Spinach Quesadilla

Why Should You Try This Recipe?

Spinach and cheese quesadillas are one of the most beloved Mexican recipes. With toasty tortillas and melty cheese, what’s not to love about this delicious side dish?

• Quick and easy, this dish is so simple that you can make it for breakfast on your busiest mornings without skipping a beat.
• These veggie quesadillas are a great way to get fussy eaters (hello, toddlers!) to eat leafy greens and even ask for seconds.
• You can take this dish to the next level with one simple addition: Mr. Spice’s zesty, bold, and sodium-free hot sauce, Tangy Bang!
• Customize this spinach quesadillas recipe with hundreds of delicious add-ons, from sauteéd mushrooms to smoky grilled shrimp.

Ingredients

For the spinach filling, you’ll need unsalted butter, baby spinach, minced garlic, Tangy Bang hot sauce, salt, and pepper.

To prepare the spinach tortillas part of the recipe, gather flour tortillas, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and butter. Optional garnish includes sour cream and chopped cilantro.

What’s the Best Cheese for Quesadillas?

• Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend: For hands-off ingredient prep, shredded Mexican cheese blends from the local grocery store are a great choice. 
• Your Own Cheese Blend: If you want to make a cheese mixture from scratch, you can also combine my favorite cheeses: Monterey Jack cheese and mozzarella. Cheddar, too, can add a rich yet mild flavor to the dish, though it’s not a traditional choice for quesadillas. 
• Oaxaca Cheese: However, if you can get your hands on it, Oaxaca cheese—buttery, gooey, and ​​melt-in-your-mouth creamy—is the best choice for any quesadilla.

Mr. Spice Sauce for Flavor

To add a bold, citrusy heat to this easy quesadilla recipe, Mr. Spice’s Tangy Bang sauce is just what you need. Not only is this sauce GMO-, gluten-, and sodium-free, but it’s also low-calorie and low-carb! 

For another healthy flavor addition, you can also try Mr. Spice’s Garlic Steak sauce to give your quesadillas a meaty, smoky twist.

Flour Tortillas

For this recipe, I used store-bought 9-inch flour tortillas. However, gluten-free tortillas, corn tortillas, or even wheat tortilla quesadillas work just as well for those following a special diet.

How To Make Spinach Quesadillas?

Because these spinach and cheese quesadillas can be made in four steps and less than 20 minutes, they’re the perfect dish for any cook on a time crunch.

1. Sauteé the spinach: Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a 10- or 12-inch, large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach, put on the lid, and cook for 3-4 minutes. Once the spinach has lost most of its volume, add in the garlic, Tangy Bang sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir, and then transfer the fully cooked spinach onto a plate or small bowl. Use a paper towel to clean the skillet and set it aside.

2. Assemble the tortillas: Lay 4 flour tortillas on a flat work surface. Place ½ cup shredded cheese on one half of each tortilla. Then, divide the cooked spinach mixture equally among the tortillas and place it on top of the cheese. Fold the plain half of the tortilla on top of the spinach. Brush each tortilla with melted butter.

3. Cook the quesadillas: Place the large skillet over medium heat and place the quesadillas butter side down. Then brush the top with the rest of the melted butter. Cook them 1-2 minutes on each side, until the cheese melts and they’re golden brown. Transfer the cooked quesadillas to a cutting board and repeat the cooking process with the remaining quesadillas.

4. Serve: Slice the quesadillas into wedges and garnish with cilantro leaves. If desired, serve the quesadillas with a side of Tangy Bang sauce and sour cream for dipping.

How to Store

Crispy, gooey, and hot off the skillet, quesadillas are best on the day they’re made. However, leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

To reheat, set the oven to 300 degrees F. and place the quesadillas inside for 5-8 minutes.

Variations

Whether you want to add a tender protein, a crisp vegetable, or a diet-friendly twist to this dish, spinach quesadillas are one of the easiest recipes to make your own.

Here are a few ideas to make it your own:

• Chicken: To make a chicken and spinach quesadilla, just add cubed baked chicken breasts or leftover rotisserie chicken. Only 1 cup is necessary for 4 tortillas.
• Shrimp: Bring the smoky, summer taste of the grill to your quesadilla by adding in grilled shrimp.
• Mushrooms: Get an irresistible umami flavor by turning this recipe into a spinach mushroom quesadilla. All you need is 1 cup of sliced and sauteéd baby portobellos.