With simple ingredients already in your home, an Air Fryer Quesadilla is an easy and delicious recipe for a quick lunch or dinner.
After three years of working remotely, my wife and I had had enough grilled cheese, tuna sandwiches, and eggs and toast for lunch. We needed to jazz up our boring lunches.
Between Zoom calls, we don’t have much time to cook during the day. That’s where our air fryer comes in. We recently purchased a new Instant Pot Vortex Plus and are obsessed with it!
From Melty cheese quesadillas to pizza rolls in the air fryer, to air fryer fish tacos, our Vortex Plus has come in handy for easy recipes at lunchtime.
How long does a quesadilla take in an air fryer?
Not long! Air fryer quesadillas are quick and easy to make. Depending on the make and model of your air fryer, the exact cooking time will vary. But generally it takes between 8 and 15 minutes total to cook.
With my Instant Pot Air Fryer it takes 10 minutes.
Cheese for Your Air Fryer Quesadilla
You don’t need to stick to a traditional Mexican cheese blend when it comes to the cheese you use. The best cheese for this air fryer recipe is the cheese that sounds good to you. As long as it’s shredded cheese, it should work like a charm and taste delicious.
Just make sure that whatever cheese you choose pairs well with your fillings and toppings. Here are a few different types of cheeses you can try.
Note: Try and use shredded cheese because it melts easily and evenly.
- Mexican cheese blend
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Gouda cheese
- Cheddar cheese
Tortillas for Quesadillas
Typically quesadillas are made with flour tortillas. But that doesn’t mean you can’t mix up your tortilla game. I always use corn tortillas when making air fryer quesadillas. I do that because the size is perfect for lunch and I’m gluten intolerant. My wife isn’t, but she’s a good sport. And I rarely cook or bake anything that I can’t eat.
But you’re definitely not limited to just corn and flour tortillas. Below are a few other options. Just remember that when cooking with non-traditional tortillas, you may need to tweak the cooking time.
- Cassava tortillas
- Nopal tortillas
- Chickpea flour tortillas
- Almond flour tortillas
- Coconut wraps
Tasty Quesadilla Fillings
I typically like to stay more on the traditional end when choosing fillings for my air fryer quesadilla. I also usually make them for lunch and need something quick and easy.
I am, however, a big fan of reusing last night’s dinner in today’s lunch quesadilla. So beyond your black beans and refried beans, below are a few recipes that can easily go from day-to-night. Or at least dinner to lunch.
How to Make an Air Fryer Quesadilla
Ingredients
- 2 corn tortillas (you can also use flour tortillas or any mentioned above)
- ¼ cup shredded cheese
- Fresh corn (or frozen)
- Additional fillings of your choice
Instructions
Prep time: 3 minutes
Cooking time: 8 minutes
- Place your air fryer on a flat surface and preheat it for 2 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once hot, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Lay one tortilla on the bottom, add your shredded cheese and then your filling of choice. Top with another tortilla and spray the top lightly with oil.
- Replace your air fryer basket and cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes. Flip your quesadilla half way through cooking or when your air fryer tells you.
Quesadilla Recipe Notes
Quesadillas are like grilled cheese and lasagna: As long as they have enough cheese, it’s hard to screw them up. Especially when you’re making them in an air fryer.
Fillings Are Your Friend (But Don’t Overfill)
When your cheese melts it will expand outwards, so keep that in mind. In an air fryer, nothing bad will happen if you overstuff your quesadillas, but it might get messy. So plan accordingly if you want an easy cleanup.
Don’t Burn Your Quesadilla
This might be obvious, but don’t burn it. It’s an easy meal and burning your tortilla will just ruin your lunch. I’m joking, sort of. You can always cook your quesadilla for a minute or two more in an air fryer, but you can’t un-burn it.
So if it’s the first time you’re making a quesadilla in your new machine, under-estimate the time. If the timer goes off and it still needs a few minutes, throw it back in. Patience in the kitchen is underrated. I’ve learned that the hard way.
Air Fryer Quesadilla Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Corn tortillas
- ¼ cup shredded cheese
- Fresh corn optional
Instructions
- Place your air fryer on a flat surface and preheat it for 2 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once hot, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Lay one tortilla on the bottom, add your shredded cheese, and then your filling of choice. Top with another tortilla and spray the top lightly with oil.
- Replace your air fryer basket and cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes. Flip your quesadilla half way through cooking or when your air fryer tells you.
Nutrition
Ideas for Air Fried Quesadillas Toppings
Fried quesadillas are all about your favorite fillings. But they are also all about your favorite toppings! Below are a few of my all-time favorite traditional (and not-so-traditional)quesadilla toppings.
- Jalapeño cheese
- Guacamole
- Crockpot Queso Dip
- Sour cream
- Leftover Taco Meat
- Southwest Salad Dressing
- Greek Yogurt
- Boom Boom Sauce
- Avocado Butter
- Outback Ranch Dressing
- Salsa
- Bruschetta
Out-Of-The-Box Fried Quesadilla Ideas
Dessert Quesadilla
Tips for Getting a Crispy Quesadilla
The great thing about making a quesadilla in an air fryer is that you don’t have to worry about them turning out soggy. You’re guaranteed to get a crispy tortilla.
The longer you cook your quesadilla, the crispier it will get. Make sure to spray lightly with oil before cooking. This will ensure that your quesadilla gets a lovely golden brown color.
Can I reheat quesadillas in an air fryer?
Reheating your air fryer quesadilla in, yes, an air fryer, is simple to do.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Air fry for 2-3 minutes.
How to Store Quesadillas
If you have any quesadillas left over, you can store them for up to 3 days. Let your quesadillas cool before putting them in an airtight container and storing them in the refrigerator.
I’d be surprised though if you had any leftovers 😉
Where did quesadillas come from?
I’m one of those people who like to know the origin of my food. Did you know fried raviolis came from St. Louis? Or that Irish Colcannon originated in the 1600? Yup, I’m one of those people. So if you didn’t know, here’s a brief glimpse into the history of quesadillas.
The literal meaning of quesadilla is “little cheesy thing.” Well, that checks out! The origins of the quesadilla are traced back to central and northern Mexico. However, southern regions of Mexico are where you first see queso and stringy cheese-filled quesadillas. The Aztec people were very familiar with corn tortillas. They would often stuff them with squash and pumpkin and then bake them in clay ovens as a sweet dessert. Eventually, the quesadilla morphed from sweet to savory in the 1500s when the Spanish arrived.
Are Cheese Quesadilla Healthy?
You actually might be surprised to know that cheese that is naturally yellow is good for you! We’re not talking about that yellow number 5 sh*t, but cheese with a naturally occurring yellow color. Want to learn more about why? Here’s all you need to know about yellow foods and their health benefits.
Are you looking for more great Air Fryer recipes? We’ve got just that! Here are our favorite Air Fryer recipes. All tested and all very delicious!
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Nuwave Air Fryer Chicken Wings
I hope you enjoyed this air fryer cheese quesadilla recipe. Have questions or want to learn more about air fryers? Say hi in the comments below. Until next time: Stay salty, and sweet 😉
