Air Fryer Steak Quesadillas

These Air Fryer Steak Quesadillas are perfect as a cheesy snack or paired with rice and beans for a full meal!

Steak quesadillas are the perfect snack. They’re crunchy, cheesy, salty, and have protein to fill you up. I love making them in my air fryer. They get super crispy like restaurant quesadillas and they don’t burn as easily as quesadillas made on the stovetop.

What Goes Inside Steak Quesadillas?

When it comes to quesadillas, the most important filling is definitely the cheese! I usually go for a shredded Mexican cheese blend made with Cheddar, Colby, and Monterey Jack cheeses. Blends like these great because you get a great balance of sharp flavor from the cheddar and the melty, gooey texture of Colby and Jack. If you wanted to use just one cheese, I’d use Monterey Jack – the flavor will be less intense than it would be if you used a cheese blend, but the texture can’t be beat.

Next to the cheese, the most important filling in these quesadillas is the steak. I love using skirt steak for quesadillas because it’s really tender and has an intense, beefy flavor. I like to maximize the flavor of my quesadillas by seasoning the steak with lime juice and cumin. Go ahead and try making these quesadillas with leftover grilled steak, leftover Carne Asada, or, you can even air fryer your steaks!

For the best texture and flavor, slice and chop your steak very finely like you would for a taco. This will let you spread the steak out more evenly throughout the quesadilla, so you get that beefy flavor in every bite. It will also keep the overall texture of the filling softer, so you won’t have big chunks of steaks to chew. Finally, if the pieces are small, you don’t get that situation where you bite and end up pulling out a long strip of steak. The steak will be more likely to stay in the quesadilla until you want it.

What Size Tortillas To Use?

When making air fryer quesadillas, keep in mind that different models will be able to accommodate different sized tortillas. You’ll need to do some experimenting to find the best fit for your air fryer.

Generally speaking, fajita size tortillas are the smallest and will fit well in most air fryer baskets. I’m able to fit two quesadillas at a time in my fryer basket when I use this size tortilla.

I’m also able to use soft taco size tortillas in my 2.6 quart Crux air fryer, but it’s a snug fit and the edges get a little crinkled.

How to Weigh Down The Tortillas While They Cook

Most recipes for air fryer quesadillas instruct you to place something onto the top tortilla to weigh it down and keep it in place. You can use a small metal insert. These can be found on Amazon by searching for air fryer accessories, and are different sizes to fit in different models air fryers. You can also use the rack insert that comes with an Instant Pot. My favorite things to use in a pinch are a heat-safe butter knife or the lid to a small metal saucepan. Just remember that these will be really hot when you open your air fryer. Use an oven mitt to take them out.

Serving Steak Quesadillas

I love serving these steak quesadillas with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole for dipping. You can also make a side of rice and beans to stretch it into a full meal. A little black bean and corn salsa on the side is always great too, as is this Elote Salad (Mexican Corn Salad). Finally, I think quesadillas are also really great alongside a big bowl of cozy soup. I just know that whatever you serve these with, you’re going to love them so much! -Christine xo

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