Crispy Cheese Quesadilla Triangles
A quick and easy recipe for crispy, cheesy quesadilla triangles perfect for snacks, family gatherings, or lunchboxes. These triangles feature a golden, crispy tortilla with gooey melted cheese inside and a hint of seasoning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings (6 triangles per quesadilla, about 2 triangles per serving) 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- Flour tortillas (8-inch size; whole wheat or gluten-free optional)
- 1 ½ cups (170g) shredded sharp cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or avocado oil)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, finely chopped (optional, for garnish)
- Sour cream or salsa (for serving)
Instructions
- Shred about 1 ½ cups (170g) of cheese. Set aside 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter. Mix garlic powder, chili powder, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl if using spices.
- Heat a non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil, swirling to coat the bottom evenly. Warm for about 2 minutes until shimmering but not smoking.
- Spread a thin layer of softened butter on one side of each tortilla.
- Place a buttered tortilla in the skillet, butter side down. Immediately sprinkle cheese evenly over the tortilla, then add a light sprinkle of the spice blend if using. Place the second tortilla on top, butter side up.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until the bottom tortilla is golden and crisp. Use a spatula to gently press down to help cheese melt evenly. Carefully flip the quesadilla and cook the other side for another 2-3 minutes until golden and cheese is melted.
- Transfer the cooked quesadilla to a cutting board. Let rest for a minute, then cut into 6 even triangles with a sharp knife.
- Sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro if desired and serve with sour cream or salsa on the side.
Notes
If tortillas crisp too fast before cheese melts, lower heat and cover skillet for 30 seconds to trap heat. Avoid overloading cheese to keep triangles intact. Use a flexible spatula and flip slowly to prevent breaking. For vegan version, use plant-based cheese and butter. Corn tortillas can be used but are more fragile and require gentle handling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 quesadilla t
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 10
Keywords: quesadilla, cheese quesadilla, crispy quesadilla, snack recipe, easy snack, cheesy snack, quick recipe, family snack