Air Fryer Quesadillas are an incredibly quick and easy snack, appetizer, or family meal that you can load up with tasty fillings and melted cheese! My family loves using leftover taco meat and Monterey Jack, a personal favorite for super melted results!
Super melty cheese and piping hot taco meat combine in a delightfully crispy air-fried quesadilla!
Back again with the incredible AIR FRYER!! This time, my fave kitchen appliance takes an easy recipe and makes it even easier - air fryer quesadillas!
In my house, this simple meal was more popular than mac n’ cheese when my kids were little - they begged for them! I still make them frequently because they are so versatile and nearly effortless to make, especially when using the air fryer.
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Quesadillas are a traditional Mexican food that dates way back to the Aztec days of the 16th century. Back then, they were often a sweet treat, filled with pumpkin or squash, but they evolved into a savory favorite.
Quesadillas can be filled with a variety of ingredients, but cheese is always the main ingredient, making them gooey and delicious. The word quesadilla literally translates to “little cheesy thing”!
🥘 Ingredients
- Flour Tortillas - Corn tortillas are traditional and can also be used, but flour tortillas are softer and more durable, and better if you plan on lots of fillings.
- Ground Beef Taco Meat - Adding taco seasoning makes it taste very authentic. You can also use ground turkey or chicken.
- Monterey Jack Cheese - This is a mild cheese that melts well, but any shredded cheese will work. I love the Mexican Blend of shredded cheese - a combo of 4 yummy kinds of cheese!
💭 Tips & Recipe Notes
- Air Fryer Tips: Before you get started, know that the cooking time may vary depending upon the make and model of your air fryer, so use my instructions below as a guide but keep an eye on your quesadillas. Also, using aerosolized cooking sprays to coat your air fryer basket or trays can damage the coating, so use a spray bottle or a pastry brush to coat them with oil instead, although this particular recipe doesn’t call for oil.
- Choose a great melting cheese that won't result in super greasy quesadillas. Monterey Jack is one of my top picks for this and can be used in combination with cheddar for the perfect quesadillas. Or skip the cheddar/Jack combo and use Colby-Jack!
🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions
No need for preheating before assembling these quick quesadillas! Just jump right into assembly and get ready to enjoy this hearty snack or easy meal!
- To make the quesadillas, take one tortilla and cover one side of it with the taco seasoned ground beef (or another meat or filling of your choice). Next, sprinkle about ¼ cup of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or your favorite cheese) and fold the tortilla in half. *Add more filling as desired and repeat the process with each tortilla until you have the amount you need prepared.
- Place the assembled tortilla into the air fryer basket. Two folded tortillas should fit at one time. Cook at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 5 full minutes, then flip the tortillas over and fry for another 3+ minutes or until the tortillas are a crispy, golden brown.
- When using the air fryer for quesadillas, the tortilla might pull away from the fillings a bit while cooking. You can check on it during the first few minutes of cooking and press it down with a spatula, if necessary.
- Remove quesadillas from the air fryer and serve right away.
Top with my delicious pico de gallo sauce, or other traditional toppings like guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.
📖 Variations
Air fryer quesadillas can be made with all kinds of fillings. A fun idea is to have a “quesadilla bar” where everyone assembles their own and takes turns placing them in the fryer.
For this option, I set out an assortment of the following things for filling: roasted veggies (especially bell peppers), diced onion, cilantro, refried beans, black beans, ANY cheese, grilled chicken, shredded beef, tomato, diced avocado, green chiles, tofu - the list is endless!!
You can get really creative with this simple recipe and make your quesadillas much more than a “little cheesy thing”! Enjoy your quesadillas!
*Note that the best air fried quesadillas will result from choosing fillings that are drier, rather than moist.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Refrigerate
Allow the cooked quesadillas to cool completely, then wrap individually in plastic cling film wrap and place into an airtight container. Store any leftover quesadillas in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze
To freeze your quesadillas (assembled or cooked), place the individually wrapped quesadillas onto a baking sheet then transfer to the freezer. Once frozen, place them into an airtight freezer container or freezer storage bag.
Reheat
For best results, place frozen quesadillas into the refrigerator to thaw before reheating. You can reheat them in your air fryer, oven, skillet, or microwave!
- How to Reheat Quesadillas in an Air Fryer (best choice) - For a crispier reheated quesadilla, make sure to preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
If wrapped in aluminum foil, the quesadillas will take between 3-5 minutes. If unwrapped, your quesadillas should be nice and warm in 2-3 minutes. - How to Reheat Quesadillas in the Oven or Toaster Oven (next best choice) - Preheat your oven or toaster to 325 degrees F (163 degrees C) and line a baking sheet with a square of aluminum foil. Place the quesadilla(s) onto your prepared baking sheet and heat for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted.
It is argued that a good method is to place the quesadillas directly onto clean oven racks, however, I have tried this method and disagree. - How to Reheat Quesadillas on the Stovetop (still a good choice) - You can reheat quesadillas in a skillet or frying pan (heavy-bottom pans are best for frying quesadillas). Heat a dry skillet over medium-high heat, then place cooked quesadillas into the heated skillet. Cook for 30 seconds to a minute on each side, then serve.
- How to Reheat Quesadillas in the Microwave (quickest option) - Place your quesadilla(s) onto a microwave-safe plate and heat in 30-second increments until warmed to your satisfaction.
Beware, the insides will be hot! Allow the quesadillas to set for at least one minute before enjoying.
❓ FAQ
Quesadillas are always best right after cooking, when they are about as crispy as can be. However, using fillings that will not add excessive moisture is key to keeping your quesadillas from getting soggy before they can be fully enjoyed.
Yes, most definitely! Whether you're using your air fryer or a skillet, you can always cook up a bigger batch than needed and freeze the cooked quesadillas for later. Transfer frozen quesadillas to the fridge to thaw, then follow my instructions above for re-heating to perfection!
The best option for reheating quesadillas is to use your air fryer (if available). My next best choice is reheating in the oven, followed by stovetop reheating in a skillet or frying pan. Instructions for each method are above.
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 2 medium flour tortillas (you should be able to fit one flat tortilla into the air fryer basket)
- ½ cup ground beef taco meat
- ½ cup Monterey jack cheese (shredded)
Instructions
- Assemble the quesadillas by filling one half of each tortilla with ¼ cup of ground beef taco meat (or another filling of your choice) and topping it with ¼ cup of the shredded Monterey jack cheese (or your favorite cheese). Fold the tortilla in half to close the quesadilla. *Add more of the filling and cheese if desired. Repeat with the second tortilla.
- Transfer the assembled quesadillas into your air fryer basket. Cook for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) then flip and cook an additional 3-5 minutes, or until golden and crispy. *The tortilla will tend to lift or 'fly away' from the fillings, use a spatula and push it back down into place in the first few minutes of cooking.
- Remove the quesadillas from your air fryer and serve immediately.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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