Updated on September 17th, 2025
If you’re craving something cheesy and full of flavor, Applebee’s chicken quesadilla grande is a recipe worth making at home. The combination of juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and melted Colby-jack cheese creates a dish that’s easy to love. A touch of Pico de Gallo adds freshness and brightness that balances all the rich flavors. Quick to prepare and fun to serve, this quesadilla works perfectly for game day, parties, or even a simple dinner.
Why this recipe works
- Flavor mix: The blend of chicken, bacon, and Colby-jack cheese makes every bite of the quesadilla flavorful and satisfying without being complicated.
- Crispy texture: Buttered tortillas turn golden in the pan, giving the quesadilla a crispy outside that contrasts nicely with the gooey filling.
- Fresh touch: Pico de Gallo cuts through the richness of the cheese and bacon, adding freshness that keeps the quesadilla balanced.
- Quick assembly: With cooked chicken and bacon, the recipe comes together fast, making it a great choice when you want something ready in minutes.
- Easy to scale: The recipe can be doubled or tripled, making it flexible enough to serve a crowd or just a couple of people.
Serving suggestions
- Appetizer platter: Slice the quesadilla into small triangles and serve them on a platter for parties or family gatherings.
- Game day snack: Pair the quesadilla with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole, making it a go-to dish for sports nights with friends.
- Quick dinner: Serve with a side salad or rice for a simple but filling dinner that doesn’t take much time to prepare.
- Sharing style: Cut into wedges and serve with tortilla chips and extra Pico de Gallo for a fun, shareable meal.
- Party variety: Make several quesadillas with different fillings like mushrooms, peppers, or extra cheese, and serve alongside this version for variety.
Applebee’s Chicken Quesadilla Grande Recipe
Make Applebee’s chicken quesadilla grande at home with this easy copycat recipe, perfect for game day, parties, or a quick appetizer.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 slices cooked crispy bacon (sliced into 1/2” inch pieces)
- 2 (8 inches) flour tortillas
- softened butter (for lightly spreading on the tortillas)
- 2 tablespoons Pico de Gallo
- 1/2 cup shredded Colby-jack cheese
- 2 cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts (heated and cut into strips)
Optional Condiments-
- sour cream
- guacamole
- salsa
Instructions
- Heat a large non-stick frypan over medium heat. Spread butter lightly on one side of the flour tortilla shell. Place butter side down into the pan.
- Sprinkle half of the cheese evenly over the entire tortilla. On half of the tortilla sprinkle half of the bacon, half of the chicken pieces, and 1 tablespoon of Pico de Gallo. Cook until the cheese has melted and the bottom has browned. Using a spatula fold the tortilla in half and press down the edges gently.
- Remove from the pan. Repeat with remaining tortilla. Slice each quesadilla into thee triangles. Serve with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 413
- Sugar: 2.7 g
- Sodium: 960.3 mg
- Fat: 24.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 30.8 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 64 mg