Cheese Quesadilla (+ Secret For Extra Crispy Crust)

Quesadillas With Cheese

Delicious cheese quesadilla loaded with melted cheese and topped with 4 Ingredient Guacamole and Pico de Gallo. Upgrade your quesadilla with cheese and turn it into our popular Carne Asada Quesadilla or Quesadilla with Steak.

More Mexican Recipes and Carne Asada Recipes – Carne Asada Fries, Street Tacos, Tacos al Carbon and Mexican Shrimp Cocktail.

Ingredients

Quesadilla recipes require minimal ingredients as well as minimal time to make. This queso quesadilla recipe requires just ten minutes and two ingredients: cheese and flour tortillas (store bought or homemade flour tortillas).

Queso Quesadilla

You can use almost any “meltable” cheese. Fantastic cheese options include: Mexican cheese blend, Monterey jack, Colby, cheddar, gouda, pepper jack or even Oaxaca. Mix and match as you see fit for your Cinco de Mayo menu!

How to Make A Cheese Quesadilla

Only a few short minutes stand between you and cheez-y goodness! 

1. Spread 1/2 – 3/4 cup of cheese evenly over 1 side of the tortilla.
2. Fold over and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, until the cheese is melted through out. 
3. Top the tortilla with your favorite toppings and get to grubbing!

Crispy Tortilla Crust

For an extra crispy crust, add 1/2 tbsp of butter to the hot pan, and let it melt, then add a stuffed tortilla to the pan. Repeat between batches. 

You can also use oil, but it doesn’t beat a buttery tortilla shell.

Topping Ideas

The topping we use in this Mexican favorite are typical for San-Diego Mexican food. There are a ton of other toppings that would be killer. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Salsa Recipes or Hot Sauce
• Pickled Banana Peppers
• Pickled Red Onions
• Mango Pico de Gallo
• Mexican Crema
• Smoked Queso
• Shredded Lettuce
• Cilantro
• Fresh Lime Slices
• Green Onions

Add Some Protein

Looking to bulk up your meal? Here are some Mexican-flavored proteins that would be amazing stuffed inside. Almost any protein leftovers can be diced and thrown in with success.

• Carne Asada
• Achiote Chicken
• Instant Pot Carnitas
• Pollo Asado
• Birria
• Camarónes a la Diabla
• Mexican Potatoes (vegetarian option)

Flavor Combinations

There are many ingredients that pair together really well to take your quesadilla with cheese to the next level. Here are a few popular combinations we think you’ll enjoy:

Pizza Quesadilla – add pizza seasoning, pepperoni, sausage and mozzarella

Hawaiian – add bacon, ham, diced pineapple with mozzarella

Fajita Quesadilla – add bell peppers, onions and pepper jack cheese

Pulled Pork Quesadilla – add pulled pork, BBQ sauce, red onions, and mozzarella

Vegetarian – cooked zucchini, mushrooms and bell pepper with Monterey jack

Breakfast Quesadilla – add diced ham, bacon or sausage with cheddar cheese

Steak Quesadilla – Throw in leftover steak with any cheese

Or just kick back with a Bourbon Margarita and call it a day with just cheese!

Side Dish Ideas

Fully loaded tortillas don’t need a side, but if you’re serving them at a party or splitting with friends, you may want to amp up the menu! Here are some side dish ideas:

• Chips and Salsa
• Refried Beans
• Mexican Rice
• Cilantro Lime Rice
• Mexican Pickled Carrots

Expert Tips

• Avoid pre-shredded bagged cheese as the coating prohibits the cheese from melting properly. 
• A healthy level of cheese is in each serving. To reduce calories, take it down to as little as a 1/4 cup of cheese.
• Keep cheese about 1/4″ – 1/2″ from the edges of the tortilla. The cheese will spread as it melts. 
• Use a pizza cutter to quickly and easily cut into wedges.
• Serve with a side of Chipotle Crema.

Mexican Drinks

Here are some Mexican drinks that would pair extremely well with this dish:

Mexican Mule
Corona Sunrise
Michelada
Mexican Candy Shot

Cheese Quesadilla Recipe