Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe

Today’s shrimp quesadilla recipe combines tender shrimp and melty cheese inside a crispy tortilla for a hearty Mexican-style dish that’s ready in less than 20 minutes. Let’s dive in!

Are Our Shrimp Quesadillas Healthy?

Our shrimp quesadillas are relatively healthy. Here’s why:

Firstly, one serving contains 44.3 g of protein, a remarkable amount. This is thanks to the presence of shrimp and Greek yogurt, as both foods are a great source of protein.

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If you are concerned about the high cholesterol content of shrimp, we’ve been researching. It turns out that it’s actually the saturated fats we consume that raise the cholesterol level in your blood, not the cholesterol in your food. 

Secondly, because we include bell peppers, our dish is extremely rich in vitamin C. Each serving provides you with 91% of your recommended daily vitamin C intake. 

As for the unsaturated fats, we have carefully moderated them to stay at a reasonable amount, just 6.8 grams. Just remember not to add way too much cheese, as it will add significantly more fat.

Ingredients You Will Need

1. For the Filling

• Shrimp: Juicy plump shrimp are an awesome source of protein and a delicious addition to the classic quesadilla, bringing along the briny flavor of the ocean to awaken your taste buds.
• Bell peppers: The mild flavor and crunchy texture of bell peppers work beautifully in our quesadilla filling. While red bell peppers are sweeter in taste, green bell peppers are grassy and slightly bitter. Together, they increase the range of flavor and add color to make the dish more visually appealing.
• Onion: Onion adds more flavor and aroma to our mix. You can leave this out if you don’t quite like the taste of onions or stir fry them for longer for a richer, sweeter taste.
• Cheddar cheese: Cheddar cheese is loved for its uniquely sharp and tangy taste. When heated, the cheese melts inside the quesadilla, binding the shrimp and other ingredients into a delicious cheesy mix. You can use other types of cheese and we have some suggestions below.
• Seasoning: We use cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil to cook the shrimp filling and then season it with salt, garlic, pepper, and paprika.

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2. For the Tortillas

For this shrimp quesadilla recipe, we use corn tortillas, which are the most popular type in Mexican cuisine.

They have a thin and coarse texture with a slightly sweet taste and a lovely corn fragrance. When cooked, they offer a nice crispiness and pair perfectly with our cheesy shrimp filling.

What Kind of Cheese Is Best for Quesadillas?

There are a variety of choices when it comes to what cheese to use for quesadillas.

In the end, it all comes down to your preferred taste and texture, but here are some excellent cheese options that you can choose from:

• Mozzarella cheese: Mozzarella is mild in flavor and has an amazing stretchiness when heated, which makes it a perfect choice for quesadillas.
• Cheddar cheese: Cheddar cheese is usually known for its sharp, salty, and tangy taste. However, for quesadillas, most people prefer medium cheddar cheese for a milder and creamier flavor.
• Monterey Jack cheese: Monterey Jack is another wonderful choice, thanks to its mild and buttery taste. When melted, Monterey Jack has a gooey texture that complements the other ingredients.
• Oaxaca cheese: This cheese is loved for its milky and mellow flavor with a tangy note and a slight hint of saltiness. 
• Gouda cheese: Gouda cheese is creamy and buttery with a sweet, butterscotch taste. Having this cheese in your quesadilla is simply delicious.

What to Serve With

Here are our recommended dishes to serve alongside these shrimp quesadillas for a more rounded eating experience:

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You May Also Like

• Shrimp Tacos Recipe
• Shrimp Enchiladas Recipe
• Shrimp Burrito Recipe
• Shrimp Toast Recipe

Continue exploring Mexican cuisine with our Mexican Shrimp Recipes.

Beyond this shrimp dish, we’ve also got a Beef Quesadilla Recipe that comes together just as easily and tastes just as good as this one.

Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe

5 from 1 vote

With juicy shrimp and melty cheese wrapped inside a crispy corn tortilla, this shrimp quesadilla recipe is perfect as a tasty snack or delicious entree, and is ready in less than 20 minutes!

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• cook TIME 10 mins
• prep TIME 10 mins
• total TIME 20 mins

• COURSE Main Course
• CUISINE American, Mexican
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 485 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 12 oz peeled and deveined shrimp (from 24 oz raw shrimp)
• 8 6-inch corn tortillas
• 6 oz red bell pepper (diced)
• 4 oz green bell pepper (diced)
• 4 oz onion (diced)
• 4 oz grated cheddar cheese
• 3 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp garlic (minced)
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp parsley (chopped)

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

1

Chop 12 oz peeled and deveined shrimp into bite-sized pieces.

2

Add 2 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp garlic to a skillet over medium heat, then stir for 30 seconds.

3

Add the shrimp, along with 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp paprika, and 1/4 tsp salt to taste. Sauté for 3 minutes.

4

Add 4 oz onion, 6 oz red bell pepper, and 4 oz green bell pepper. Stir for 4 more minutes, then transfer the shrimp mixture into a bowl.

5

Place 1 tortilla in a frying pan over low heat. Spread 3 tbsp Greek yogurt on top of the entire tortilla.

6

Add the shrimp mixture, 0.5 oz cheddar cheese and 1/4 tbsp chopped parsley to one-half of the tortilla.

7

Then fold it over. Let the quesadilla cook for 1 minute. Check if the bottom is lightly browned, then gently flip the quesadilla with tongs or a spatula and let the other side cook for 1 minute more.

8

Repeat with the other tortillas and filling. Then serve.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 485Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g

31%

Saturated Fat 7g

44%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 7g

Cholesterol 305mg

102%

Sodium 554mg

24%

Potassium 700mg

20%

Carbohydrate 35g

12%

Fiber 4g

17%

Sugar 5g

6%

Protein 44g

88%

Vitamin A 1730IU

35%

Vitamin C 83mg

101%

Calcium 330mg

33%

Iron 2mg

11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keywords: how to make shrimp quesadilla, shrimp quesadilla, shrimp quesadilla recipe