How to Make Quesadillas
Quesadillas are an easy snack, lunch, or dinner kids can help make. Start with cheese, then add cooked meat, beans, vegetables, or other favorite fillings.
Basic Quesadilla
Ingredients
- 2 (8-inch) flour tortillas
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or Mexican cheese blend
- 1/2 to 1 cup cooked filling of your choice, optional
- Cooking spray, olive oil, or butter, if needed
Directions
- Place one tortilla on a plate or cutting board.
- Sprinkle cheese over the tortilla and add a thin layer of your chosen filling.
- Sprinkle with a little more cheese and top with the second tortilla.
- Skillet: Cook over medium heat until lightly browned. Carefully flip and cook the second side until golden and the cheese has melted.
- Oven: Place on a baking sheet and lightly brush or spray the top with oil. Bake at 400°F for 6–10 minutes, or until golden and the cheese has melted.
- Microwave: Place on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for about 30 seconds, or until the cheese has melted. The tortilla will be soft rather than crisp.
- Let cool slightly, then cut into wedges and serve.
Tip: Don't overfill the tortilla. A thin layer of filling makes the quesadilla easier to flip, cut, and eat.
Two Ways to Make a Quesadilla
Folded Tortilla Method: Add cheese and fillings to one half of a tortilla, then fold the other half over the filling. This method is easier to flip and works especially well for kids, smaller servings, or quesadillas with several fillings.
Two-Tortilla Method: Spread cheese and fillings over one whole tortilla, then place a second tortilla on top. This makes a larger round quesadilla that can be cut into several wedges and shared.
Which method is best? Both work well. Use the folded method when you want easier flipping and smaller portions. Use two tortillas when making a larger quesadilla for several people.
Quesadilla Variations
- Pizza: Add pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese, pepperoni, and favorite pizza toppings.
- Bean & Vegetable: Add refried or cooked beans, shredded cheese, and cooked peppers, zucchini, corn, spinach, onions, or mushrooms.
- Cheesy Chicken: Add chopped cooked chicken, shredded cheese, sliced olives, and a spoonful of drained salsa.
- Chicken Mushroom: Add chopped cooked chicken, finely chopped spinach, sliced mushrooms, and Monterey Jack cheese.
- Vegetable: Add shredded cheese and cooked zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, onions, spinach, corn, or mushrooms.
- Taco: Add cooked ground beef, refried or kidney beans, shredded cheese, and salsa.
- Chicken Cordon Bleu: Add chopped cooked chicken, deli ham, and shredded Swiss, cheddar, or Monterey Jack cheese.
- Italian Chicken: Add cooked Italian-seasoned chicken, Mexican cheese blend, mozzarella cheese, and chopped tomato.
- Hawaiian Pineapple: Add chopped cooked chicken, well-drained pineapple, and shredded cheese.
- Chocolate Banana: Spread peanut butter or another favorite spread over the tortilla and add banana slices and chocolate chips. Cook over medium-low heat until warm and lightly crisp.
More filling ideas: Try leftover chicken or beef, beans, corn, peppers, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives, green onions, or mild green chilies.