Tandoori Chicken Quesadilla (Printable Format)

Juicy tandoori chicken and melted cheese wrapped in a crispy tortilla with a tangy yogurt sauce.

# What's Needed:

→ 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 - 1.5 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1.5 tsp ground coriander
08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1 tsp garam masala
10 - 0.5 tsp turmeric
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 chopped fresh cilantro
16 - 15 ml lemon juice
17 - 0.5 tsp ground cumin
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Quesadilla

19 - 4 large flour tortillas
20 - 150 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, paprika, garam masala, turmeric, cayenne, and salt in a bowl. Add chicken strips and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 15 minutes or refrigerate up to 2 hours.
02 - Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked through and lightly charred. Remove from heat.
03 - Whisk together yogurt, cilantro, lemon juice, cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
04 - Place a tortilla flat on a surface. Sprinkle one-quarter of the cheese over half the tortilla. Layer with one-quarter of the cooked chicken, red onion, and green bell pepper. Drizzle lightly with yogurt sauce. Fold the tortilla in half and 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 and cheese is melted.
06 - Slice each quesadilla into wedges and serve hot with extra yogurt sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It bridges two cuisines seamlessly without feeling gimmicky—the spices and yogurt sauce make total sense with the cheese.
  • Genuinely fast for something this flavorful; marinate while you prep everything else.
  • Leaves room for whatever vegetables you have around, so it never feels like a chore to make twice.
02 -
  • Don't skip the marinating step even if you're rushed—those 15 minutes make the difference between bland chicken and chicken that tastes intentional.
  • Keep your pan heat at medium, not high; too hot and the outside burns before the cheese melts inside.
  • Spread the yogurt sauce lightly inside the quesadilla; too much and it steams the tortilla instead of letting it crisp up.
03 -
  • Marinate the chicken while you shower or work through emails—you'll be amazed at how much difference those extra minutes make without extra effort.
  • Toast your whole spices gently in a dry pan before grinding them if you ever have the time; the flavor depth is noticeable and worth it.
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