Air Fryer Quesadillas

With these air fryer quesadillas, you’ll want to make them any day you’re short on time. 

Did you know that quesadillas are a snap to make? It’s just a matter of piling your favorite toppings onto a tortilla and folding it in half.

The rest is up to the air fryer. How awesome is that?

Air Fryer Quesadillas 

Quesadillas are a classic Tex-Mex dish of crisp and tender tortillas filled with melty cheese and other tasty treats.

You can stick to my original recipe, or switch things up with your choice of fillings. Quesadillas are super versatile, so anything goes!

How to Make Crispy Quesadillas 

1. Check if your air fryer requires preheating. 

If it does, do it now! These quesadillas should be cooked at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Place the tortillas on a flat, clean surface. 

Spread the fried beans on one half of each tortilla, and sprinkle it with cheese. Fold the tortillas in half.

Alternatively, if you have a larger air fryer, you can spread the toppings on the entire tortilla and close it with another tortilla. 

3. Place the tortillas in your air fryer basket. 

Make sure there’s space in between for the hot air to circulate. Otherwise, the quesadillas won’t cook evenly.

Place a trivet, rack, or a heavy oven-safe object on top of the quesadillas to push them down.

You can also stick toothpicks down the middle to secure them in place.

4. Air fry the tortillas for 8 minutes, flipping them halfway through. 

You’ll know they’re done when the tortillas are golden and crisp and the cheese has melted.

5. Top the quesadillas with your favorite Tex-Mex toppings. 

I love mine with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa. 

Serve and enjoy!

What Kind of Cheese is Best for Quesadillas? 

You can use any cheese, but be sure there’s at least one melty kind in there.

Besides its ooey-gooey goodness, the cheese also serves as the glue that adheres the tortilla to the filling. 

Here are my top choices. Feel free to mix and match them.

• Asiago – smooth and crumbly with a strong salty flavor.
• Brie – super milky and creamy. It’s pricey but worth it.
• Blue cheese crumbles – extremely salty with a distinct moldy flavor.
• Monterey jack – mildly salty and sweet. 
• Cheddar – salty, rich, and creamy.
• Colby – mild, buttery, and sweet.
• American cheese – tasty and budget-friendly 
• Provolone – rich and salty, sharp but not too strong.
• Havarti and Manchego – salty, nutty, and buttery.
• Mozzarella and Gruyere – stringy, ooey-gooey, melted perfection.

Can You Reheat Quesadillas in an Air Fryer?

Absolutely. 

Just pop the quesadillas in the air fryer basket and reheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 minutes, or until the cheese melts.

Tips & Tricks 

• This recipe works with either corn or flour tortillas. 
• Grate the cheese yourself. Store-bought shredded cheese contains cellulose that prevents the shreds from clumping together, which reduces the cheese’s melting potential. It’s also more expensive than a block of cheese.
• Don’t fill the tortillas too much, or the upper flap will start to lift away from the filling. You’ll want the tortilla to adhere to the melted cheese for a mess-free dish.
• For extra crispy tortillas, spritz the tops with olive oil.
• Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Arrange the tortillas in a single layer and allow space in between. This will give the hot air enough room to circulate.
• Flip the tortillas halfway through to ensure that both sides are nice and crispy.
• If you have an oven-style air fryer, even if it has multiple racks, don’t use up all the racks at once. It’s best to cook one rack at a time, using the middle rack, to ensure even cooking. 
• This recipe doesn’t call for preheating the air fryer but note that air fryers run differently from one another. Check the manual if yours needs to be preheated.
• Depending on how powerful your air fryer is, you may need to adjust the cooking time. This is also why it’s good to flip the tortillas halfway through, so you’ll get a good gauge of how much more time is needed.

Quesadilla Filling Ideas

Go crazy with the fillings! Don’t feel like you need to limit it to beans and cheese. Quesadillas are a great way to repurpose leftovers, so go ahead and raid your fridge.

Here are my suggestions:

• Pulled pork 
• Taco-seasoned ground beef
• Shredded rotisserie chicken
• Battered fried fish
• Corn 
• Jalapenos
• More kinds of cheese

Note: If you’re adding meat fillings, be sure they’re already cooked before adding them in.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover tortillas in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 minutes. You can also use the oven toaster or the microwave.

How to Ensure the Tortillas Stick to the Filling

Check the tortillas now and again. If you notice the top half lifting away from the filling, use a spatula to push it down. 

Or, you can place a trivet or any heavy, oven-safe object on top of the tortillas so they don’t open up.

Here’s another technique: stick toothpicks down the middle of the tortillas to hold them down.

How to Freeze and Reheat Quesadillas

Double-wrap them in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze them for up to 3 months.

Defrost them on the counter for 15 minutes, and reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 minutes.

You can also use the oven toaster or the microwave.

To reheat quesadillas straight from the freezer air fry them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.

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