Follow these detailed steps to assemble and cook the most delicious and crispy quesadillas. The process is broken down into preparing the filling and then cooking the quesadillas for easy execution.

Step 1: Prepare and Sauté the Vegetables
Begin by heating the olive oil or butter in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering or the butter is melted and foamy, add the diced yellow onion and the sliced red and green bell peppers. Sauté the vegetables, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes. You are looking for them to become tender-crisp—softened but still retaining a slight bite. Add the finely diced zucchini and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the zucchini is tender.

Step 2: Add Chicken and Spices
Once the vegetables are cooked to your liking, add the 2 cups of shredded or diced cooked chicken to the skillet. Stir everything together to combine. Now, sprinkle the chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, and smoked paprika over the mixture. Continue to stir and cook for another 1-2 minutes. This step is crucial as it “blooms” the spices, toasting them slightly in the heat of the pan to release their full aromatic potential and deeply infuse the entire filling with flavor. Season generously with salt and black pepper to your taste. Once everything is heated through and well-combined, remove the skillet from the heat and set the filling mixture aside.

Step 3: Assemble the Quesadillas
Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel and place it back over medium heat. There’s no need to add more oil just yet. Lay one large flour tortilla flat in the warm, dry pan. Working quickly, sprinkle approximately ¼ cup of the shredded cheese blend evenly over the entire surface of the tortilla. Arrange about ½ cup of the chicken and veggie filling over one half of the tortilla. Be careful not to overfill, as this can cause the quesadilla to burst during flipping. Sprinkle another ¼ cup of cheese over the top of the filling. The cheese on both the bottom and top acts as a delicious, edible glue, securing the filling inside.

Step 4: Cook to Golden Perfection
Using a spatula, carefully fold the empty half of the tortilla over the half with the filling, pressing down gently to seal it. Allow the quesadilla to cook for 2-4 minutes on the first side. The heat should be at a steady medium; if it’s too high, the tortilla will burn before the cheese melts. You’re looking for the bottom to be a beautiful golden-brown color and crispy to the touch. You can peek by lifting an edge with your spatula.

Step 5: Flip and Finish Cooking
Carefully slide your spatula under the entire quesadilla and confidently flip it over to the other side. Cook for another 2-4 minutes, until the second side is equally golden and crisp, and you can see that the cheese inside is completely melted and bubbling at the edges.

Step 6: Rest, Cut, and Serve
Slide the finished quesadilla from the skillet onto a cutting board. Let it rest for at least one to two minutes. This important step allows the molten cheese to set up slightly, which will prevent the filling from spilling out when you cut into it. Repeat the assembly and cooking process with the remaining tortillas and filling. Use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter to slice each quesadilla into 3 or 4 wedges. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.