Quesadillas: They’re doughy, cheesy, comforting and oh so dippable. Plus, they can be stuffed with just about any protein or veggie under the sun. You may think you need to order in from your local cantina to get your fix, but we’re betting you can make a killer quesadilla at home. Read on for 28 simple quesadilla recipe ideas that get their magic from steak, chicken, mushrooms, avocado and everything in between. Whichever recipe you choose, one thing’s for certain: You’ll need guac and sour cream at the ready.
28 Easy, Cheesy Quesadilla Recipe Ideas the Whole Family Will Love
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Published Mar 28, 2022
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. Baking Sheet Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
Your trusty sheet pan makes preparing dinner for eight a breeze. Head to your supermarket’s deli section for rectangular tortillas or wraps.
David Frenkiel/Little Green Kitchen
2. Portobello And Avocado Quesadillas With Magic Green Sauce
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, one pan
Plant-based eaters, rejoice. This protein-rich beauty is loaded with black beans, avocado, mushrooms and alllll the fresh herbs.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
3. Easy Waffle-iron Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, kid-friendly
The recipe calls for avocado and salsa verde, but you can add all the fixings your heart desires, like pico de gallo, hot sauce and red onion.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
4. Mini Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
Neater than nachos, but just as crispy and cheesy. The secret to their compact size is trading tortillas for wonton wrappers.
Half Baked Harvest
5. Pineapple Chicken Tinga Quesadilla Tostadas With Tequila-lime Pickled Jalapeños
- Time Commitment: 5 hours and 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, crowd-pleaser
Part quesadilla, part crisp tostada, this chicken tinga dish is the ultimate party food.
The Mom 100
6. Steak And Cheese Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, make ahead
Prepare the steak in advance so all you need to do before serving is assemble and heat until the cheese melts.
Feasting at Home
7. Farmers Market Veggie Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Corn, sweet potato, broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini and bell peppers are all invited to dinner, along with spicy sour cream dip.
The Modern Proper
8. Easy Baked Chicken Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, high protein
Want to make a big batch of chicken quesadillas in a hurry? This large-format recipe is just the ticket.
Half Baked Harvest
9. Cauliflower Al Pastor Quesadillas With Lime Smashed Avocado
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
Our favorite cruciferous vegetable gets the al pastor treatment (pineapple! chipotles in adobo! cilantro!) instead of traditional pork.
The Modern Proper
10. Roasted Poblano And Carnitas Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Prep the slow cooker carnitas separately, then make quesadillas with the succulent leftovers all week long.
Half Baked Harvest
11. Sweet Thai Chili Salmon Quesadillas With Spicy Mango
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, pescatarian, high protein
Complete with coconut rice, chopped peanuts and homemade sweet chili sauce.
Yellow Bliss Road
12. Italian Chicken Quesadillas With Greek Yogurt Dip
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, one pan
Italian dressing seasoning mixed with Greek yogurt is the secret to the tangy dip. (Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it.)
The Mom 100
13. Easy Ground Beef Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, kid-friendly
Your picky, burger-loving kids will have no complaints about this hearty meal. We’d serve it with guac and salsa, but they can opt for ketchup instead if they insist.
Well Plated by Erin
14. Mushroom And Sundried Tomato Quesadilla
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese hold down the fort for this unconventional twist on quesadillas. Might we suggest dunking them in pesto?
Yellow Bliss Road
15. Mini Ranch Chicken, Bean And Cheese Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein, kid-friendly
Mini tortillas (and a packet of ranch seasoning) make these two-bite quesadillas extra adorable and fun to eat.
Dude That Cookz
16. Braised Beef Short Rib Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, Instant Pot recipe, high protein, special occasion-worthy
Fall-apart-tender short ribs cook to completion in the Instant Pot after just one hour. Once the meat is shredded, your quesadillas are only minutes away.
Wendy Polisi
17. Chicken And Marinated Veggie Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein
Transform your kitchen into a trendy gastropub with these produce-packed quesadillas. (They pair wonderfully with a light Pilsner.)
Detoxinista
18. Vegan Quesadilla
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, <30 minutes
Who needs meat when you can savor spicy black bean filling, guacamole and homemade vegan nacho cheese?
Gimme Some Oven
19. Parmesan-crusted Shrimp Quesadilla
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: pescatarian, high protein
Since there’s no such thing as too much cheese, the tortillas are baked with a layer of Parmesan on top for a crispy exterior.
Sweet Peas and Saffron
20. Sweet Chili Chicken Quesadillas With Peach Salsa
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, slow cooker recipe
Make a large batch of Crockpot sweet chili chicken and use the leftovers to make these quick quesadillas. Homemade peach salsa pushes them over the top.
The Almond Eater
21. Breakfast Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Rise and shine for this protein-packed breakfast starring eggs, black beans and cheddar cheese.
Half Baked Harvest
22. Spicy Pork Al Pastor Quesadillas With Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
A duo of citrus juices in the marinade ensures that the pork shoulder turns out impeccably tender.
Clean Eating Magazine
23. Chicken, Spinach And Ricotta Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein
Ricotta adds an extra layer of creaminess to this freezer-friendly quesadilla recipe.
Damn Delicious
24. Greek Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
Think essentials like kalamata olives, spinach and feta cheese, doused in cucumber-dill tzatziki sauce.
Half Baked Harvest
25. Margarita Chicken Quesadilla With Margarita Guacamole
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy
All you need is a salt-rimmed glass and a cold marg to complete the meal.
Grandbaby Cakes
26. Shrimp Fajita Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, pescatarian, high protein
Everything you love about fajitas, wrapped in a toasty, cheesy tortilla. Store-bought fajita seasoning makes them a cinch to pull off.
Girl Gone Gourmet
27. Bbq Chicken Quesadillas
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, high protein
Homemade guac and shredded pepper jack are folded into this quesadilla that’s piled high with barbecue chicken.
Photo/Styling: Taryn Pire
28. Fluffernutter Quesadilla
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Yup, dessert quesadillas are a thing—an ooey, gooey, delicious thing. Here, we zhuzh up the tried-and-true combo of peanut butter and Marshmallow Fluff with crunchy Sno-Caps and flaky salt.
