Tandoori Chicken Quesadilla (Printable)

Juicy tandoori chicken with creamy yogurt sauce and melted cheese in a crispy flour tortilla.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tandoori Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
02 - 120 ml plain Greek yogurt
03 - 15 ml lemon juice
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2.5 cm 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 - 170 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 - In a bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, paprika, garam masala, turmeric, cayenne, and salt. Add chicken strips and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for a minimum of 15 minutes or up to 2 hours refrigerated.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes until fully cooked and slightly charred. Remove from heat.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together yogurt, chopped cilantro, lemon juice, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
04 - Place a tortilla flat and sprinkle a quarter of the cheese over half. Top with a quarter of the cooked chicken, sliced red onion, and bell pepper. Drizzle lightly with yogurt sauce. Fold tortilla in half. Repeat with 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 is melted.
06 - Slice quesadillas into wedges and serve hot with additional yogurt sauce on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes restaurant-worthy but comes together faster than ordering delivery.
  • The tandoori spices create a warm, complex flavor that feels totally unexpected inside a quesadilla.
  • Creamy yogurt sauce cuts through the richness of melted cheese in a way that feels both indulgent and balanced.
02 -
  • Don't skip the marinating step. Even 15 minutes makes the chicken tender and flavorful, but longer is always better if you have time.
  • Use medium heat when cooking the quesadillas, not high. High heat burns the tortilla before the cheese melts, and you'll be left with a crispy outside and cold cheese inside.
03 -
  • Make the yogurt sauce and marinate the chicken while you're doing other things. This dish is all about prep work that makes assembly and cooking nearly effortless.
  • Slice your vegetables thinly so they cook through in the time the tortilla spends on the griddle, and so they don't poke through and tear the tortilla.
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