Shrimp Quesadillas

5 from 1 vote

Shrimp quesadillas made from juicy and plump seasoned shrimp, onions, bell peppers, and melted cheese wrapped in toasted tortillas.

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Total Time25

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: quesadillas

1 pound raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ yellow onion, diced
½ bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
4 large flour tortillas (10-inch burrito size)
2 cups shredded cheese (Chihuhuaha, Oaxaca, quesadilla, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack are great)

Toss together the shrimp, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, black pepper, and paprika in a large bowl until evenly coated.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for 3 minutes until the shrimp is plump and pink. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Layer half of each tortilla with ¼ of the cooked shrimp mixture and ½ cup of shredded cheese. Fold them over and cook the quesadillas in 2 batches in the skillet for 1 to 2 minutes per side until the cheese has fully melted and the quesadillas are golden brown.
Finish cooking the last 2 quesadillas with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.
Serve immediately with guacamole, pico, and salsa.

Shrimp: If you use frozen shrimp, make sure to thaw it completely and pat it dry before cooking.
Vegetables: I added a diced bell pepper and onion to the shrimp filling, but you can omit them completely or use other vegetables you have in your kitchen. Corn, poblanos, or zucchini are great options.
Cheese: Monterey Jack, quesadilla, or Chihuahua cheese are all great options. If you don't have those, mozzarella, cheddar jack, or pepper jack also work.
Don't skip the butter! Toasting your quesadilla in butter makes all the difference. Don't skip this step. It adds a richness and so extra flavor to your tortilla that will leave you happy and satisfied.