It's so easy to make healthy vegan quesadillas at home that taste AMAZING. All you need are tortillas, this meltable mozzarella cheese (with oil-free option), and a few veggies. These warm, melty, cheesy vegan quesadillas are quick to prepare and enjoyed by kids and adults alike!
This recipe was originally published in October 2019 and has been updated with new photos and content.
Why We Love this Recipe
These vegan quesadillas use a simple and light, meltable homemade vegan cheese that I adapted from the mozzarella recipe in my favorite Stuffed Crust Pizza. The fat in this cheese comes from just ⅓ cup raw cashews. You can include a bit of oil in the cheese if you like, but it's totally optional.
Not only does this homemade cashew cheese taste better than store-bought, it's actually melty and easily made without oil. Oh, and there's a nut-free option, too! Imagine, an oil-free, allergy-friendly, low-calorie vegan cheese.... who would've thought?!
Lemon, salt, and nutritional yeast bring the cheesy vibes. And water + tapioca flour make it creamy and meltable. Honestly, if you haven't made a vegan cheese similar to this before, I think you'll be amazed how good it is.
Vegan quesadillas are super versatile, too! See the Ingredient Notes below for ideas.
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Ingredient Notes
- Meltable Vegan Cheese - because this cashew cheese is so easy to make and healthier than store-bought vegan cheeses, I choose it nearly every time over store-bought. But you can definitely use store-bought vegan cheese for these, too.
NOTE: for quesadillas there's no need to include the optional agar mentioned. - Tortillas - for the most classic flavor I prefer a plain white flour tortilla, but gluten-free or whole-wheat tortillas are also great.
- Veggies/Additions - a pop of color from spinach is always fun and an easy way to add nutrition. I also included garlic and mushrooms because we're huge fans! But keep in mind that any ingredient you might add to a burrito, taco, nachos, or salad can also be added to vegan quesadillas!
Here are some other ideas:
- any variety of onion
- peppers
- olives
- pickled veggies like jalapeno and onion
- riced broccoli or cauliflower
- cubed and cooked sweet potato or butternut squash
- fresh herbs
- beans, refried or whole
- hummus
- pre-cooked tofu, finely chopped or ground
- vegan beefy crumbles or chorizo
- crumbled homemade seitan or sliced vegan pepperoni!
See what I mean? Quesadillas don't have to be just another form of grilled cheese sandwich.
The only thing to consider when selecting your fillings is whether they need to be pre-cooked. A simple sauté only takes a few minutes, so this mushroom, spinach and garlic mixture really hits the spot!
Step By Step Instructions
First, you'll make the cheese, which takes about 15 minutes. You'll need a blender and small saucepan for that. Next...
If you're including veggies in your quesadillas, you'll want to sauté them briefly. I went with cremini mushrooms, garlic, and spinach because I was in the mood for something super savory and full of umami.
Once your veggies are sauteed and any other ingredients are prepped, preheat a large skillet over medium-low heat.
Spread the hot cashew cheese on a tortilla, covering one entire side almost all the way to the edges (see photo above). Place the tortilla in the pan, cheese-side up, and arrange sautéed veggies on one half.
Fold the other side of the tortilla over to cover the veggies. Continue to cook until the underside is nicely toasted. Flip and cook the other side until equally done.
Let the quesadillas cool for a few minutes, then slice into triangles. Garnish as desired and dig in!
Quesadillas are best eaten right out of the skillet when the tortillas are crisp and fragrant. There's really nothing better. I mean, just take a look at that cheese and the flaky tortillas!
Related: love cheese and mushrooms? Check out these Easy Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms.
Tip for Using Gluten-Free or Whole-Wheat Tortillas
Since these types of tortillas are less flexible than traditional white flour tortillas, instead of doing the fold over method:
- arrange the filling ingredients over the entire surface of the first tortilla.
- spread cheese on a second tortilla and place it on top, cheese-side down.
- press down so that the cheese holds the veggies in. When the underside is done, carefully flip to cook the other side. Then slice into triangles.
Tips for Oil-Free Quesadillas
Oh! And one more thing.... as you probably know, quesadillas are usually fried in oil, but honestly, you don't need it. The tortillas get nice and toasty in a dry pan. I like to use a cast iron skillet, but a standard non-stick pan also works.
I do have to admit, using a tablespoon of oil to sauté the veggies and garlic does enhance the flavor (of the garlic especially). But I've also made this entire recipe without any oil at all, and they're still beyond delicious!
Equipment
- Blender - a high-speed blender comes in handy for blending nuts and seeds. I've been using the same Vitamix blender for about 9 years now, and it has definitely been worth the initial investment. If you're working with a standard blender, don't worry! Soaking the cashews overnight or in hot water for an hour or two will soften them for blending.
- Skillet or griddle - as mentioned above, I use a large cast iron skillet to cook quesadillas, but any other heavy-bottomed, non-stick pan works, too. A non-stick griddle is also great.
Storage
Here's the catch with quesadillas... they're not exactly make-ahead friendly. I mean, you can store leftovers in the fridge (IF you have any leftover that is), but just like pizza, grilled cheese, or biscuits, these vegan quesadillas are best enjoyed hot from the pan.
Reheat leftovers by microwaving for a few seconds to remove the chill, then place the quesadillas in a preheated pan. This will crisp up the tortillas and fully reheat the cheese.
Top Tip for Melting Vegan Cheese
Scoot the quesadilla to one side of the pan, and add a small splash of water to the other side. Quickly cover the pan, and allow the steam to assist with melting the cheese. Then remove the lid so that the tortillas can get crispy.
This trick is especially helpful when melting store-bought vegan cheese.
If you've never made quesadillas before, think of this as a basic guide, and have fun with different fillings, herbs and spices!
These healthy vegan quesadillas come together quickly and without much fuss, making them perfect for a cozy night in when you're in the mood for some comfort food. They're also an impressive vegan appetizer when entertaining friends!
I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as we do. If you try it I would love to hear from you! Be sure to comment below and tell us all about your scrumptious vegan quesadillas.
Happy cooking!
More comforting, easy vegan meals:
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Easy Vegan Quesadilla Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 batch Homemade Meltable Mozzarella
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, optional
- 10 ounces cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 ounces raw spinach (about 5 huge handfuls)
- generous pinch of salt
- 4 flour tortillas, "burrito sized" - Use gluten-free or whole-grain, if desired. See NOTES for prep tips.
Instructions
- First, tap this link to make the cheese (takes about 15 minutes; no need to include the optional agar). Then set aside.
- To saute the vegetables, preheat a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the oil, if using, and cook the mushrooms until their water has released and evaporated, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the minced garlic, and cook for 1 minute. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Season with a pinch of salt and set aside.
- Heat a large clean skillet over medium heat. Spread cashew cheese over one entire side of a tortilla, almost to the edges. Place the tortilla in the hot skillet cheese-side up. Arrange about ¼ of the sauteed veggies on one half of the tortilla. Fold the other half over to cover the vegetables. Cook until the underside is nicely toasted, then flip and toast the second side. Transfer to a plate, and repeat with the other 3 tortillas.
- Cut each one into 3 triangles and serve immediately.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com. For the most accurate nutrition information we recommend calculating it yourself to reflect the specific ingredients used in your dish.
Jenniffer
These Quesadillas are fantastic! So easy to make and delicious - everyone loved them! Thank you so much for the tip on melting vegan cheese I used store bought https://violifefoods.com/ which melted perfectly. I will definitely make these Quesadillas again!
Marianne
Hello! Quick question, did you change the cheese sauce recipe. I made this again and the cheese texture and flavor wasn’t quite the same. I think the other recipe had less Tapioca? Not sure what else changed? Thank you!
Lori
Hi Marianne,
You're right! I tested it with a bit more tapioca starch but have decided to roll back to the original amount. The old version of this recipe also had the option to include 1 teaspoon of chickpea or white miso. That definitely adds flavor and more saltiness. I omitted it to try to make the cheese recipe more accessible, with common ingredients. So you may prefer to include miso or a bit more salt. I really appreciate the feedback. That's super helpful!
Marianne
Thank you for telling me the old recipe!
Amanda
These sound great! Is it possible to use fresh garlic in the cheese instead of garlic powder, and if so, how much? Garlic powder is hard to get where I live. 🙁
Lori
Thanks, Amanda! Yes, definitely. Add one small clove or maybe half of a larger one into the blender with the other ingredients. Hope you enjoy them!
Marianne
Ok, so these are delicious!!! I didn’t use the nutritional yeast or the miso but still amazing! I used red peppers, onions and spinach and just baked them in the oven. So easy and a great comfort food. Thank you!
Lori
With red peppers sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed them, and thank you for the feedback, Marianna!
Asha
I admit I used a slightly different cheese recipe that I had in the fridge from making pizza but it’s very similar to this one. I had not thought to make quesadillas with it but it is GENIUS! I’ve not made quesadillas since I stopped buying cheese for the house and now they’re back. Every bit as good as a traditional quesadilla, and healthier! Love love love it! Will be in the regular rotation. My 10 year old and 14 year old also loved them. The garlic, mushroom, spinach filling is perfect!
Lori
Yes! So glad you're excited about quesadillas! 😀 Thanks for the feedback, Asha.
susan
Your husband must love coming home to dinner... These quesadillas look delicious!
Lori
Haha thanks, Susan. He is very well fed most days! Although, sometimes he hears the "I'm tired from being in the kitchen all day and don't feel like making dinner" complaint. 😀