dinner recipes

Vegetarian Black Bean Quesadilla Recipe

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This black bean quesadilla recipe is a staple at our house! Made up of simple ingredients, these quesadillas are incredibly flavorful, made with nutritious black beans, and come together in less than 30 minutes – which is why it’s no surprise it’s one of my go-to recipes for a busy night. Serve with creamy jalapeño sauce if you want to be extra, and trust me, you do. :). And if you love a crispy tortilla, try my baked quesadillas, you can use any filling.

The refried black beans are the star of this quesadilla, and we love them so much that we use them as much as we can – in black bean tostadas, bean and cheese burritos, and DIY nacho lunch boxes. Be sure to try my other Mexican-inspired meals like crockpot salsa chicken and shredded chicken nachos.

Stack of black bean quesadillas.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

What You’ll Love About Black Bean Quesadillas

  • Great flavors
  • Delicious and easy dinner
  • Satisfying and balanced meal
  • Great vegetarian source of protein
  • Great source of fiber
  • Just 5 minutes prep time
  • Just 25 minutes total time
  • Made with simple ingredients

Ingredients

  • Refried beans – These refried canned black beans are a favorite, so they are my first choice, but you could also use canned refried beans or a can of black beans or pinto beans that are lightly mashed.
  • Tortillas – Look for large burrito-sized flour tortillas. Smaller tortillas will work, but you may need to make more quesadillas. You could also use corn tortillas or whole wheat tortillas if you prefer.
  • Cheese – I highly recommend using a Mexican-style cheese designed for quesadillas like queso asadero or queso Oaxaca. If you can’t find those, a cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, Monterey jack cheese, or another cheese that melts will work.
  • Extras – Want to add more flavor to this meatless dinner? Sprinkle beans with some chili powder or taco seasoning, or add sautéed onions, peppers, or corn kernels to fillings.
  • Fresh toppings – Serve this vegetarian quesadilla recipe with your favorite fresh toppings like salsa, sour cream, shredded lettuce, diced onions, etc.
Ingredients to make vegetarian black bean quesadillas.

How to Make Black Bean Quesadillas

This is an overview on how to make refried bean quesadillas, the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.

Heat beans. Make refried black beans if making from scratch or heat canned refried beans according to package instructions.
Skillet with black beans heating.
Assemble quesadillas. Add tortilla to a large nonstick skillet and top half of each tortilla with a layer of cheese, layer of black bean filling, and another layer of cheese.
Flour tortilla with black beans and cheese in skillet.
Cook quesadilla. Fold tortillas over and cook on both sides over medium heat until cheese is melty and tortilla is golden brown. Repeat with additional quesadillas.
Skillet with cooked vegetarian quesadilla.
Stack of black bean quesadillas with fresh toppings.

Topping Ideas for Vegetarian Quesadillas

What makes this the best recipe for black bean quesadillas?! TOPPINGS! They add great flavor and crunch, choose a few (or all!) to add! 

FAQs

Is this black bean quesadilla vegetarian?

Yes, this quesadilla is vegetarian.

Is this black bean quesadilla vegan?

No, this is not vegan as it’s made with cheese. If you want a vegan black bean quesadilla, swap out the cheese for your favorite non-dairy vegan cheese for a vegan version.

Are these quesadillas healthy?

Well I say everything is healthy. 🙂 Some foods are more nutritious than others, but all food serves a purpose. These healthy black bean quesadillas have protein, carbs, produce, and fats. OH, and FLAVOR. So I would say, yes, it’s incredibly delicious AND nutritious.

Black bean quesadillas with toppings.

Storage Instructions

This refried bean and cheese quesadilla is best served immediately. If you have leftovers, you can store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

How to reheat

Reheat quesadilla in a hot skillet until heated through.

Can you freeze quesadillas?

Yes, you can freeze quesadillas to enjoy later. Store in a freezer bag for 2-3 months. Reheat in a 350 degree oven for 8-12 minutes, until heated through.

Stack of black bean quesadillas.

What to Serve with this Black Bean Quesadilla Recipe

I like to serve steak quesadilla recipes like this one with a simple veggie side: 

How to Feed Black Bean Quesadillas to the Whole Family

I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following the Division of Responsibility and knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in.

If your kids prefer plain quesadillas, serve the beans on the side or in a small taster bowl to sample them. Serve the meal with a few items you know your kids will eat, like fruit, milk, and/or bread and butter if they don’t like quesadillas or plain tortillas.

Want More?

Follow Emily on Instagram or TikTok for family dinner recipe videos and tips for feeding kids.

More Easy Quesadilla Recipes

If you like this black bean and cheese quesadilla recipe, you’re in luck because I have so many more quesadilla recipes for you to try:

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Stack of black bean quesadillas.

Vegetarian Black Bean Quesadilla Recipe

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Description

This black bean quesadilla recipe is a filling, nutritious, and totally delicious meal that comes together in minutes and uses our favorite beans!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups refried black beans (you can also use canned refried black beans)
  • 4 flour tortillas (burrito size)
  • 12 oz. shredded Mexican cheese (queso asadero or queso Oaxaca)
  • fresh toppings (salsa, shredded lettuce, sour cream)

Instructions

  1. Make refried black beans if making from scratch. 
    Skillet with mashed refried black beans from can.
  2. Assemble quesadillas. In large skillet over medium heat, layer 1/3 cup shredded cheese on one half of the tortilla. Top with 1/2-3/4 cup black beans and another 1/3 cup shredded cheese.
    Flour tortilla with black beans and cheese in skillet.
  3. Fold over top and cook for about 2-3 minutes, and when cheese starts to melt, carefully flip over with large flipper and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Repeat with remaining 3 quesadillas.
    Skillet with cooked vegetarian quesadilla.
  4. Cut into wedges and serve with toppings.
    Black bean quesadillas with toppings.


Notes

  • See more fresh topping and serving suggestions in the post. 

Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.

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