange), sliced
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
Chicken Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (1 brick, 250 grams)
- ¼ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ tbsp taco seasoning
- 3 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or homemade)
Assembly
- 12 medium flour tortillas (10″ – 12″ size), sliced in half
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese (extra for topping)
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (extra for topping)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Cooking spray or additional oil for brushing
For Serving
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375℉ and line a large baking sheet or pizza tray with parchment paper or greased foil to prevent sticking.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onion and bell peppers, sautéing until softened and golden brown, about 5-6 minutes. Stir often to prevent burning. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Prepare Chicken Filling: In a large bowl, combine the room-temperature cream cheese, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), lime juice, shredded mozzarella, shredded cheddar, and taco seasoning. Mix until smooth and evenly blended.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the shredded cooked chicken along with the cooled sautéed onions and peppers to the cheese mixture. Gently stir until everything is incorporated evenly. Set aside.
- Prepare Tortillas: Slice each of the 12 flour tortillas in half, creating 24 semicircles for rolling.
- Fill Tortillas: Evenly distribute the chicken filling onto each tortilla half, using about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons per piece. Spread the filling leaving a small border around the edges to prevent overflow when rolling.
- Roll Tortillas: Carefully roll each tortilla half into a cone shape. Roll them tight enough to hold their shape but not so tight that the filling spills out.
- Arrange Base Layer: Place a small round bowl in the center of the baking sheet. Arrange half of the rolled cones standing upright around the bowl, with the pointed ends touching the bowl, forming a circular base.
- Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle half of the reserved shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses evenly over the base layer of cones.
- Arrange Second Layer: Place the remaining rolled cones on top of the base layer to form a second ring. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheese over this top layer, then carefully remove the bowl.
- Prepare for Baking: Lightly spray or brush the edges of the tortillas with cooking spray or a little oil to help crisp the edges.
- Bake: Bake the assembled quesadilla ring on the middle rack of the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tortilla edges are golden crispy.
- Garnish and Serve: Carefully transfer the quesadilla ring to a serving platter. Optionally, sprinkle the thinly sliced green onions over the top as garnish.
- Serve with Dips: Place a small bowl of salsa in the center of the ring and serve with additional bowls of sour cream and guacamole on the side for dipping. Enjoy this festive and delicious dish!
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut, or homemade cooked shredded chicken works equally well.
- The filling can be made ahead and refrigerated to save time on serving day.
- If you prefer a spicier ring, add extra taco seasoning or some chopped jalapeños to the filling.
- Ensure tortillas are not overfilled to maintain their shape while rolling and baking.
- Customize toppings by adding fresh cilantro or diced tomatoes after baking for added freshness.
