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Grilled Campfire Quesadillas

Campfire quesadillas with melty cheese and bold fillings, cooked until golden with real grill marks. Pressed tortillas grill hot and quick so the cheese oozes out in every wedge when cut.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Calories: 720
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Tortillas and cheese
  • 8 large flour tortillas
  • 3 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
Chicken and vegetables
  • 2 cup cooked chicken, shredded
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 0.5 cup onion, diced
  • 1 jalapeño, sliced
Grilling and serving
  • 1 butter or oil for grilling
  • 1 salsa for serving
  • 1 sour cream for serving
  • 1 guacamole for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Heat the grill surface
  1. Heat a cast iron skillet over campfire until hot and ready to sizzle, or place a grill grate over the campfire. Add a thin sheen of butter or oil to help the tortillas brown.
Build and grill the quesadillas
  1. Place one tortilla on the hot surface and quickly add cheese, chicken, bell pepper, onion, and jalapeño. Spread the fillings in an even layer so they melt through.
  2. Top with a second tortilla and press down gently to seal the edges. Keep pressure steady for even contact.
  3. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side until the bottom is golden and the cheese melts. Look for grill marks and bubbling cheese near the edges as the visual cue.
Cut and serve
  1. Remove from heat and cut into wedges right away. Serve with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole while the cheese is still oozing.

Notes

Pro tip: shred the chicken and keep the diced bell pepper and onion fairly dry so the filling doesn’t steam the tortillas—this helps them brown and keeps the cheese stretchy. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in a hot skillet until crisp. Freezing is not recommended for best texture. For a lighter option, use a reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend and grilled chicken only.