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This 4 ingredient cheese quesadilla is an easy recipe that comes together in under 10 minutes! The crisp tortillas with the melty cheese inside make this a family favorite!
If you love this recipe, check out my Birria Quesadilla, Crispy Shredded Beef Tacos and Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas!
These are the best homemade quesadillas. All of the melted cheese on top of a soft yet crunchy tortilla make this easy cheese quesadilla recipe SO good. Best of all, these easy quesadillas call for simple ingredients and literally only takes about 10 minutes to make – start to finish.
In under 10 minutes, you will have a mouthwatering crispy and cheesy quesadilla. This cheese quesadilla recipe is perfect when you need to clean out your fridge. It’s so versatile and a great way to get rid of leftovers!
My favorite option is adding a little bit of taco seasoning in the middle and dipping is sour cream, but that’s totally optional. It just adds so much flavor!
Table of Contents
What is a quesadilla?
A quesadilla is a Mexican dish made with a tortilla filled with cheese and other ingredients, like steak for steak quesadilla or birria quesadilla and spices, fried in oil or butter on a stove.
What is the best cheese for quesadillas?
Traditional Mexican quesadillas typically use Asadero cheese or Oaxaca cheese. However, it can be difficult to find. Cheeses that melt well are the best types of cheeses for quesadillas.
I use Shredded Mexican cheese blends for this easy quesadilla recipe. You could also try using a blend of Cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, pepper jack cheese, monterey jack cheese, Colby Jack, or even a different cheese like Smoked Gouda for a unique smokey flavor! Use your favorite kind of cheese.
Ingredients:
What I love most about these cheese quesadillas is that you only need a few ingredients!
Olive Oil: This helps the quesadilla not stick to the pan while cooking it. Nothing is worse than a quesadilla stuck to your pan, and you can’t flip it! You can also use vegetable oil.
Butter: One of the most essential ingredients. Butter is what makes the quesadilla crispy, and it also adds a delicious flavor. You can use salted or unsalted; it is up to you!
Large Flour Tortilla: Flour tortillas are soft and will cook to a perfect golden brown in your skillet. I like using flour tortillas (whole wheat tortillas work too) for quesadillas because they’re a bit more flexible than corn tortillas. You’re welcome to use any size you want. Only have corn tortillas? That is fine too!
Mexican Cheese: The perfect blend of Shredded Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Asadero, and Queso Quesadilla Cheeses – this authentic Mexican cheese blend gives your cheesy quesadilla the perfect flavor.
How to Make a Cheese Quesadilla on the Stove:
First, heat a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat to medium-high heat, then add olive oil and butter. Be careful not to let your butter burn.
After a tablespoon of butter has melted, add your first tortilla to the bottom of the pan.
Warm flour tortilla and sprinkle shredded cheese evenly on top of the tortilla (make sure your cheese doesn’t get too close to the edge!), then place your second tortilla on top of the cheese.
Allow the bottom tortilla to form crisp edges, which will take about 4 minutes. Once the cheese is melted, use a spatula to flip over the quesadilla. Continue to cook for about 3 minutes or until edges become crispy.
Lastly (the best part), place your quesadilla on a plate and cut into wedges with a pizza cutter or fold the tortilla and take a bit of all of that cheesy buttery goodness!
Serve it with all your favorite toppings or eat it alone!
Quesadilla Toppings
The toppings for cheese quesadillas are limitless! I love adding sour cream, green onion, fresh cilantro, and a little salsa! Some other great options are red onion, sweet pepper, guacamole, and more kinds of cheese for a super cheesy treat.
Tips and Tricks:
- Cooking this easy quesadilla in butter gives it the perfect crispy golden brown outside you’re going for! Make sure not to turn your burner up too high! Keep it on medium so that you don’t burn your butter.
- Don’t use too much cheese! Be sure to keep the cheese away from the edges of your tortilla. When your cheese starts melting, it will expand and start to overflow into your pan.
- Add some meat! Make these into Mexican style chicken quesadillas by adding some shredded rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken.
- Add a little seasoning! Some of my favorite seasonings to add to quesadillas are taco seasoning blend!
- I 10/10 do not recommend cooking your tortilla in the microwave. Not only will this cause a soggy quesadilla and your cheese will not melt evenly.
- I highly recommend using a nonstick skillet to prevent the tortilla from sticking to the pan!
What to serve with a Cheese Quesadilla
Storing
- For storing in the refrigerator: the easiest way to store these quick and easy quesadillas is to place in a plastic airtight bag. You can store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To freeze the tortillas, the same applies, wrap each tortilla in plastic wrap than place in an airtight bag. Be sure to place them on a flat surface or else they’ll freeze all bent up. When you’re ready to re-heat, let it thaw in the fridge and sprinkle a little oil in a frying pan. Toast lightly until warm over medium-low heat.
Recipe FAQs
I always say “everything in moderation”. Cheese tortillas are made of cheese, tortillas, and fried in butter and oil. They’re not particularly healthy, but one or two won’t hurt!
I like using sour cream or guacamole, but you can also dip your quesadilla in pico de gallo, salsa, or even a homemade quesadilla sauce.
For added spice, you can add jalapenos, habaneros, chili powder, or use a spicy pepper jack cheese.
For this recipe, we are making a simple and delicious cheese quesadilla. But you’re welcome to add whatever you’d like! You can add meat and veggies! This recipe is perfect for cleaning out your pantry or fridge!
More Mexican Recipes!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas
- Grilled Street Corn Grilled Cheese
- Crispy Chipotle Shredded Beef Tacos
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Shrimp Tacos with Garlic Lime Ranch
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Quick Cheese Quesadilla Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Frying Pan
- 1 Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 2 Flour Tortillas
- 3/4 cup Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese Mix
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add olive oil and butter.
- Once the butter has melted, add one tortilla to the bottom of the pan.
- Sprinkle cheese evenly on top of the tortilla then place the second tortilla on top of the cheese.
- Allow the bottom tortilla to form crisp edges, about 4 minutes, then flip the quesadilla over with a spatula. Continue to cook until edges become crispy, about 3 minutes.
- Place on a plate and serve with your favorite toppings or eat it by itself!
Notes
- Cooking your cheese quesadilla in butter gives it the perfect crispy golden brown outside you’re going for! Make sure not to turn your burner up too high! Keep it on medium so that you don’t burn your butter.
- Don’t use too much cheese! Be sure to keep the cheese away from the edges of your tortilla. When your cheese starts melting, it will expand and start to overflow into your pan.
- Add some meat! Make these into Mexican style chicken quesadillas by adding some shredded rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken.
- Add a little seasoning! Some of my favorite seasonings to add to quesadillas are taco seasoning blend!
- I 10/10 do not recommend cooking your tortilla in the microwave. Not only will this cause a soggy quesadilla and your cheese will not melt evenly.
- I highly recommend using a nonstick skillet to prevent the tortilla from sticking to the pan!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Quick and easy, loved this! It’s like Taco Bell at home but better and way more buttery!
I’m always looking for easy quick dinner ideas and this recipe is perfect. Serve with a salad and dinner is ready.
Made this for dinner tonight with the kids, it was so quick and easy!!
The crispy buttery crust on this quesadilla is everything !! So yummy!!
I made this for lunch today, it was simple easy and delicious. I used mozzarella cheese and added a little bit of salsa on top. Quality meal!
Thank you!
Thank you for this recipe! It’s officially my new fave way to make quesadillas! ❤️❤️
I’ve never made quesadillas before and when I saw this recipe you made it look so easy! So I tried it and it worked! I followed the directions and it turned out so good and melty. Thank you!!