Quick & Easy Cheesy Shrimp Quesadillas
Make these fast, flavorful shrimp quesadillas for a perfect weeknight dinner or quick lunch. They feature tender, seasoned shrimp, melty cheese, and crispy tortillas for a restaurant-style taste at home.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan Frying
- Cuisine: Tex Mex
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, chopped into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning (or chipotle seasoning for a spicy shrimp quesadilla)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 8 large flour tortillas (burrito size recommended for crispy tortilla quesadilla)
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack or Mexican blend cheese (for melty cheese quesadilla)
- 1/2 cup water (for steaming)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped shrimp and cook for 2 minutes until pink.
- Add the taco seasoning, garlic powder, and salt to the shrimp. Stir well to coat. Cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the shrimp and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Remove the shrimp mixture from the heat and set aside.
- Wipe the skillet clean. Place one tortilla in the skillet over medium-low heat. Sprinkle one-fourth of the cheese evenly over the tortilla.
- Spoon half of the seasoned shrimp mixture over one half of the cheese. Fold the empty half of the tortilla over the filling to create a half-moon shape.
- Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, pressing down gently with a spatula, until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is completely melted. For extra crispiness, add a tiny splash of water to the pan and cover briefly to steam the cheese.
- Remove the first quesadilla and keep it warm. Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas, shrimp, and cheese to make four servings.
- Slice each quesadilla into wedges and serve immediately. This is a great shrimp taco alternative!
Notes
- For a restaurant style quesadillas finish, brush the outside of the tortillas lightly with melted butter before pan-frying for richer browning.
- Serve your best shrimp quesadilla with sour cream, salsa, or guacamole for dipping.
- If you prefer a low carb shrimp quesadilla, substitute regular tortillas with low-carb or keto-friendly wraps.
- This recipe is family friendly shrimp meals approved!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesadilla
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 180