Air-Fryer Quesadillas: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryer quesadillas are a quick, easy, and tasty meal option. They are also nutritionally balanced and completely customisable, allowing you to satisfy your cravings. You can stick to the classic refried beans and cheese or choose your own filling combination. The air fryer ensures that the tortilla is perfectly crisp and the cheese is melted to perfection.

Choosing your fillings

When it comes to choosing your fillings, the world is your oyster! The beauty of making quesadillas in an air fryer is that you can get creative and experiment with different combinations of proteins, cheeses, and vegetables. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Proteins

You can use shredded chicken, beef, or barbacoa as your protein of choice. If you're looking for something plant-based, you can opt for black beans, mock chicken, crumbled tofu, or tempeh. For a vegetarian option, try using refried beans or black beans. You can even get creative and experiment with other proteins like pulled pork, carnitas, or rotisserie chicken.

Cheeses

For the cheese, you can use a Mexican cheese blend, such as Monterey Jack, quesadilla cheese, or cheddar. Freshly grated cheese will melt better, but pre-shredded cheese will also work. If you want to make a vegan quesadilla, use dairy-free cheese. You can also get creative and experiment with different cheeses like pepper jack, smoked gouda, or parmesan.

Vegetables

For vegetables, you can use onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, or baby spinach. If you're making breakfast quesadillas, you can add scrambled eggs and crispy bacon bits. You can also spice things up by adding pickled jalapeños, hot sauce, or cayenne pepper.

Other Fillings

In addition to the proteins, cheeses, and vegetables, you can also experiment with other fillings like salsa, guacamole, sour cream, Greek yogurt, or homemade refried beans.

Remember, the key is to have fun and be creative! You can mix and match different fillings to create your own unique quesadilla combinations. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly, as different fillings may cook at different rates.

Assembly

To assemble a quesadilla in an air fryer, you will need to prepare your ingredients and air fryer first. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F-375°F. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat function, simply turn it on and off. You can also lightly brush olive oil or spray non-stick oil onto one side of the tortilla.

Next, place your tortilla on a flat surface. You can use flour or corn tortillas, or a blend of the two. Spread your desired fillings on half of the tortilla, leaving a small border. Fillings can include refried beans, shredded cheese, salsa, spinach, chicken, beef, vegetables, or a combination of these.

Then, fold the tortilla in half, creating a half-moon shape, and place it in the air fryer basket. You can secure the top tortilla with toothpicks to prevent it from opening during cooking.

Finally, spritz the top of the quesadilla with cooking spray or olive oil spray. You can now place the quesadilla in the air fryer and cook until it's golden and crispy.

Cooking

To make a quesadilla in an air fryer, you'll need a few simple ingredients and about 10-15 minutes. The exact ingredients and method may vary depending on your personal preference and the size of your air fryer, but here's a general guide:

Ingredients

You can fill your quesadilla with whatever you like, but here are some common ingredients:

• Tortillas (flour or corn, or a blend of both)
• Cheese (shredded Mexican cheese blend, Monterey jack, cheddar, etc.)
• Refried beans
• Cooked protein of your choice (shredded chicken, beef, barbacoa beef, carnitas, etc.)
• Vegetables (bell peppers, onions, spinach, etc.)
• Salsa
• Olive oil or cooking spray

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 350-375°F.
• Prepare your fillings by combining ingredients like cheese, salsa, refried beans, and cooked protein in a bowl. You can also cook your vegetables in a foil "bowl" at the bottom of the air fryer for a few minutes before assembling the quesadilla.
• Place a tortilla on a flat surface. Spread your fillings over half of the tortilla, leaving a small border around the edge. You can also brush one side of the tortilla with olive oil or cooking spray before adding the fillings.
• Sprinkle cheese on top of your fillings, then fold the tortilla in half. Repeat this process with another tortilla if making more than one quesadilla.
• Place the folded quesadilla(s) in a single layer on a lightly greased tray or directly in the air fryer basket. If using an Instant Pot air fryer, you can use the wire rack to hold the quesadillas closed. For other air fryers, you can use any oven-safe object to weigh them down.
• Spritz the tops of the quesadilla(s) with cooking spray or brush with olive oil.
• Air fry at 350-400°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the quesadilla(s) are golden brown and the cheese has melted. Be sure to flip them halfway through cooking to ensure even crispness on both sides.
• Remove from the air fryer and let cool for a minute before cutting into wedges and serving.

Tips:

• If your quesadilla opens up during cooking due to the circulating air, simply press it closed again or secure it with a toothpick.
• If your tortilla is flying around in the air fryer, try melting the cheese in the microwave first before adding it to the tortilla.
• You can reheat leftover quesadillas in the air fryer at 350-375°F for 2-5 minutes.

Serving suggestions

Air-fried quesadillas are best served hot and straight out of the fryer. They can be served as a full meal or as a snack, appetiser, or party food.

Quesadillas are often served with a dip or a spread. Sour cream, Greek yoghurt, guacamole, and salsa are all popular options. You can also serve them with a heartier side dish like refried beans, Mexican rice, or a salad.

If you want to make your quesadillas into a full meal, you can serve them with:

• Mexican caulfilower rice
• Mexican street corn salad
• Mexican roasted zucchini
• Smoked frijoles charros
• Mexican fiesta dip
• Light queso dip
• Guacamole salsa

You can also serve them with a vegetable side dish like air fryer broccoli or a salad.

Storage and reheating

To store your air-fried quesadilla, you should ensure it is fully cooled before placing it in a sealed container and refrigerating for no more than three to five days. You can also freeze your quesadilla by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap, then covering it with a layer of aluminium foil and placing it in a freezer bag. Frozen quesadillas can be kept for up to three months.

To reheat your quesadilla, using an air fryer is best, as this will ensure the outside stays crispy while the inside remains nice and melty. Reheat at 350°F (175°C) for 2-5 minutes, depending on whether it is wrapped in foil or not. If you are reheating from frozen, let the quesadilla thaw for 30 minutes before placing it in the air fryer.

Frequently asked questions