Tandoori Chicken Quesadilla (Printable version)

Juicy tandoori chicken paired with creamy yogurt sauce and melted cheese in a crisp tortilla.

# What You Need:

→ Tandoori Chicken

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

→ Yogurt Sauce

14 - 120 ml plain Greek yogurt
15 - 15 ml chopped fresh cilantro
16 - 15 ml lemon juice
17 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Quesadilla

19 - 4 large flour tortillas
20 - 170 g shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese
21 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
22 - 1 small green bell pepper, thinly sliced
23 - Butter or oil, for greasing pan

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, garam masala, turmeric, cayenne, and salt in a bowl. Add chicken strips and toss to coat thoroughly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes or refrigerate up to 2 hours.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked and slightly charred. Remove from heat.
03 - Whisk together yogurt, chopped cilantro, lemon juice, ground cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set the sauce aside.
04 - Place one tortilla flat. Evenly sprinkle 1/4 of the shredded cheese over half of the tortilla. Add 1/4 of cooked chicken strips, sliced red onion, and green bell pepper atop the cheese. Drizzle lightly with yogurt sauce. Fold tortilla in half. Repeat for 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 per side until golden brown and cheese has melted.
06 - Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve immediately with additional yogurt sauce on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It bridges two cuisines you love without requiring two separate meals or mastery of either cooking style.
  • The yogurt marinade makes the chicken so tender and juicy that even quick cooking won't dry it out.
  • You can prep the marinade while the oven preheats, making this genuinely fast enough for a weeknight dinner.
02 -
  • The chicken must be cut into thin strips, not chunks, or it won't cook through before the cheese burns in the quesadilla.
  • Don't skip the marinating time—even 15 minutes makes the chicken tender and flavorful, and longer is always better if you're not in a rush.
  • Cook the quesadillas over medium, not high heat, or the outside will char before the cheese melts inside.
03 -
  • Mix the yogurt marinade the night before so the flavors have time to develop into something truly aromatic.
  • Don't crowd the pan when cooking the chicken—give it space to develop that golden crust, which adds so much depth to the final dish.
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