Easy Cheese Quesadilla Recipe

The best easy cheese quesadilla recipe that takes 10 minutes to make with mouthwatering melted cheese on a delicious flour or corn tortilla.

These quesadillas with cheese are a great option as an easy meal or quick lunch.

What is a cheese quesadilla?

Quesadilla actually comes from "queso" which means "cheese" in Spanish and the translation literally means "cheesy little thing". So when we call it a cheese quesadilla it is actually incorrect because that would translate to "cheese cheesy little thing".

A quesadilla originated in Mexico and has later spread all around the world.

Originally it was made with corn tortillas, cheese and some salsa and guacamole on the side.

Ingredients

• tortillas - you can use large flour tortillas or corn tortillas
• cheese - pick a meltable cheese you like - either Oaxaca cheese, Manchego cheese, Asadero cheese and Chihuahua. We use a mixture of Manchego and a locally sourced mild hard goat's cheese. You can also use mozzarella cheese.
• oil or butter - to grease the pan

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Here are instructions on how to make the best homemade quesadillas.

1. Heat the pan to a medium heat. Add some butter or oil and spread evenly.
2. Take a large tortilla, place it flat on the pan and wait until air pockets form.
3. Flip the tortilla and add the cheese all over it (and other ingredients if your are using them)
4. Lower the heat and cover the pan.
5. When you see the cheese has melted use a spatula to lift one side of the tortilla and fold it in half as if you are making an omelette. It should be golden brown (but not burned) on both sides. If it is not browned then turn the heat up and flip it a few times.
6. Remove the quesadilla from the pan and use a pizza cutter to cut into 4 wedges. Serve with some salsa, sour cream, guacamole and lettuce and top with some fresh cilantro.

Substitutions

• Gluten-free - to make it a gluten-free quesadilla with cheese use gluten-free tortilla or you can make some homemade lentil wraps.
• Make it vegan - use meltable vegan cheese

Variations

You can add lots of different foods you have in the fridge, especially stuff that is about to go off. Our favorite toppings for a quesadilla with cheese include:

• spice it up with chillis, dried chilli flakes or a few drops of tabasco
• meat like cooked chicken, beef, pork
• prawns
• vegetables such as mushrooms, onions, tomatoes,
• avocado
• egg and make it an cheese and egg quesadilla
• more cheese - we have added feta cheese before to this and I know it is so not authentic but it tastes amazing

Storage

• store leftover quesadillas with cheese in airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days
• reheat in oven at 350°F / 170 °C for 10 minutes or in the microwave
• does not freeze well

FAQ