Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

There is an unspoken rule in our house that if dinner involves melted cheese and sticky fingers, it is automatically a winner. These Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas have quickly become our Friday night obsession because they bridge the gap between sweet and savory perfectly. Max calls them "sticky taco triangles" because the sauce drips down your chin in the best possible way.

Crispy, golden quesadillas filled with juicy chicken tossed in a homemade hot honey BBQ sauce, melted cheese, and red onions.

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Why You Will Love This Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

This recipe takes the standard cheese quesadilla and elevates it with a bold, homemade sauce that rivals any trendy food truck. The combination of smoky BBQ sauce, sweet honey, and a kick of heat creates a glaze that caramelizes beautifully against the crisp tortilla. It uses precooked chicken to keep things fast; meaning you can have a restaurant quality meal on the table in under 20 minutes.

How To Make Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

We start by whisking together a quick hot honey BBQ sauce using pantry staples; adjusting the heat level to suit the family. We toss tender shredded chicken in this sticky glaze and layer it onto flour tortillas with plenty of sharp cheddar and diced red onion for crunch. The quesadillas are pan-fried until golden and crispy; then finished with an extra drizzle of sauce and fresh herbs.

Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas Ingredients

The Filling

• 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded rotisserie or grilled)
• ½ red onion (finely diced)
• 2 cups cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (shredded)
• 4 large flour tortillas (burrito size)

The Hot Honey BBQ Sauce

• ½ cup BBQ sauce (your favorite brand)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce (or ½ teaspoon cayenne for dry heat)
• 1 tablespoon butter (melted)
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Garnish

• Fresh cilantro (chopped)
• Extra hot honey for drizzling

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Step by Step Method

Make the Sauce

• In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, honey, hot sauce, melted butter, and garlic powder until smooth and glossy.
• Pour half of the sauce over the shredded chicken and toss until the meat is fully coated; reserve the rest for dipping or drizzling.

Assemble the Quesadillas

• Lay the tortillas flat and sprinkle a layer of cheese over one half of each tortilla.
• Top the cheese with the saucy chicken mixture and a scatter of diced red onion.
• Add a second layer of cheese on top of the chicken (this acts as glue) and fold the tortilla over to close.

Cook Until Crispy

• Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly butter the surface.
• Place the quesadillas in the pan and cook for 3–4 minutes per side; pressing down gently with a spatula until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted.

Slice and Serve

• Remove from the pan and let them rest for 1 minute to set the cheese.
• Slice into wedges and drizzle with the remaining sauce; garnish with fresh cilantro.

Max’s Reaction: "It is sweet at first but then it gets spicy! I like picking out the crunchy onion bits that fall on the plate."

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What Pairs Well With Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

These quesadillas are rich and filling; so they pair best with lighter sides that offer a bit of acidity. A fresh corn and black bean salad with lime dressing works perfectly to cut the richness. We also love serving them with a simple side of seasoned rice or, if we are feeling indulgent, a basket of sweet potato fries to dip in the extra sauce.

Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas Variations

Blackstone Griddle Method

• Preheat your outdoor griddle to medium heat and cook four quesadillas at once. The large surface area allows for an even, edge-to-edge crisp that is hard to achieve in a skillet.

Aloha Style

• Add ½ cup of diced pineapple to the filling along with the chicken. The fruit caramelizes inside the tortilla and pairs incredibly well with the BBQ and honey flavors.

Bacon Ranch Twist

• Crumble crispy bacon into the filling and swap the hot honey drizzle for a cooling ranch dressing on top to tame the heat for younger kids.

Oven Baked for Crowds

• Brush the outside of the assembled quesadillas with oil and place them on a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway, to make a large batch simultaneously.

Equipment

• Large Skillet or Griddle
• Spatula
• Whisk
• Chef’s Knife

Storage / Make Ahead / Serving Tips

Storage Tips That Keep It Fresh

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The tortillas will soften in the fridge; so do not expect them to stay crispy without reheating.

Make Ahead Strategy

You can mix the sauce and toss the chicken in it up to 2 days in advance. Store the filling in the fridge. When you are ready to eat; just assemble the tortillas and fry them fresh for the best texture.

Reheating Instructions

Avoid the microwave as it makes the tortillas rubbery. Reheat slices in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes per side; or pop them in an air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes to restore the crunch.

Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas FAQs

A Sticky Savory Dinner Win

This meal has become a staple for us because it transforms boring leftover chicken into something exciting and flavor-packed. It is messy, fun, and undeniably delicious. If you love hearty, comfort-food dinners, you must try our Garlic Steak Tortellini for a fancy skillet meal, or the fresh Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad which makes a perfect side dish. For another easy bowl meal, the Ground Turkey Rice Bowls are always a hit.

Share your Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas! Tag us @HannahCooking with #HotHoneyBBQChickenQuesadillas; we’re dying to see your version and hear about your homemade kitchen stories!

⭐️ Rate this Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas recipe and let us know what twists or ingredients you used!

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Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

Crispy, golden quesadillas filled with juicy chicken tossed in a homemade hot honey BBQ sauce, melted cheese, and red onions.

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 quesadilla

Calories: 550kcal

Cost: $15

Equipment

• 1 Large skillet (Or griddle)
• 1 Whisk (For sauce)
• 1 Spatula (For flipping)

Ingredients

• ▢ 4 large flour tortillas - Burrito size
• ▢ 2 cups cooked chicken - Shredded
• ▢ 2 cups cheddar cheese - Shredded
• ▢ ½ medium red onion - Diced
• ▢ ½ cup BBQ sauce - Your favorite brand
• ▢ 2 tablespoon honey - For sweetness
• ▢ 1 tablespoon hot sauce - Or sriracha
• ▢ 1 tablespoon butter - Melted, for sauce
• ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder - Seasoning
• ▢ 1 bunch fresh cilantro - Chopped garnish

Instructions 

• Whisk BBQ sauce, honey, hot sauce, melted butter, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
• Toss shredded chicken with half of the sauce until fully coated.
• Layer cheese, chicken, onion, and more cheese on half of each tortilla; fold to close.
• Cook in a buttered skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side until crispy.
• Slice into wedges, drizzle with remaining sauce, and garnish with cilantro.

Notes

Use the double-layer cheese method to seal the filling inside. Watch the heat to prevent the sugary sauce from burning.

Nutrition

Serving: 250g | Calories: 550kcal (28%) | Carbohydrates: 42g (14%) | Protein: 35g (70%) | Fat: 28g (43%) | Saturated Fat: 14g (88%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 95mg (32%) | Sodium: 1100mg (48%) | Potassium: 350mg (10%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 18g (20%) | Vitamin A: 500IU (10%) | Vitamin C: 4mg (5%) | Calcium: 400mg (40%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)