Description
The Ultimate Quesadilla is a delicious and versatile dish featuring a warm, crispy flour tortilla filled with melted cheese and your choice of savory fillings like chicken, mushrooms, green onions, and olives. This quick and easy recipe delivers a perfectly balanced meal with gooey cheese, tender fillings, and a side of tangy dressed lettuce, perfect for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Quesadilla Ingredients
- 1 large flour tortilla
- Handful of grated cheese (mild or sharp cheddar, or Monterey Jack)
- 1/2 teaspoon olive oil or butter
- Sliced mushrooms (optional)
- Chopped green onions (optional)
- Sliced black olives (optional)
- Diced fresh tomatoes (optional)
- Diced cooked chicken pieces (optional)
Lettuce Side
- Iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Heat the Skillet: Warm a large skillet, preferably cast iron, on medium-high heat. Add about 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil or butter, spreading it evenly across the pan bottom with a spatula to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.
- Prepare the Tortilla: Place one large flour tortilla in the hot skillet. Flip the tortilla every 10 seconds several times until air pockets begin to form, which helps create a light and crispy texture.
- Add Cheese and Fillings: Sprinkle a generous handful of grated cheese evenly over the tortilla, being careful not to let the cheese touch the pan directly. Add desired fillings such as green onions, sliced mushrooms, olives, diced tomatoes, and cooked chicken. Do not overfill to ensure proper heating.
- Cover and Melt Cheese: Reduce heat to low and cover the pan. The residual heat will melt the cheese and slightly brown the tortilla. If excessive smoke appears, remove from heat briefly. Check every minute until the cheese has melted fully.
- Flip the Quesadilla: Use a spatula to lift one side and fold the quesadilla over like an omelette. The tortilla should be lightly browned. If not, increase heat to high and flip every 10 seconds until an even golden-brown crust forms.
- Prepare Lettuce Side: Thinly slice iceberg lettuce and toss with apple cider vinegar and a pinch of salt to serve as a fresh, tangy accompaniment.
- Serve: Plate the quesadilla with the dressed lettuce. Optionally serve with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole for extra flavor. Enjoy your perfectly cooked Ultimate Quesadilla!
Notes
- Keep the filling layers light to ensure the quesadilla heats evenly and the cheese melts properly.
- Cast iron skillet is preferred for even heating and achieving a crispy tortilla.
- You can customize fillings to suit your taste—from meatless vegetables to different cheese varieties.
- Use a spatula for flipping to maintain the quesadilla’s structure and prevent filling from falling out.
- Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesadilla
- Calories: 407 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 603 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 56 mg
