Thread: Light & Easy Chicken Quesadillas

Made with marinated chicken, refried beans, onions and peppers, these quesadillas are hearty and filling.

Multigrain tortillas give this dish a fiber boost, while the chicken breast adds lean protein. You can make these chicken quesadillas ahead of time and freeze or refrigerate—just reheat them in the oven for about 20 minutes until the cheese melts.

Total Time : 31 minutes
Prep Time : 15 minutes
Cook Time : 16 minutes
Servings : 4

1/2 pound precooked chicken breast, sautéed or roasted, cut into thin strips
1 Tablespoon lime juice
1/4 cup fat-free Italian vinaigrette
1 Tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped, or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1 small red onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
4 eight-inch multigrain tortillas
1 heaping cup fat-free refried beans
1 cup grated reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese

variations: Substitute lean cooked pork or beef, or strips of sautéed portobello mushrooms, for the chicken

step 1 Mix the chicken, lime juice, vinaigrette and cilantro together in a medium bowl or a 1-gallon Ziploc® Brand Double Zipper Storage Bag and set aside.

step 2 Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the onion and pepper slices to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Once ready, set the onion and pepper slices aside in a plate or a bowl. Remove the skillet from the heat and wipe clean with a paper towel. To avoid burns, hold the paper towel with an oven mitt or a pair of tongs.

step 3 Spread a thin layer of refried beans over half of each open tortilla, following with the chicken, onion and pepper slices, and cheese. Fold each quesadilla in half so you have four half circles ready to be cooked.

step 4 Lightly spray the skillet with cooking spray and return the skillet to medium heat. Cook each quesadilla about 2 minutes per side, until the quesadilla is warmed through, the cheese is melted and the tortilla is lightly crisped. Keep warm in a low oven (about 200 degrees F) until all four quesadillas are cooked.

To dress up the quesadillas, serve with fat-free sour cream, guacamole and salsa.

I'm going to have to make these sometime soon. They sound really delicious~