Air Fryer Beef Quesadilla
If you’re looking for a quick and easy meal that’s packed with flavor, then try making Air Fryer Beef Quesadillas in the Ninja Foodi or Air Fryer! In just 10 minutes or less, you can have a perfectly cooked quesadilla that is crispy on the outside and warm on the inside.
⏲Why The Air Fryer Is The Best Way To Make Quesadillas
- Healthier option: The air fryer allows you to make quesadillas without the need for additional frying oil.
- Quick and easy: The air fryer cooks the quesadillas quickly and evenly with dry circulating heat, which means you can have dinner on the table in no time.
- Versatile: You can easily customize the ingredients to your liking by adding meats, vegetables, and cheeses for a delicious meal.
- Time saving: Cooking a beef quesadilla in the air fryer takes less than 10 minutes, depending on its size. Great for a quick snack or a hearty meal.
🧀Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground Beef: Ground beef is the main protein source in this recipe. It provides the savory, meaty flavor that is a hallmark of beef quesadillas. It also contains fat that helps to keep the meat tender and juicy as it cooks.
- Taco Seasoning Mix: The taco seasoning mix is a combination of spices that typically includes chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. It gives the beef its signature taco flavor, with a slightly spicy and smoky taste.
- Water: The water is added to the taco seasoning mix and ground beef mixture to create a sauce that coats the meat. It also helps to distribute the seasoning evenly and keep the meat moist as it cooks. Without the water, the beef would be dry and less flavorful.
- Tortillas: Flour tortillas are the classic choice for quesadillas. They’re soft, pliable, and have a neutral flavor that lets the beef and cheese shine.
- Shredded Cheese: Cheese is an essential ingredient in beef quesadillas. The Mexican cheese blend is a combination of shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, and queso quesadilla cheeses. It melts quickly and evenly, creating a gooey and cheesy texture that complements the beef and tortillas.
- Non-stick cooking spray: Non-stick cooking spray is used to prevent the quesadillas from sticking to the air fryer basket or ninja foodi as they cook. It also helps to promote crispiness and browning on the outside of the tortillas.
📖Instructions
1️⃣Cook the ground beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until it’s no longer pink, occasionally stirring with a wooden spoon to break up any large chunks.
2️⃣Add the seasoning: Once the beef is cooked through, stir in the taco seasoning mix and water. Cook for an additional 2 minutes or until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
3️⃣Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 3-5 minutes. If you’re using a Ninja Foodi, preheat it on the “air crisp” setting.
4️⃣Assemble the quesadillas: Lay a tortilla on a flat surface and spread 1/4 cup of the beef mixture on one half, leaving about 1/2 inch of space around the edges. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the cheese over the beef.
5️⃣Assemble: Fold the tortilla in half to create a half-moon shape, then press down gently with your fingers to seal the edges together.
6️⃣Air fry: Place the quesadillas in a single layer in the air fryer basket or Ninja Foodi, making sure they aren’t touching each other. Spray with non-stick cooking spray. Air fry for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Serve the quesadillas warm with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
👩🍳Chef’s Tips
- You can use any type of ground meat for this recipe, such as turkey or chicken.
- If you don’t have a taco seasoning mix, you can make your own by combining chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
- Be sure to leave a little bit of space around the edge of the tortillas when you’re spooning on the beef mixture and cheese. This will help prevent the filling from oozing out during cooking.
- To make the quesadillas even crispier, spray the top of each one with non-stick cooking spray before putting them in the air fryer basket or ninja foodi.
- You can serve these quesadillas with your favorite toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.
🧅Variations
- Add some diced onions and bell peppers to the beef mixture for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Use different types of cheese, such as cheddar or pepper jack, to customize the flavor of the quesadillas.
- You can also use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas for a gluten-free option.
🍴More Air Fryer Quesadilla Recipes
Air Fryer Beef Quesadillas
Equipment
- Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 package taco seasoning mix
- ½ cup water
- 8 large flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until it’s no longer pink.
- Add the taco seasoning mix and water to the skillet and stir well to combine. Cook until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
- Preheat your air fryer or ninja foodi to 375°F.
- Take a tortilla and place it on a flat surface. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the beef mixture onto one side of the tortilla, leaving about 1/2 inch of space around the edge.
- Sprinkle 1/4 cup of shredded cheese over the beef mixture.
- Fold the tortilla in half to create a half-moon shape.
- Repeat steps 4-6 with the remaining tortillas, beef mixture, and cheese.
- Spray the air fryer basket or ninja foodi with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place the quesadillas in the air fryer basket or ninja foodi in a single layer, making sure they’re not touching each other.
- Cook for 5-6 minutes, or until the quesadillas are golden brown and crispy.
- Use tongs to remove the quesadillas from the air fryer basket or ninja foodi and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
