Hey foodies! I’m super excited to share my favorite shrimp quesadillas recipe that’ll make your taste buds dance! After trying countless versions and techniques, I’ve perfected this quick and easy recipe that’ll give you restaurant-quality quesadillas right in your kitchen.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in just 20 minutes
- Simple ingredients you probably already have
- Perfectly seasoned shrimp every time
- Crispy tortillas with gooey melted cheese
- Customizable to your taste preferences
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Shrimp:
- 1 pound shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon each: garlic powder, onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon each: cumin, salt, black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
For the Quesadillas:
- 6-8 medium flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cheese (Mexican blend, cheddar, or Monterey Jack)
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons butter
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Shrimp
- In a large bowl, combine shrimp with olive oil and lemon juice
- Add all seasonings and mix well
- Let sit for 5 minutes while preparing other ingredients
2. Cook the Veggies and Shrimp
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
- Sauté onions, peppers, and garlic for 1 minute
- Add seasoned shrimp
- Cook 2-3 minutes until shrimp turns pink
- Remove mixture from pan
3. Assemble and Cook Quesadillas
- Wipe down the same pan and return to medium heat
- Add butter to melt
- Place tortilla in pan
- Add cheese on one half
- Top with shrimp mixture
- Fold tortilla in half
- Cook 2-3 minutes per side until golden and crispy
Pro Tips for Perfect Quesadillas
- Shrimp Size: Cut large shrimp into bite-sized pieces for easier eating
- Cheese Choice: Use a good melting cheese – my fave is a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack
- Heat Level: Keep heat at medium to avoid burning tortillas while cheese melts
- Don’t Overfill: Less is more – overstuffed quesadillas fall apart!
Variations to Try
We love experimenting with different flavors! Here are some tasty options:
- Add jalapeños for extra heat
- Mix in black beans for more protein
- Try different bell pepper colors
- Add fresh cilantro
- Use cajun seasoning instead of taco seasoning
Serving Suggestions
Make it a complete meal with these perfect pairings
- Fresh guacamole
- Pico de gallo
- Mexican rice
- Black beans
- Cilantro lime sour cream
- Your favorite salsa
Storage Tips
Got leftovers? No problem! Here’s how to keep them:
- Fridge: Store in airtight container up to 3 days
- Reheat: Use a skillet over low heat to keep tortillas crispy
- Freezing: Not recommended – tortillas get soggy
Common Questions
Q: Can I use pre-cooked shrimp?
A: Yep! Just add them at the end of cooking the veggies to warm through.
Q How do I make these dairy-free?A Use your favorite plant-based cheese and butter alternatives
Q: Can I prep these ahead?
A: Cook the shrimp mixture ahead, but assemble and cook quesadillas just before serving.
Remember, cooking should be fun and don’t worry if they’re not perfect the first time. Practice makes perfect, and even imperfect quesadillas are usually pretty darn tasty!
Happy cooking!
Would you like me to explain or break down any part of this recipe in more detail?
How To Slay This Recipe
- Buy good-quality shrimp! Please don’t reach for the absolute cheapest shrimp available. You don’t need to break the bank or completely splurge, but if you can buy something good quality or (better yet) fresh, you’ll 1000% be able to taste the difference. For this recipe, you’ll need 1 pound of raw shrimp, peeled & deveined. If your shrimp still have the tails attached, simply remove them before sautéing.
- Use fresh, uncooked tortillas. And cook them yourself at home. You know the kind—you can get them from Costco in bulk or various brands from the grocery store. We love cooking with these because they taste amazing (not full of preservatives like the entire tortilla section), and they yield a nice, delicate texture. I promise this is a complete game-changer for ANYTHING you make with tortillas.
- Get your hands on some Chihuahua cheese. Specifically, this kind:
This Mexican-style quesadilla cheese will give you incredibly luscious, melty ribbons of melted cheese in every bite! Look no further. I get mine at Costco. 🙂
These protein-packed, juicy & delicious quesadillas are shockingly easy to make and so. flipping. good.
I’ve (almost) never met a quesadilla I didn’t like, so when I was looking at the calendar trying to piece together an entire month’s worth of 30-minute meals (hellllo, Maycember!) I knew it was finally time to share this 30-minute shrimp quesadilla recipe.
BTW, “30-minute” is being generous. If you’re working quickly, you could totally make this in 20 minutes.
This dinner-worthy quesadilla is loaded with flavorful seasoned shrimp, sautéed peppers, and melty Chihuahua cheese. And we definitely didnt forget about the dip—a zesty chipotle lime crema brings these shrimp quesadillas to the next level. Flavorful, cheesy, and so very easy, these 30-minute shrimp quesadillas are perfect for busy weeknights.