With just tortillas and cheese, you can make a basic quesadilla for a meal or appetizer in just a few minutes. Both flour and corn tortillas work marvelously, and you can add all sorts of ingredients to make the dish hearty and flavorful. From chicken and steak to vegetarian quesadillas, this fun recipe is easy to change up and always a family favorite.
Basic Cheese Quesadillas
Prepare the Skillet
Add about 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter or olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Use a small skillet if making quesadillas with corn tortillas, and use a larger skillet for standard flour tortillas. Rotate the skillet so the melted butter or oil coats the entire surface.
Add a Tortilla and Cheese
Put one tortilla flat on the bottom of the skillet and top with your favorite type of shredded cheese. Store-bought grated cheese blends work great. If you're making quesadillas with corn tortillas, use 1/4 to 1/3 cup grated cheese. If using large flour tortillas, use about 1/2 cup of grated cheese.
Add a Second Tortilla
After allowing the cheese to melt slightly, place a second tortilla on top to cover the first. Continue cooking until the cheese is almost all melted and the bottom tortilla is crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Flip the Quesadilla
Once the cheese is almost completely melted on the inside of the quesadilla, carefully flip it using a spatula. Allow the quesadilla to cook another 1 to 2 minutes, until the cheese has melted completely and the second tortilla has crisped up.
Cut and Serve
Transfer the quesadilla to a cutting board and chop in half or quarters.
Serve the quesadillas with homemade or store-bought salsa, hot sauce or a dip of choice.
Vegetarian Black Bean and Avocado Quesadilla
Begin With the Cheese
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat, and add a large flour tortilla. Sprinkle half of the grated cheese over half of the tortilla.
Add the Beans and Avocado
Evenly distribute the black beans, avocado slices and remaining cheese over the first layer of cheese. Fold the tortilla in half, and allow it to cook about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the bottom layer of cheese has melted.
Flip the Quesadilla
Use a spatula to carefully flip the quesadilla. Cook another 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until all of the cheese has melted and the tortilla has crisped up.
Cut Into Wedges
Transfer the quesadilla to a cutting board, and use a sharp knife to cut it into pieces. Serve the quesadilla with your favorite salsa, guacamole or dip.
