Cheesy Turkey and Ranch Quesadillas

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The Holidays are almost upon us, {in fact, Thanksgiving is THIS week!}, and despite all the stress, decorations, and gifts we have to buy, there’s something else that inevitably happens this year.

Leftovers.

I don’t know about you, but we always have food practically exploding out of our fridge and freezer, even if we don’t host a special dinner with family. There are cookie exchanges, office parties, and of course, the main meal that no matter where it’s located, we always end up with more mashed potatoes, fruit salad, and turkey than we really know what to do with. Even though it’s just the two of us!

But with grocery budgets being so tight lately, I’m determined to stretch the life of Holiday food until it’s completely finished. Well, that’s the goal anyway. My freezer will definitely play a big part!

Since Turkey-day is literally just around the corner, a snazzy leftover lunch might be just the thing to give this traditional meat a non-traditional spin. Instead of the stereotypical soups, stews, and turkeys sandwiches that you see this time of year, I thought a yummy cheese and ranch-drizzled tortilla would be the perfect solution.

I can honestly say I’m not a huge turkey fan, but this quesadilla really makes me reconsider becoming one. Plus, you can really make it any time of year with pre-cooked turkey breast at the local grocery store. It’s yet another easy addition to your weekly meal plan!

The Process

Step 1: Spray a large pan with cooking spray, or brush with butter before laying down your first tortilla. This gives it a really nice flavor and keeps the tortilla from cooking weird in some spots — I know that sounds strange, but hopefully, you know what I mean!

Step 2: Sprinkle your choice of cheese on the top of the tortilla and layer with cut, cooked turkey. We tried Cheddar Velveeta Shreds from Kraft and found them in the Walmart dairy section.

Now, I honestly thought that this particular cheese would just be like any other shredded cheese, but I really noticed a difference with this brand, and I’m not just saying that because, yes, I know they sponsored the post. But truly, it was one of the smoothest, meltiest cheeses I’ve tried and truly made this recipe shine. I completely recommend it with a coupon, of course!

Step 3: Drizzle ranch dressing over top of turkey and cheese layers, then top with second tortilla.

Step 4: Cook on medium heat for 2-3 minutes on one side, and 1-2 on the other side until crispy and brown. Re-coat pan with butter between quesadillas if you are making more than one.

Step 5: Serve with sour cream {although these quesadillas are tasty enough on their own} and enjoy!

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Total Cost: $2.06/quesadilla or $1.25 if using leftovers

The cheese does make this recipe a bit more expensive than ones I normally share, but you can totally bring the cost down by buying in bulk, or buying a block of cheese and shredding your own.

But seriously, this recipe is so incredibly easy and uses just about everything you probably already have on hand, so in my mind it is worth the extra expense. Especially after the busy holidays!

What are your go-to leftover recipes?

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.