Cheesy Beef & Pepper Air Fryer Quesadillas (American)
A crispy and cheesy quesadilla with a flavorful beef filling. Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
Substitute: Ground chicken or turkey
- 1 cup diced green bell pepper
Substitute: Red bell pepper
- 8 large flour tortilla
Substitute: Corn tortillas (may be more fragile)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Substitute: Monterey Jack or Colby Jack
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
Substitute: Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder mix
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Substitute: Plain Greek yogurt
Equipment Needed
- • Air Fryer
- • Large Skillet
- • Chef's Knife
- • Cutting Board
- • Spatula
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
600
Protein
40g
Carbs
45g
Fat
30g
Instructions
- 1
In a large skillet, brown (cook until brown) the ground beef over medium-high heat (high setting), breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks (separating the meat). This will take about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 5-7 minutes
Technique: Browning
- 2
Drain any excess grease (remove the rendered fat). Add the diced green bell pepper and taco seasoning to the skillet. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the peppers are slightly softened (less crunchy).
⏱️ 2-3 minutes
Technique: Sautéing
- 3
Remove the skillet from the heat (turn the stovetop off).
⏱️ 1 minute
Technique: N/A
- 4
Lay out 4 tortillas on a clean surface (flat area).
⏱️ 1 minute
Technique: Assembly
- 5
Sprinkle 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over one half of each tortilla (spread cheese evenly).
⏱️ 2 minutes
Technique: Assembly
- 6
Spoon 1/4 of the beef and pepper mixture over the cheese on each tortilla (spread beef mixture evenly).
⏱️ 2 minutes
Technique: Assembly
- 7
Sprinkle another 1/4 cup of cheese over the beef mixture on each tortilla (spread cheese evenly). Fold the other half of the tortilla over the filling (overtop).
⏱️ 2 minutes
Technique: Assembly
- 8
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) (bring to temp).
⏱️ 1 minute
Technique: Preheating
- 9
Place the quesadillas in the air fryer basket (don't overcrowd). Air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown (cooked through) and the cheese is melted (softened and gooey). You may need to flip them halfway through (turn over).
⏱️ 5-7 minutes
Technique: Air Frying
- 10
Cut each quesadilla into wedges (triangle shapes) and serve immediately with sour cream on the side for dipping.
⏱️ 2 minutes
Technique: Serving
💡 Chef's Tips
Spray the quesadillas with cooking spray before air frying for extra crispiness. You can also add other fillings like diced tomatoes, onions, or jalapenos.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- • Overcrowding the air fryer basket (cook in batches)
- • Not preheating the air fryer
- • Using too much filling (quesadilla won't close properly)
Why Easy?
✓ What makes it easier:
- • Simple steps
- • Easy to customize
- • Quick cooking time
! What requires attention:
- • Potential for burning if not watched carefully
