If you want to make a classic quick meal that is hot, filling, and cheesy, air fryer quesadillas might be the recipe for you!
Made with just a handful of common ingredients, these simple quesadillas are filled with pulled chicken, cheese, refried beans, and more!
Whip them together for a quick snack, lunch, or dinner idea – and don’t forget to dip them in sour cream, salsa, or guacamole!
Quick note: There are many versions of quesadillas, and while these ones are definitely delicious, they are not truly authentic Mexican quesadillas.
They have been adapted with ingredients that we have readily available and to make it easy to cook them in the air fryer as a quick meal.
Ingredients
To make quesadillas in the air fryer, here are the ingredients you will need. It’s really not that much for such a popular quick meal idea!
- Corn tortillas – Or flour tortillas if you prefer.
- Chicken breast – You can also use cooked ground beef.
- Canned tomatoes – Alternatively, you can also use fresh diced tomatoes.
- Refried beans – Use good quality refried beans with few additives.
- Grated cheese – E.g. cheddar, queso Oaxaca, or Monterey Jack. For the best taste, grate the cheese yourself.
- Spices of choice – Optional; You can add spices of your choice.
- Olive oil – Use light olive oil, not extra-virgin olive oil which would be overpowering. Alternatively, you can use a neutral-tasting oil such as avocado oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil.
Recipe Tips
Before you make an air fryer cheese quesadilla, have a good read through some of these tips and tricks so that you know what to expect when air frying at home!
- We have used corn tortillas in this recipe. You can definitely use flour tortillas – it’s really up to personal preference.
- You can cook the chicken breast in the air fryer if you don’t already have cooked chicken available.
- You can season the chicken if you like. Spices like cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper are popular. Of course, you could also use pre-made quesadilla seasoning mix.
- You can skip the meat and add vegetables, such as red bell pepper and corn, instead. When using fresh vegetables, especially peppers, you may have to pre-cook them a bit.
- Don’t overfill the quesadillas or they may make a mess in the air fryer.
- Also don’t overcrowd your air fryer. Otherwise, the cheese may not melt evenly and the quesadillas may not crisp evenly.
Step by Step Instructions
In this section, we’ll show you exactly how to make air fryer quesadillas. We’ve included all the recipe process photos so that you can follow along as you air fry at home!
Of course, the recipe card with all the details can also be found at the bottom of this post.
First, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes or until it indicates that it is preheated.
Brush the air fryer basket with a bit of oil. Then place one tortilla in the basket and spread some of the canned tomatoes over half of the tortilla.
Spread bean paste over the other half of the tortilla.
Sprinkle half of the pulled chicken breast and half of the grated cheese over the tomato side.
Fold the bean paste side over the cheese and chicken side and press gently to seal.
Repeat with another tortilla and place it in the air fryer basket next to the first one (if you have room – there should be no overlap).
You can brush or spray the top side of the tortilla with a bit of oil if you want (optional).
Air fry both quesadillas at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes.
Then flip them over and cook for another 5 minutes or until they are crispy and the cheese inside is completely melted.
The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer.
Carefully remove the cooked quesadillas from the air fryer, cut them in half (optional), and serve with sour cream, salsa, or guacamole. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
If you have leftover quesadillas, allow them to cool, then store them in a sealed container or wrapped in aluminum foil in the fridge. They will keep for about 3 days.
Keep in mind that the quesadillas may get a little soggy over time so we recommend eating them sooner rather than later.
You can reheat them in the microwave (but they won’t be crispy anymore), in a frying pan with a bit of oil, or in the air fryer at a temperature between 280 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes until heated through.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about air-fried quesadillas:
Yes, you can definitely make a quesadilla in the air fryer. Just ensure that your air fryer is large enough for the size of tortilla (folded in half) you have.
To make quesadillas in the air fryer, place a round tortilla in the basket, and add tomatoes and refried beans to opposite halves, then add cheese and chicken. Fold the tortilla over to form a semicircle, then make a second one (air fryer size depending). Air fry the quesadillas at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve and enjoy!
You can reheat a quesadilla in the air fryer for just a few minutes (3-5 minutes) at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Since quesadillas are typically quite thin, it doesn’t usually take long to reheat leftovers. However, every air fryer is slightly different.
Related Recipes
If you liked these air fryer quesadillas, here are some other quick meal ideas that you might want to try next!
- Air Fryer Fish Tacos
- Air Fried Chicken Fajitas
- Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich
- Kielbasa and Pierogies in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Sausage and Potatoes
Air Fryer Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 2 corn tortillas, alternatively flour tortillas
- 3 tablespoons canned tomatoes, diced
- 1 cup chicken breast, cooked and shredded
- 1/3 cup cheese, grated; e.g. cheddar, Monterey Jack, or queso oaxaca
- 3 tablespoons refried beans
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, or avocado oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes or until it indicates that it is preheated.
- Brush the air fryer basket with a bit of oil. Then place one tortilla in the basket and spread some of the canned tomatoes over half of the tortilla.
- Spread bean paste over the other half of the tortilla.
- Sprinkle half of the shredded chicken breast and half of the grated cheese over the tomato side.
- Fold the bean paste side over the cheese and chicken side and press gently to seal. Repeat with another tortilla and place it in the air fryer basket next to the first one (if you have room – there should be no overlap). You can brush or spray the top side of the tortilla with a bit of oil if you want (optional).
- Air fry both quesadillas at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes. Then flip them over and cook for another 5 minutes or until they are crispy and the cheese inside is completely melted. The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer.
- Carefully remove the cooked quesadillas from the air fryer, cut them in half (optional), and serve with sour cream, salsa, or guacamole.
Notes
- You can season the chicken if you like. Spices like cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper are popular.
- You can skip the meat and add vegetables, such as red bell pepper and corn, instead. When using fresh vegetables, you may need to precook them a bit.
- Don’t overfill the quesadillas or they may make a mess in the air fryer.
- Also don’t overcrowd your air fryer. Otherwise, the cheese may not melt and the quesadillas may not crisp evenly.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
