Recipe: Chicken Quesadilla Recipe (with Black Beans & Acorn Squash)

It’s hard to not love a chicken quesadilla. It’s easy to put together and oh so comforting. Unfortunately, it doesn’t pack a whole lot of nutrition if you just stick to the basic flour tortilla, cheese, and chicken. So we upgraded the traditional chicken quesadilla recipe and didn’t miss our chance to load in some extra veggies and fiber.

This chicken quesadilla recipe gets a makeover with the addition of black beans and your choice of acorn squash or sweet potatoes. Plus, we’re swapping out the traditional white flour tortilla with a whole wheat tortilla for added fiber. Add in some leftover shredded chicken, grab a rotisserie chicken to shred, or poach some chicken breasts at home.

If you’re looking to add more vegetables to your diet, or you’re a mom who is looking for ways to sneak in more veggies, this chicken quesadilla recipe is for you. These homemade chicken quesadillas are perfect for using up leftover sweet potatoes or squash but you can also easily make a batch of these veggies just for this recipe.

I love acorn squash so adding this to my chicken quesadilla recipe is a real treat! Healthy, lovely, and golden delicious. The sweetness of the creamy squash paired with savory black beans in a quesadilla is so yummy! Sweet potatoes are an equally delicious match-up and if you happen to have some purple sweet potatoes around (which we did!), they make for a stunning presentation and a sure-fire way to get kiddos interested.

No matter what veggie we’re adding to our homemade chicken quesadilla, adding black beans into it is a must. They pack protein, fiber, and numerous vitamins and minerals, plus they taste great alongside whatever you throw in.

Our Favorite Homemade Chicken Quesadilla Pairings:

• Acorn Squash, Black Beans, Mozzarella/Parmesan Cheese Mix
• Sweet Potato, Black Beans, Goat Cheese
• Purple Sweet Potato, Black Beans, Gruyere/Swiss Cheese Mix

How To Cook Acorn Squash & Sweet Potatoes

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If you don’t have leftover acorn squash or sweet potatoes, here’s the easiest way to cook them up for your chicken quesadilla:

Acorn Squash

• Carefully cut the acorn squash in half vertically
• Remove seeds and pulp with a spoon
• Place on a baking sheet cut side up and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper
• Turn squash halves over cut side down and drizzle with oil
• Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes-1 hour depending on size
• Scoop the flesh out when tender and mash with a fork

Sweet Potato

• Scrub the skin of the sweet potato with water and a brush
• Prick potatoes all over with a fork
• Place on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper
• Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes-1 an hour depending on size
• Scoop the flesh out when tender and mash with a fork

Yes, you can bake these together if you would like to use both!

How To Make a Quesadilla

This recipe follows the same flow as a typical quesadilla:

1. Heat olive oil on a skillet while compiling your first quesadilla.
2. Place 1 tortilla on a flat surface and spread mashed acorn squash or sweet potato, cheese, shredded chicken, and black beans. Top with tortilla and fry on a skillet until cheese is melted, flipping halfway through.
3. Repeat with remaining tortillas and cut into wedges to serve.

Quesadillas are easily customizable adding in more of one ingredient that you like, less of another, etc. So make this your own!

What To Serve With This Chicken Quesadilla Recipe

Here are some delicious dips and beverages to serve with our homemade chicken quesadillas:

• Guacamole
• Creamy Avocado Salsa
• Skinny Margarita

Is This Chicken Quesadilla Recipe Healthy?

With our substitutions and additions to this chicken quesadilla, we have made our version much healthier. These quesadillas come in at 439 calories. For reference, there are 510 calories in taco bell chicken quesadilla but those calories come from cheese, sauce, and white flour primarily. Instead, our chicken quesadilla recipe is much more well-balanced and nutritious leaving you satisfied without weighing you down.