Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients
6 slices bacon, optional
4 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts divided
1 large red bell pepper, cored and diced
1 large jalapeño pepper, cored and diced
6 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
fine sea salt, to taste
freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
1 pound of chicken, cooked, shredded or diced
2 (15-ounce) cans pinto or black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
butter, melted, for greasing the sheet pan and topping the quesadillas
16 (10-inch) flour tortillas or 24 (8-inch) flour tortillas
3-4 cups Mexican blend or pepper jack cheese, shredded
Optional toppings:
guacamole, pico de gallo, red salsa, salsa verde, sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Heat a large sauté pan over medium-low heat.
Add the bacon and cook to your desired level of doneness, about 4-6 minutes. Transfer the cooked bacon to a power-towel-lined plate.
Reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease in the sauté pan, discarding the rest. Increase the heat to medium-high.
Add the white parts of the scallions, the bell pepper, and the jalapeño. Sauté the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, sea salt, and pepper, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer the sautéed vegetable mixture to a large mixing bowl.
Add the cooked bacon, chicken, beans, sour cream, cilantro, and the green parts of the scallions, tossing the mixture until everything is evenly combined. Taste the mixture for seasoning.
Lightly brush the bottom of a 13×18-inch sheet pan with melted butter.
Arrange the tortillas overlapping the perimeter of the pan so that half of the tortillas overhang the rim. Layer tortillas in the center of the baking sheet so the entire bottom of the baking sheet is covered.
Spread the chicken filling evenly over the tortillas. Sprinkle the chicken mixture evenly with the cheese.
Place as many tortillas as you used to cover the center of the pan on top of the chicken mixture in the center of the sheet, almost like making sandwiches. Fold the overhanging tortillas back towards the center until all of the chicken filling is covered.
Brush the tops of the quesadillas with melted butter. Place another large baking sheet on top of the quesadillas to weigh them down.
Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the top baking sheet carefully. Bake until the tortillas are lightly golden, about 5 minutes.
