Black Bean Cheesy Quesadilla (Printable)

Flour tortillas stuffed with black beans, peppers, and melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
02 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
03 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)

→ Beans & Cheese

06 - 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
07 - 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
08 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Tortillas & Seasonings

09 - 4 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
10 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - ½ teaspoon chili powder
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
14 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ To Serve (Optional)

15 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - Sour cream
17 - Salsa or pico de gallo
18 - Lime wedges

# How To Make:

01 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened.
02 - Add diced red and green bell peppers, jalapeño, and minced garlic. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until tender.
03 - Stir in rinsed black beans, ground cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
04 - Place one tortilla on a flat surface. Evenly sprinkle one-quarter of the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over half the tortilla. Add one-quarter of the bean and vegetable mixture atop the cheese. Fold the tortilla in half to enclose the filling. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
05 - Wipe the skillet clean and add ½ tablespoon olive oil. Heat over medium heat.
06 - Cook each folded quesadilla for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and the cheese inside melts.
07 - Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve warm. Garnish with chopped cilantro, sour cream, salsa, and lime wedges if desired.

# Top Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering takeout and tastes twice as good
  • The combination of two cheeses makes every bite stretchy and satisfying
  • You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand without following a strict formula
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully in a hot skillet the next day
02 -
  • Do not overfill the tortillas or they will split when you try to flip them
  • If the outside browns too fast before the cheese melts, lower the heat a bit
  • Rinsing the black beans really does make them taste fresher and less starchy
03 -
  • Press down gently with the spatula while cooking to help the cheese spread and bind everything together
  • Let the quesadilla rest for a minute after cooking so the cheese sets slightly and does not all ooze out when you cut it
  • If you are making multiple quesadillas, keep the finished ones warm in a low oven while you cook the rest
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