Steak Quesadilla Recipe

This steak quesadilla recipe legit tastes like something you’d get from a restaurant. Juicy strips of steak are seared with tender peppers and onions, seasoned with a flavorful blend of Mexican spices, and sandwiched between crispy tortillas that are oozing with melted cheese!

Steak Quesadillas Everyone Will Love

I love quesadillas, and lately these steak ones have been what I’ve been making. There’s something about juicy and tender steak mixed with classic quesadilla ingredients that is beyond satisfying.

They’re truly delicious, and there aren’t many steps needed to get these delicious steak quesadillas on your plate. After cooking the steak and softening the veggies, the filling goes in the tortilla, gets topped with shredded cheese, and cooked to crispy perfection.

I love how versatile they are, too. My favorite toppings are fresh chopped cilantro, sour cream, and pico de gallo. You can also add your favorite spicy salsa, chopped tomatoes, and even pickled red onions! The choice is yours, so experiment with what you like best. I promise you can’t go wrong with this one.

Three steak quesadillas are on a platter. The quesadillas are topped with cilantro, pico de gallo, and sour cream.

Ingredients

Now, something that’s great about this recipe is you can really add in or swap out any ingredients that you want. With that said, there are a few staples you’ll want to keep, like the steak and seasonings. I made steak fajita quesadillas, so that’s why I went with bell peppers and onions for the filling.

Anyway, check out what you’ll need:

Steak- cut into strips, sirloin strips are usually available at the grocery store, and they work perfectly!
Bell pepper- sliced, I used red and green bell peppers to add a little color to these quesadillas.
Onion- sliced, any cooking onion, like a yellow or white onion, will work well in this dish.
Mexican seasoning- your favorite prepackaged taco seasoning is an easy way to get that taco flavor.
Tortilla- flour tortillas work best here.
Olive oil- to cook the steak and saute the peppers and onions.
Salt and pepper- flavor enhancers and an essential part of this dish.

Steak strips, bell peppers, shredded cheese, tortillas, onions, taco seasoning, and fresh cilantro are in separate containers on a counter top.

How to Make Steak Quesadillas

Step 1: To start, heat a heavy bottom skillet or Dutch oven to high and add the olive oil to it. Once it’s super hot, add the steak to it and season the steak with salt and pepper. Cook until the steak has browned on all sides for medium well, or you can cook it to your desired doneness.

Steak strips are cooking in a large cast iron dutch oven. The steak is beginning to brown.

Step 2: To the same pan, add the sliced onion, peppers, and Mexican seasoning. Cook for a few minutes until all the veggies are browned. Make sure you stir them throughout cooking so they don’t burn.

A black cast iron dutch oven holds browned steak and vegetables.

Step 3: Next, heat a grill pan or gas grill to medium-high heat and place the tortillas on the hot surface. I like to spray cooking spray first to give the tortillas a little crispy edge. Anyway, now you can top half of each tortilla evenly with the steak and veggies mixture.

Two tortillas are on a grill tray. There is steak and veggies on each tortilla.

Step 4: After that, sprinkle the steak and veggies with two tablespoons of shredded cheese. Let the tortillas heat up for a couple of minutes, and then close them up. Cook for a minute or two until the cheese melts.

Someone sprinkles shredded cheddar cheese over two open tortillas on a grill pan. The tortillas are also holding steak and vegetables.

Step 5: Finally, serve the quesadillas warm with pico de gallo, sour cream cilantro, or any of your favorite quesadilla toppings. Enjoy!

A white plate holds three grilled steak quesadillas. The quesadillas are full of steak, cheese and vegetables.

Expert Tips For This Recipe

Use a precut steak for easy prep! Sirloin steaks are often available sliced and packaged at the grocery store.
If you find your veggies and steak are sticking to the pan as they cook, splash a little oil on them to loosen them from the pan and scrape up all the brown bits for extra flavor.
I love using fajita sized tortillas for these steak quesadillas. They aren’t too big or small!
If you like spice, add a little red pepper flakes, jalapenos, or your favorite hot sauce to the steak and veggie filling before assembling your quesadillas.
Serve these steak quesadillas warm off of the grill with tortilla chips, this Moes Queso, and a big pitcher of these Spicy Margaritas for the ultimate meal!

Three steak quesadillas are on a white serving platter. The quesadillas are stuffed full with steak and vegetables.

How To Store and Reheat Leftover Quesadillas

You can store any leftover quesadillas in the fridge for up to 3 days. Simply place them in an airtight container before storing them. If you have leftover steak quesadillas, you can wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months! They make a great quick snack or meal.

Reheating leftover steak quesadillas couldn’t be easier. You can toss them into an air fryer or the oven at 350°F for 5-8 minutes or stick them in a cast iron skillet over medium heat for a few minutes. They’ll be ready to eat when you see the cheese beginning to bubble.

Three steak quesadillas are on a white serving platter. The quesadillas are topped with pico de gallo and sour cream. Fresh cilantro is on the platter as well.

Steak Quesadilla Recipe FAQS

What kind of cheese is best for quesadillas?

You can use any shredded cheese that melts well! My favorites are cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese, Colby Jack, or Pepper Jack!

What is the best kind of steak for this recipe?

I like to use sliced sirloin because I find it most easily at the store. You can also use flank steak, or shaved steak, as well. You can even use leftover steak if you have it from the night before. Just be sure to slice it thin!

What to serve with steak quesadillas?

I love serving them with these homemade tortilla chips and either this Chipotle hot salsa, guac, or corn salsa.

Yield: 4 servings

Three steak quesadillas are on a white platter. The quesadillas are topped with pico de gallo, sour cream, and fresh cilantro.

Prep Time
10 minutes

Cook Time
20 minutes

Total Time
20 minutes