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This delicious Air Fryer Quesadilla comes together in just a few minutes with just a few ingredients. Perfect for fast dinners, lunches, or snacks, they’re also easy enough for kids to make on their own.
Making an air fryer quesadilla is one of those “non-recipe” recipes. It’s open to a lot of variations depending on your preferences, what is in your fridge, and the size of your air fryer.
Use my instructions as a guideline and then go make it your own.
Once you realize how awesome it is to whip up fast meals in your air fryer, make sure you check out our Air Fryer Taquitos, Tortilla Pizzas, Air Fryer Meatballs, and Air Fryer French Bread Pizza.
How to make air fryer quesadillas
*I’ll walk you through it here with some photos and tips, and you’ll also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post with exact measurements, etc. You can also click “jump to recipe” to skip down.
Each air fryer size is different (this is the one I have), and the size of the tortillas you choose will vary, so you’ll see instructions that give multiple options to fit whatever you have.
Depending on the size of your tortillas/air fryer basket, either place a mixture of cheese on half the tortilla or the entire tortilla. If using chicken or other add-ins, place that on top of the cheese.
Depending on the size of your tortillas/air fryer basket, either place another tortilla on top or fold the tortilla in half.
Brush or spray the top of the tortilla with a bit of olive oil and bake at 350˚F for 5 minutes. The air fryer fan can be very powerful and cause the top tortilla to fly up. To keep it secured, you can place a few toothpicks in the quesadilla, or place a wire rack on top to keep everything in place.
Flip the quesadilla and cook for another 1-2 minutes if needed.
Variations
- To make this a meal prep dream, use leftover cubed or shredded chicken from a grocery store rotisserie chicken, Dry Brine Roast Chicken, or Air Fryer No Breading Tenders.
- Try some Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp for pescatarian protein.
- Go back to basics with just cheese for a perfect cheese quesadilla in the air fryer.
- Season chicken with Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning for a more robust flavor.
- Throw in some frozen bell peppers and frozen onions for a veggie-packed “fajita” quesadilla.
- Smash up some Instant Pot Refried Beans to make a vegetarian version.
What to Serve with air fryer quesadillas
Top your finished quesadilla with homemade or storebought salsa, sour cream, guacamole, Mango Pico de Gallo, Chipotle Southwest Sauce, Spicy Pickled Vegetables, or Pickled Shallots.
Serve alongside Instant Pot Mexican Rice or Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice.
HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT
Storing Leftovers: Allow the quesadilla to cool and store covered leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Reheating Leftovers: To reheat, air fry at 330˚F for 2 minutes.
Freezing Leftovers: If you’re freezing already cooked air fryer quesadillas, allow them to fully cool before freezing. Place on a baking sheet or plate lined with parchment and freeze for 2 hours. Transfer to freezer storage.
If you’re freezing uncooked quesadillas, place on a baking sheet or plate lined with parchment and freeze for 2 hours. Transfer to freezer storage.
To air fry frozen quesadillas: follow the cooking instructions in the printable recipe card below. You will need to add ~1 minute of cooking time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When cooked at 350˚F, it takes 3-7 minutes, depending on the filling(s) you choose and the size and type of tortilla.
Absolutely! Use your favorite gluten-free “flour” tortilla, or use 100% corn tortillas.
Corn tortillas weigh less than flour tortillas, so you’ll definitely want to secure the top tortilla to prevent it from flying up into the heating vent.
Nope, there is no need to preheat your air fryer for this recipe.
You might have soggy quesadillas for a few reasons. You may have added too much “wet” stuff (peppers, mushrooms, salsa, etc.,) to the filling of the quesadilla. And that has released water during the cooking process.
Alternatively, the quesadilla just may not be cooked through yet. If it doesn’t look burnt, try cooking it for another 1-2 minutes.
Sure thing! While this recipe is for homemade quesadillas in the air fryer, sometimes leftover fast food just hits a little differently.
Reheat your leftovers at 330˚F for 1-2 minutes.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Some air fryers are so powerful that the top tortilla can “fly” off during cooking. You can weigh the quesadilla down with a metal trivet/rack, or hold everything together with a few toothpicks.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer and tortillas, cooking time may vary. Start checking on your quesadilla around 3 minutes.
- For perfect melty cheese quesadillas, shred your own cheese if possible! Store-bought shredded cheese has an anti-caking agent added to it (AKA the white powdery stuff) that affects the way it melts. While it will melt, it’s just not quite as smooth as freshly shredded cheese.
More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes
- See all our Air Fryer Appetizers here!
- Loaded Air Fryer Potato Skins
- Air Fryer Fish Tacos
- Air Fryer Calzones
- Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
- Air Fryer Pickles
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
- Air Fryer Fish Sticks
- Air Fryer Pretzel Dogs
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Air Fryer Ravioli
- Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
- Air Fryer Potstickers
Air Fryer Quesadilla
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tortillas {size will depend on your air fryer}
- 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese {or Monterey Jack}
- 1/2 cup cooked shredded chicken {optional}
- 1/2 tsp olive oil {or olive oil cooking spray}
Instructions
- Depending on the size of your tortillas/air fryer basket, either place a mixture of cheese on half the tortilla or the entire tortilla.2 tortillas, 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Sprinkle with half the chicken.1/2 cup cooked shredded chicken
- Depending on the size of your tortillas/air fryer basket, either place another tortilla on top, or fold the tortilla in half.
- Brush the top of the tortilla with a bit of olive oil and bake at 350˚F for 5 minutes. Some air fryers are so powerful that the top tortilla can "fly" off during cooking. You can weigh the quesadilla down with a metal trivet/rack, or hold everything together with a few toothpicks.1/2 tsp olive oil
- Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes if needed.
- Cut into triangles and serve.
Notes
- Some air fryers are so powerful that the top tortilla can “fly” off during cooking. You can weigh the quesadilla down with a metal trivet/rack, or hold everything together with a few toothpicks.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer and tortillas, cooking time may vary. Start checking on your quesadilla around 3 minutes.
Skillet Instructions:
- Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
- Swirl a pat of butter around until it coats the bottom of the skillet.
- Cook the quesadilla for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melty.
- Flip, and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thought of this recipe in a pinch after a long day with only 10 min to make dinner for my two little kids. I pulled it up real quick, kept it simple on the toppings, and the quesadilla came out crispy and delicious with perfectly melted cheese. While it was cooking I was able to start making preparations for bedtime since I didn’t have to watch it. I didn’t flip it and it was a little crispier on one side after 5 min but the cheese inside was melted so I called it good. It was still cooked crisp enough on both sides and I quickly threw in another one for myself. It was so yummy and I love how the crisp outside actually picks up salsa!
I never thought about how the crispiness makes it easier for the salsa, but you’re totally right!! Thanks for pointing that out because now I want to get some chunky pico and start dipping. 🙂