These paleo chicken quesadillas are completely grain free and dairy free but you’d never guess! Grain free tortillas are filled with seasoned chicken and a flavor packed creamy cashew cheese sauce then topped with all your favorites like guacamole, fresh salsa and dairy free sour cream! Perfect as an appetizer or meal and totally kid approved!
Chicken quesadillas have always been a family favorite around here, especially with the kids! But, a paleo version hasn’t happened until now.
I didn’t think it was really possible to replicate that cheesy flavor and texture that you expect from a quesadilla, without actual cheese.
However, with a spiced up version of my cashew cheese sauce, shredded rotisserie chicken, and some vegan cheddar shreds, these quesadillas surprised me!
Plus, the grain free cassava flour based tortillas (I used Siete Foods brand) are the perfect combination of crispy and chewy.
You don’t have to use the vegan cheddar shreds, since the cheese sauce is enough, but it adds a nice tough if you want to try it!
What You Need to Make These Paleo Chicken Quesadillas
Cashew Cheese Sauce (You can also use Siete foods Cashew Queso for a quicker option!)
- cashews, unsalted (no need to soak)
- fresh lemon juice
- olive oil or avocado oil
- nutritional yeast
- Siete Foods Taco seasoning or other paleo friendly taco seasoning
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- sea salt
- warm water
Quesadillas
- cooked, shredded chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
- olive oil or avocado oil, divided
- Sea salt
- taco seasoning (I used Siete Foods)
- 10” cassava flour tortillas (I used Siete Foods burrito size. You can also use 6 of their smaller tortillas)
- Prepared Cashew Cheese Sauce or Queso
- chopped cilantro
dairy free cheddar shreds (optional, like Daiya)
To Serve
- My easy guacamole
- Kite Hill Almond milk sour cream
- Fresh Salsa
- Cilantro for garnish
How to Make Cashew Cheese Sauce
In a small high speed blender like a NutriBullet, add all the cheese ingredients and blend until very smooth. I get lots of questions about how to get my cashew cheese sauces super creamy.
I use a regular NutriBullet and blend on and off until I get a really creamy sauce. The blender should be small enough for the amount in the recipe.
Blending might take 1-3 minutes o to get the right consistency. You can stop the blender and scrape the sides and continue blending until creamy.
How to Make Paleo Chicken Quesadillas
Drizzle the chicken with a tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with sea salt and taco seasoning, toss to coat.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add 1/2 tablespoon of the oil. Once sizzling, add a tortilla and top with half of the chicken, half of the cheese sauce and half the cilantro, plus half of the dairy free cheddar shreds, if you’re using it.
Cover with a second tortilla and once the bottom tortilla is golden brown, use a wide spatula to flip, then cook the second side until golden brown.
Adjust the heat if necessary and repeat the process for the second quesadilla, adding the second 1/2 tablespoon of oil before laying down the tortilla.
Toppings for Paleo Chicken Quesadillas
To serve, cut the quesadillas into wedges and top as desired with all your favorite toppings!
I love fresh salsa, Kite Hill sour cream (it’s almond milk based), guacamole and extra cilantro if desired.
I hope you’re ready for a seriously tasty treat! Grab your ingredients and let’s make quesadillas!
Paleo Chicken Quesadillas {Grain Free, Dairy Free}
Paleo Chicken Quesadillas {Grain Free, Dairy Free}
Ingredients
Cashew Cheese: (you can also use Siete foods Cashew Queso for a quicker option)
- 3/4 cup cashews unsalted (no need to soak)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 1/4 teaspoons Siete Foods Taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/3 cup warm water
Quesadillas:
- 1 1/2 cups cooked shredded chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil divided
- Sea salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning I used Siete Foods
- 4 10 ” cassava flour tortillas I used Siete Foods burrito size. You can also use 6 of their smaller tortillas
- prepared cashew cheese sauce or Siete Foods cashew queso
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 cup dairy free cheddar shreds optional, like Daiya
To Serve:
- Easy guacamole recipe linked
- Kite Hill Almond milk sour cream
- Fresh Salsa
- Cilantro for garnish
Instructions
Make the Cashew Cheese First:
-
In a small high speed blender like a NutriBullet, add all the cheese ingredients and blend until very smooth. This might take 1-3 minutes o to get the right consistency. You can stop the blender and scrape the sides and continue blending until creamy.
Make the Quesadillas:
-
Drizzle the chicken with a tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with sea salt and taco seasoning, toss to coat.
-
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add 1/2 tablespoon of the oil. Once sizzling, add a tortilla and top with half of the chicken, half of the cheese sauce and half the cilantro, plus 1/2 cup of dairy free cheddar shreds, if using. Cover with a second tortilla and once the bottom tortilla is golden brown, use a wide spatula to flip, then cook the second side until golden brown.
-
Adjust the heat if necessary and repeat the process for the second quesadilla, adding the second 1/2 tablespoon of oil before laying down the tortilla.
-
To serve, cut the quesadillas into wedges and top as desired with fresh salsa, Kite Hill sour cream (it’s almond milk based), guacamole and extra cilantro if desired. Enjoy!
Want More Mexican Inspired Paleo Recipes? Try One of These!
Beef Burrito Bowls with Cauliflower Rice
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I like the short cut of the rotisserie chicken! Not having to soak the cashews made this super quick on a busy night!!!
Please share more quick recipes like this and/or some more crockpot meals for the weeknights!!!
I am just obsessed with everything you make. The creative combinations you create to make healthy delicious family friendly meals blows me away with every single recipe you create. Almost every single snack, dessert and dish is family friendly. Thank you for all that you do! Keep pushing that content out. You are so appreciated!!
These were SO good!!!! My family loves Mexican food and they loved these!! I sautéed sweet onions and added them to the quesadilla. So good!! Thank you for making Paleo so delicious!!
I MADE This tonight and my husband and I absolutely loved it ! Gave us plenty of leftovers and it was so full of flavor. I’m new to your blog, but have already tried so many of your recipes and they’ve all been amazing!
This was really helpful. I tried this yesterday night and it was amazing haha. Thanks for sharing this.
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I just did a happy dance while drinking my coffee. These look delicious. I’m a flight attendant and maintaining a healthy diet can be challenging. How would you recommend freezing these for later use?(don’t worry if it’s not recommended…we freeze everything and deal with the quality issue later).
I just found a recipe for spinach tortillas I’m gonna try with this.
Thanks for this!
Este es un plato tan delicioso de pollo. Gracias por Chicas Escort Caleta Olivia compartir.
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Good to learn, nice recipe. Thank you.
Nice recipe, Thank you
This is amazingand it looks deliciious
Hmmm, Nice Recipe, Thank you for sharing