# How do you make Quesadillas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188 "2010-11-10T16:54:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/41 "2015-08-11T02:25:53Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > (basically a grilled cheese made with torlillas instead of bread) This. ^^^^ I use, in a non-stick pan. [ul] [li]Tortillas. [/li][li]Fresh salsa. [/li][li]Shredded cheese. ETA, just a standard “Mexican” blend. I find cheddar isn’t quite right, and jack isn’t quite right either. The mix is nice. [/li][/ul] Warm, flip, serve when cheese is melted and outside of tortillas is toasty. Serve with guac and/or sour cream, if you like. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/42 "2015-08-11T02:38:38Z")
I really think it needs just a smidge of butter, even on one side, to push it over from good to really good when you throw it in the pan. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/43 "2015-08-11T03:08:05Z")
Buttered and grilled. It can be full size or a tortilla folded. Cheese and jalapeno are required, just about anything else optional. I prefer to serve with sour cream, guacamole, and fresh salsa on the side. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/44 "2015-08-11T03:29:35Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Am I the only one who uses a quesadilla maker? Yes. I’m with Alton Brown on the whole one-trick pony kitchen appliances. They’re just not necessary the large majority of the time. Only a couple of exceptions come to mind - popcorn popper, and coffee maker - though depending on the maker, it can be argued that it could be used for other things! ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/45 "2015-08-11T03:59:34Z")
I like to do them on my old-fashioned round waffle iron, but I never close the lid. Flour tortilla, a few Southwestern precooked chicken strips (from Aldi), shredded cheese, another tortilla on top. As the cheese melts, press the top tortilla down around the perimeter to get something of a seal. Finally, flip it to get those nice Maillard reactions on the other side as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/46 "2015-08-14T18:27:36Z")
Cheese, fresh roasted green chile, and a scrambled egg. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/47 "2015-08-14T18:44:40Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I’m with Alton Brown on the whole one-trick pony kitchen appliances. They’re just not necessary the large majority of the time. Only a couple of exceptions come to mind - popcorn popper, and coffee maker - though depending on the maker, it can be argued that it could be used for other things! When I make popcorn, I use a pot on the stove. No need for a uni-tasker. Although next time I might use a Pyrex bowl in the microwave oven, as suggested in a thread I read here this year. I seldom make quesadillas. I _do_ like to make [sincronizadas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sincronizada) with refried beans, ham, and cheddar; topped off with guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese, and diced tomato. ---
**Author:** ![May\_20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@May\_20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/May_20)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/48 "2015-08-14T18:55:13Z")
I fixed quesadillas for lunch. Smear refried beans on a tortilla; place bean-side up in a skillet; cover beans with cheese (Colby-Jack for us); top with another tortilla. Flip when bottom tortilla is toasty; toast the other side. Put on a plate, and cut into quarters. Eat. 🙂 Fwiw, the kids don’t care for the beans. They’ll eat just cheese quesadillas. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/49 "2015-08-14T19:00:01Z")
> [@May\_20](#): > > I fixed quesadillas for lunch. Smear refried beans on a tortilla; place bean-side up in a skillet; cover beans with cheese (Colby-Jack for us); top with another tortilla. Add ham, and you have a sincronizada. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/50 "2015-08-14T19:58:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > When I make popcorn, I use a pot on the stove. Best popcorn popper in the world is a big wok with a lid. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/51 "2015-08-14T20:05:48Z")
To me, a quesadilla is just two tortillas with cheese, toasted in a frying pan or griddle. I don’t even use butter or oil, though my wife likes how that affects the texture. (It’s a grilled cheese sandwich with tortillas instead of bread.) It doesn’t require anything else, in my opinion, but I do often put a little guacamole, salsa or hot sauce on after it’s cooked. My wife likes to add sour cream. I honestly don’t care for any other ingredients. If I wanted meat, beans, vegetables, etc. then what I really wanted is better called a taco, nacho, burrito or enchilada. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/52 "2015-08-14T21:15:33Z")
I heat my tortillas directly on the stove burner first using tongs, then fill, then melt in a non-stick pan. No butter. But you need to fire the tortillas before filling so they won’t be all gooey and doughy. I use the Mexican cheese blend from the grocery store and a sprinkling of cojita cheese, too. Guacamole makes a nice dip. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/53 "2015-08-14T21:46:44Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Ok… I deep fried a loaf, but it has this kind of weird melted plastic taste to it. > > And before you think I’m stupid or something, I knew enough to cut off the end of the bag with the twist tie. Try again but this time with peanut oil. And bread it with panko crumbs. ---
**Author:** ![May\_20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@May\_20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/May_20)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/54 "2015-08-15T19:15:33Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Add ham, and you have a sincronizada. 😉 Shh. Don’t tell my husband. I don’t want any more steps. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/55 "2015-08-15T19:37:05Z")
How about a breakfast quesadilla? [ol] [li]Heat a 9" non-stick pan with a teaspoon of oil to medium. Add a beaten egg, when bottom starts to set, sprinkle with cheese and place a corn tortilla on top.[/li][li]Let egg cook a bit more and using a broad thin spatula, \*flip.[/li][li]Sprinkle with cheese and add another tortilla.[/li][li]Flip once more to crisp each tortilla and serve with your favorite salsa.[/li][/ol] Optionally, add bacon crumbles with cheese. - this takes a bit of practice but the result is well worth it! Use the spatula to free the edges, give the pan a shake to free the egg if it sticks. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/56 "2015-08-15T19:51:09Z")
> [@May\_20](#): > > Shh. Don’t tell my husband. I don’t want any more steps. 😉 OI! **MR. May20**! Ask for ham! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/57 "2015-08-15T20:19:33Z")
But a sincronizada uses _corn_ tortillas. With wheat tortillas it’s just a quesadilla with ham. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/58 "2015-08-15T20:26:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > But a sincronizada uses _corn_ tortillas. With wheat tortillas it’s just a quesadilla with ham. > **[Sincronizadas – Authentic Mexican Recipe](http://www.mexican-authentic-recipes.com/appetizers-sincronizada.html)** > > If you are in a hurry and you need to prepare a tasty and fast Mexican appetizer this recipe is for you. The sincronizada consists of 2 flour tortillas with cheese and ham. > [@](#): > > Normally the sincronizadas are made with large flour tortillas. And the ones I’ve gotten off of taco trucks (in L.A. and Orange Counties) use flour tortillas. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/59 "2015-08-15T20:44:58Z")
In _Mexico_ (which is the only place I’ve had them) they are made with corn tortillas. [Thrillist](https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/authentic-mexican-dishes) backs me up on this. Typical gringos - using wheat when corn is better. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188/60 "2015-08-16T15:25:59Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I love Quesadillas. We have a place called Taco Bueno that makes good one. But $5 is a bit pricey. > > Can you make good ones at home? How do you do it? > > Do you have to buy a machine like this? > [Robot or human?](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Salton-Santa-Fe-Quesadilla-Maker/5639871) > > With my Foreman Grill, toaster, coffee pot, waffle iron. My desire for another countertop gadget is non-existent. But, I do love Quesadillas. 😉 I hope a machine isn’t necessary. > > Any receipes for beef Quesadillas? It’s very complicated, don’t try it at home unless there is an adult there to help you! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-quesadillas/560188.md?page=4)