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    Home » Recipe Index » Vegetarian Dishes » Vegetarian Quesadilla Recipe

    Vegetarian Quesadilla Recipe

    July 3, 2019 Updated May 27, 2022 By Rebecca Entrees, One Pot/One Pan Meals, Pantry Dinners, Vegetarian Dishes

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    vegetarian quesadilla on table and in a pan with text overlay
    vegetarian quesadilla and salsa on a table with text overlay

    This quick vegetarian quesadilla recipe is ready in 10 minutes, it's delicious, and it's the perfect meal to use up all those veggies sitting in the back of your fridge. Use up what you have on hand in this no-plan quick dinner.

    black bean & vegetable quesadilla on table with salsa and toppings

    [This vegetarian quesadilla recipe was originally posted in July 2019. It has been updated with new cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

    PIN HERE to add to your recipe box.

    Table of contents

    • How this quesadilla make your life easier
    • What makes this vegetarian quesadilla so good?
    • How do I make this easy veggie quesadilla recipe?
    • Expert tips
    • FAQ
    • How can I repurpose this veg quesadilla?
    • What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    How this quesadilla make your life easier

    If you're like me and 1. never seem to have enough room in your fridge and 2. never seem to have enough time to cook AND eat lunch or dinner, this vegetarian quesadilla recipe is for you.

    It comes together really quickly, has delicious and flavorful ingredients, and you can make a few of them to have for leftovers either at work or anytime the next day.

    These veggie tacos, breakfast tacos, white bean and farro bowl, pasta with black beans, and burrito bowl with queso are a few other fave pantry dinners.

    What makes this vegetarian quesadilla so good?

    • Onion
    • Bell pepper
    • Garlic
    • Cumin
    • Oregano
    • Cayenne pepper
    • Uncooked tortilla
    • Black beans
    • Lime juice
    • Cheddar cheese
    • Salsa

    How do I make this easy veggie quesadilla recipe?

    red bell pepper and onions with spices in sautee pan

    Start making your vegetarian quesadilla recipe by heating up a medium sized sautee pan over medium heat. Add oil and onion, bell pepper, garlic, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper to hot pan. Stir often, Remove when translucent.

    mashed black beans on half of a tortilla in sautee pan

    Heat up tortilla in pan. Flip before first side gets browned. Add cheese and then black beans to your vegetarian quesadilla recipe.

    tortilla with black beans, sliced red bell peppers and onions in a skillet

    Add veggies back to tortilla and squeeze lime over veggies.

    black bean and vegetable quesadilla with cheese in sautee pan

    Sprinkle shredded cheese over veggies.

    folded vegetarian quesadilla in sautee pan

    Fold quesadilla in half and cook until cheese is melted. Enjoy with salsa, guac, and/or sour cream. Enjoy how easy this vegetarian quesadilla recipe is!

    Expert tips

    • Buy a jar of minced garlic to save A LOT of time and effort. Sure it's not quite as good as fresh, but it's convenient.
    • Grab pre-chopped vegetables (and cheese) to save time.
    • Use taco or fajita seasonings instead of the spices mentioned above.
    • I like to mash the beans with a fork so they don't fall out, it'll make this vegetarian quesadilla recipe better.
    • Try uncooked tortillas, they taste so much better! But if you don't have any or just like precooked ones, heat them up in the microwave or stove.
    • Yes, add more cheese, this will glue the other tortilla/side to the veggies.
    • Optional Toppings: red onion, avocado/guacamole, pickled onions, sauteed zucchini/yellow squash, garlic powder, chili powder, etc. You can even add chicken, beef, or fish to it.

    FAQ

    What can I put in a quesadilla?

    Some protein (meat &/or beans), vegetables, and CHEESE. Definitely the cheese. You can also add salsa into the quesadilla, but it's better dipped in salsa.

    How do you get quesadillas to stick together?

    Add some cheese on both sides of the filling that will touch the quesadilla. Treat the cheese as glue to hold the tortilla to the filling. You can always add more cheese to your quesadilla, even for this vegetarian quesadilla recipe.

    How can I repurpose this veg quesadilla?

    • Turn your vegetarian quesadilla recipe into taco salad
    • Wrap it up in a burrito
    • Eat as tacos

    What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    • Tortillas, Black Beans: Egg Roll Up (Ugandan Rolex), Freezer Breakfast Tacos, serve on the side of a Burrito Bowl.
    • Onions: Egg Roll Up, Lentil Stroganoff, Stuffed Squash with Rice & Ground Beef, or Pumpkin Chili
    • Bell Peppers: roast with Roasted Winter Vegetables, add to Beef & Broccoli, add to Apple and Cheddar Omelet, Pumpkin Chili, Fig & Prosciutto Pizza, Asian Coleslaw.

    Did you make this vegetarian quesadilla recipe? leave me a comment to share how it turned out!

    black bean & vegetable quesadilla on table with salsa and toppings
    Print Pin
    5 from 7 votes

    Vegetarian Quesadilla Recipe

    This vegetarian quesadilla recipe is ready in 10 minutes, it's delicious, and it's the perfect vehicle to use up all those veggies sitting in the back of your fridge.
    Course dinner, Lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes
    Servings 1 quesadilla
    Author Rebecca

    Equipment

    • medium sautee pan
    • rubber spatula
    • cutting board
    • knife

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon canola oil
    • ¼ whole sliced onion I used a red onion
    • ½ whole sliced red or green bell pepper
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • ¼ teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon oregano
    • 1 dash cayenne pepper
    • 1 medium uncooked tortilla
    • ⅓ cup black beans
    • squeeze of lime juice
    • ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • salsa

    Instructions

    • Sautee onions, bell pepper, garlic, oregano, cumin, & cayenne pepper in canola oil for about 4-6 minutes, or until veggies are translucent. Add a squeeze of lime juice to cooked veggies. Transfer to plate. Rinse, then gently smash black beans in a bowl. Prepare cheese. 
    • Place one tortilla in saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until one side has been heated, about 2-3 minutes, before it gets brown. Flip tortilla over and quickly add a smear of beans to ½ of the tortilla, then veggies and cheese on top of the beans. Fold tortilla in half and cook until cheese is melted and tortilla is browned, about 3-5 minutes. 
    • Cut into 3 slices, serve with your favorite salsa.

    Notes

    • Buy a jar of minced garlic to save A LOT of time and effort. Sure it's not quite as good as fresh, but it's convenient.
    • Grab pre-chopped vegetables (and cheese) to save time.
    • Use taco or fajita seasonings instead of the spices mentioned above. Sure it'll taste a bit different, but it'll still be great!
    • I like to mash the beans with a fork so they don't fall out.
    • Try uncooked tortillas, they taste so much better! But if you don't have any or just like precooked ones, heat them up in the microwave or stove.
    • Yes, add more cheese, this will glue the other tortilla/side to the veggies.
    • Other topping ideas: avocado, guacamole, sour cream, or your favorite salsa
    • Optional Toppings: red onion, avocado/guacamole, pickled onions, sauteed zucchini, etc.

    Want to get more single serving recipes like this vegetarian quesadilla recipe delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

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    About Rebecca

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. sue | the view from great island says

      August 01, 2018 at 9:16 am

      What a beautiful, simple recipe, I used to make cheese quesadillas for my kids all the time, but this is the grown up version ~ I am so hungry right now!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:35 am

        thanks so much Sue!

        Reply
    2. Deborah Brooks says

      August 01, 2018 at 9:37 am

      Black beans and cheese are one of my favorite combos. I like to make different variations of this depending on what we have around. Yum!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:27 am

        totally totally agree!

        Reply
    3. Marisa Moore says

      August 01, 2018 at 10:12 am

      5 stars
      I love a black bean quesadilla for a quick and easy meal.You make this look so delicious with these dreamy photos!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:26 am

        aren't they the best?! thanks Marisa

        Reply
    4. Lisa Huff says

      August 01, 2018 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      Love how quick and easy this is! Even my kids could make and they love homemade quesadillas!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:25 am

        right?! me too for sure

        Reply
    5. Mikki says

      August 01, 2018 at 10:57 am

      mmmm. Looks so good. I love a simple and delicious dish like this!
      We haven't had quesadilla's in awhile. May have to add them to next weeks menu.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:25 am

        thanks so much Mikki! and do it, you'll love 'em

        Reply
    6. Neli Howard says

      August 01, 2018 at 10:58 am

      5 stars
      I bet those flavors are amazing! Now, this recipe will be one of my favorites. Love the unique flavors in this recipe! YUM!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:24 am

        they totally are! that's awesome-let me know how it goes

        Reply
    7. [email protected] says

      August 01, 2018 at 11:00 am

      5 stars
      I will definitely make these quasadilas.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:23 am

        awesome! let me know how they turn out!

        Reply
    8. Iryna Bychkiv says

      August 01, 2018 at 11:10 am

      5 stars
      I love vegetarian quesadillas and often make them for dinner. Such a great and healthy recipe.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:23 am

        thanks Iryna

        Reply
    9. Jenny Shea Rawn says

      August 01, 2018 at 2:00 pm

      Totally craving a quesadilla now! Love the simplicity and versatility of this recipe.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:23 am

        ahh haha! yay! thanks Jenny

        Reply
    10. Abbey Sharp says

      August 01, 2018 at 8:01 pm

      5 stars
      What a fun recipe! Quesadillas are my go to easy dinner

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:22 am

        thanks! they're so fab & fast

        Reply
    11. Emily @Sinful Nutrition says

      August 02, 2018 at 3:50 am

      These look awesome! I am all about those quick and easy meals!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:22 am

        right?! me too, all about them!

        Reply
    12. jill conyers says

      August 02, 2018 at 4:24 am

      I could easily eat Mexican food everyday. Especially with recipes like this!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:22 am

        right?! me too for sure!

        Reply
    13. Angela Cardamone @marathonsandmotivation.com says

      August 02, 2018 at 1:12 pm

      Yum, these look so tasty! This is a great quick & easy dinner idea!!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:18 am

        thanks so much!

        Reply
    14. Jessica Levinson says

      August 02, 2018 at 6:48 pm

      Love how quick and easy this dinner is! Would be great for Meatless Monday too!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:18 am

        ohh yes it would! thanks Jessica

        Reply
    15. Rosemarie says

      May 09, 2020 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this recipe twice now. The pandemic is forcing me to learn to cook again. I actually like this recipe better than the quesadillas in my favorite local Mexican restaurant. I found spinach herb gluten free tortillas to use and they are really good. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        May 10, 2020 at 11:13 am

        that sounds so good! I'm glad you've found this recipe to help you get cooking again! If you get bored with the quesadillas you can make the chicken salad on the blog and wrap it in the rest of your tortillas

        Reply
    16. Phyllis says

      May 01, 2022 at 9:02 am

      I forgot all about making quesadillas. This is perfect for spring, since it's May 1st. Thank you for this recipe!!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        May 06, 2022 at 8:58 am

        great to hear!

        Reply

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    At Nourish Nutrition, you'll find bold, flavorful recipes for one. Most are single serving, and all have suggestions to use up the leftover ingredients so you can stop throwing away unused ingredients & leftovers!

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