High Protein Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas
Satisfy your cravings with these zesty High Protein Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas, designed for easy meal prep and packed with flavor! Loaded with tender chipotle chicken, gooey cheese, and vibrant veggies, these crispy delights are perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. Just grill them to golden perfection, and you’ll have a delicious, protein-rich treat ready to fuel your day!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(1)
- 1/2 lime juice
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 800g chicken breast (1.76 lbs)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- 30g grated low fat cheddar (1.06 oz)
- 240g cottage cheese (8.47 oz)
- 25g grated mozzarella (0.88 oz)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- 2 tsp honey (10 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(10)
- 1/2 tsp cayenne (2.5 ml)
- 1 tsp coriander (5 ml)
- 2 tbsp Chopped coriander (30 ml)
- 1/2 tsp cumin (2.5 ml)
- 2 tsp garlic powder (10 ml)
- 1 tsp garlic powder (5 ml)
- 1 tsp onion powder (5 ml)
- 1 tsp oregano (5 ml)
- 2 tsp paprika (10 ml)
- salt to taste
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- 120g salsa (4.24 oz)
📦Other(2)
- 1 tbsp chipotle paste (15 ml)
- 120g light mayo (4.24 oz)
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
476
Protein
70g
Carbs
39g
Fat
62g
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Add chipotle seasoning to chicken breast, spray with oil, and air fry at 200°C / 400°F for 12-15 minutes.
- 2
Set chicken aside, add sliced onion to the same tray, and air fry again at 180°C / 375°F for 8-10 minutes.
- 3
Make the chipotle sauce by blending cottage cheese, light mayo, salsa, chipotle paste, lime juice, garlic powder, honey, and chopped coriander.
- 4
Shred the cooked chicken, mix with onions and chipotle sauce to form the filling.
- 5
Add one-sixth of the filling to a tortilla with low-fat cheese, fold, and cook in a pan until crispy on both sides.
- 6
Wrap in foil once cooled and store in the fridge or freezer. To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds if refrigerated or 3-4 minutes if frozen, then air fry to get toasty.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Reduce air fryer temperature to 180°C (375°F) for onions after cooking chicken at 200°C (400°F) because onions contain more water and lower sugars than chicken; higher heat caramelizes exterior before interiors soften, leaving them fibrous rather than tender.timing200°C for chicken, 180°C for onions
- ✓Blend cottage cheese with light mayo at a 2:1 ratio (160g to 80g) rather than equal parts because cottage cheese's lactic acid proteins need fat emulsification; this ratio prevents the sauce from becoming grainy while maintaining high protein content (approximately 18g per serving).ingredient2:1 cottage cheese to mayo ratio
- ✓Toast the assembled quesadilla in a dry or lightly oiled pan at medium-high heat (190-200°C pan temp) for 3-4 minutes per side rather than medium heat because the Maillard reaction accelerates above 150°C, creating a crispy tortilla exterior while the filling stays warm without separating.technique190-200°C pan temperature, 3-4 minutes per side
- ✓Add lime juice to the chipotle sauce last (after blending all other ingredients) because citric acid causes casein proteins in cottage cheese to denature and separate if exposed to acidity too long; add immediately before assembly to maintain creaminess for up to 2 hours.timingAdd lime juice immediately before assembly
- ✓Air fry reheated frozen quesadillas at 180°C (375°F) for 5-7 minutes rather than microwaving alone, because microwave-only reheating causes uneven moisture redistribution; air frying afterward evaporates residual steam and re-crisps the tortilla without drying the filling.technique180°C for 5-7 minutes after microwave
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
High Protein Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas
Satisfy your cravings with these zesty High Protein Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas, designed for easy meal prep and packed with flavor! Loaded with tender chipotle chicken, gooey cheese, and vibrant veggies, these crispy delights are perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. Just grill them to golden perfection, and you’ll have a delicious, protein-rich treat ready to fuel your day!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(1)
- 1/2 lime juice
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 800g chicken breast (1.76 lbs)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- 30g grated low fat cheddar (1.06 oz)
- 240g cottage cheese (8.47 oz)
- 25g grated mozzarella (0.88 oz)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- 2 tsp honey (10 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(10)
- 1/2 tsp cayenne (2.5 ml)
- 1 tsp coriander (5 ml)
- 2 tbsp Chopped coriander (30 ml)
- 1/2 tsp cumin (2.5 ml)
- 2 tsp garlic powder (10 ml)
- 1 tsp garlic powder (5 ml)
- 1 tsp onion powder (5 ml)
- 1 tsp oregano (5 ml)
- 2 tsp paprika (10 ml)
- salt to taste
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- 120g salsa (4.24 oz)
📦Other(2)
- 1 tbsp chipotle paste (15 ml)
- 120g light mayo (4.24 oz)
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
476
Protein
70g
Carbs
39g
Fat
62g
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Add chipotle seasoning to chicken breast, spray with oil, and air fry at 200°C / 400°F for 12-15 minutes.
- 2
Set chicken aside, add sliced onion to the same tray, and air fry again at 180°C / 375°F for 8-10 minutes.
- 3
Make the chipotle sauce by blending cottage cheese, light mayo, salsa, chipotle paste, lime juice, garlic powder, honey, and chopped coriander.
- 4
Shred the cooked chicken, mix with onions and chipotle sauce to form the filling.
- 5
Add one-sixth of the filling to a tortilla with low-fat cheese, fold, and cook in a pan until crispy on both sides.
- 6
Wrap in foil once cooled and store in the fridge or freezer. To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds if refrigerated or 3-4 minutes if frozen, then air fry to get toasty.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Reduce air fryer temperature to 180°C (375°F) for onions after cooking chicken at 200°C (400°F) because onions contain more water and lower sugars than chicken; higher heat caramelizes exterior before interiors soften, leaving them fibrous rather than tender.timing200°C for chicken, 180°C for onions
- ✓Blend cottage cheese with light mayo at a 2:1 ratio (160g to 80g) rather than equal parts because cottage cheese's lactic acid proteins need fat emulsification; this ratio prevents the sauce from becoming grainy while maintaining high protein content (approximately 18g per serving).ingredient2:1 cottage cheese to mayo ratio
- ✓Toast the assembled quesadilla in a dry or lightly oiled pan at medium-high heat (190-200°C pan temp) for 3-4 minutes per side rather than medium heat because the Maillard reaction accelerates above 150°C, creating a crispy tortilla exterior while the filling stays warm without separating.technique190-200°C pan temperature, 3-4 minutes per side
- ✓Add lime juice to the chipotle sauce last (after blending all other ingredients) because citric acid causes casein proteins in cottage cheese to denature and separate if exposed to acidity too long; add immediately before assembly to maintain creaminess for up to 2 hours.timingAdd lime juice immediately before assembly
- ✓Air fry reheated frozen quesadillas at 180°C (375°F) for 5-7 minutes rather than microwaving alone, because microwave-only reheating causes uneven moisture redistribution; air frying afterward evaporates residual steam and re-crisps the tortilla without drying the filling.technique180°C for 5-7 minutes after microwave