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Taco Bell comes in clutch no matter the time of day. Aside from how genuinely delicious most of its menu is, there is the fact that it’s still one of the more affordable fast food options, with items like the Cheesy Roll Up selling for just $1.29. Despite that, its prices have crept up quite a bit since the ’90s and even the late 2010s, so it would be more economical to make the Mexican-influenced food at home — if only you knew how. Luckily, thanks yet again to the internet, you can prepare crowd-pleasing chicken quesadillas just like Taco Bell’s.
@dollartreedinners 🌮 Your Favorite Former Taco Bell employee is back again…let’s make their Chicken Quesadilla at home 🌮 If you’ve ever been obsessed with Taco Bell’s chicken quesadilla, this is exactly how to recreate it at home, including the iconic creamy jalapeño sauce. ✨ Creamy Jalapeño Sauce • 1 cup mayonnaise • 3 tablespoons pickled jalapeño slices • A splash of jalapeño brine • ½ teaspoon chili powder • ½ teaspoon cumin • ½ teaspoon onion powder • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder • ¼ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon sugar Blend everything until smooth and creamy, then refrigerate so the flavors can fully develop. 🍗 Chicken Taco Bell uses a standard grilled chicken. For the most authentic method, heat it directly in the bag in simmering water. 🧀 Cheese Their three-cheese blend is equal parts mozzarella, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. 🌯 Assembly Warm a burrito-size tortilla, add grilled chicken, drizzle with creamy jalapeño sauce, and sprinkle on the cheese blend. Toast in a dry skillet until lightly golden on both sides. 🔪 Cut into four equal pieces and enjoy a Taco Bell chicken quesadilla 💬 Comment what Taco Bell item you want me to recreate next and follow for more fast-food favorites you can make yourself! #TacoBellAtHome #FastFoodRecipes #CopycatRecipes #ChickenQuesadilla
♬ original sound – Dollar Tree Dinners – Dollar Tree Dinners
The sauce — made up of mayo, pickled jalapeño slices and brine, and various seasonings — is the most complex component you’ll put together for this meal. Along with the mayo, we recommend adding some sour cream to the mix if you want a subtle tang and to help temper the spices. Feel like bypassing making a sauce altogether? Consider picking up one of Taco Bell’s bottled sauces for an easy shortcut, like the Spicy Ranchero or the Creamy Avocado Ranch.
When it comes to the protein, try to ensure the chicken is completely coated in the sauce — you might want to toss the pieces in it before laying them down on the tortilla in the pan. For best results, use low heat to cook the quesadilla, too, so that it doesn’t burn — it can help the cheese melt if you put a lid on the pan as well.
Upgrade your quesadilla with unique proteins and fresh vegetables
One of the nice things about Taco Bell is how customizable each menu item is, especially if you use the app. But it actually pales in comparison to how much you can change, swap, or add when you make the quesadillas at home. For example, if you’re not in the mood for chicken, you can use ground beef, or opt for a protein that Taco Bell doesn’t even offer, like pulled pork, turkey, or even chorizo.
You might like to use the Fresco-style mod that replaces cheese, sour cream, and mayo-based sauces with pico de gallo, but you can take it a step further in your own kitchen by piling on sauteed peppers and onions or mushrooms, scratch-prepared salsa, or even spinach or kale. Including veggies not only expands the nutritional profile of the quesadilla, but it also makes it more filling and satiating.
Finally, you can absolutely cook your Taco Bell copycat quesadillas on the stove, but if you’re looking for something a little more hands-off, consider popping them in the air fryer. If you need to make a big batch for the entire family, you can also bake multiples all at once on a cookie sheet in your oven.