Easy Carne Asada Quesadilla - made in the oven!

This carne asada quesadilla recipe in the oven is perfect for almost any occasion. Whether you need a quick and easy dinner recipe, an appetizer recipe that'll surely be a hit, or a recipe to use up the last bits of the leftover carne asada that you have in the fridge, let's make it! 

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You’ll love this carne asada quesadilla recipe

They're so easy to make. Carne asada itself is so easy to make, and pair that with this fool-proof quesadilla recipe, you can do no wrong with this recipe. If you have zero culinary skills, you can still make some amazing carne asada quesadillas. 

They're versatile. You can play around with different cheeses, different seasonings, and various dipping sauces like salsa, sour cream, or guac, you can really tailor these to fit your lifestyle and food preferences. This can also be a main dish, or it can be an easy appetizer! These delicious carne asada quesadillas are perfect for almost any occasion. 

They're delicious. Seriously, so delicious. Never have I had a cheese quesadilla with this much flavor! I love adding the carne asada steak, it truly makes for the best recipe. 

What is carne asada?

Carne asada is a Mexican dish that is marinated skirt steak or flank steak that's grilled and served thinly sliced. The recipe I followed called for a marinade consisting of olive oil, lime juice, orange juice, lemon juice, chili powder, ground cumin, fresh garlic (or garlic powder), soy sauce, onion powder, cilantro, salt, and pepper. 

Pour marinade over your steak, cover it (or put it in an airtight container), and let it marinate in the fridge for ideally 24 hours, this gives you such tender steak. If you don't have 24 hours, marinate for anywhere from 2-24 hours.

Although carne asada traditionally means the meat is grilled, I don't have a grill. I cooked the flank steak on my cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. I made sure to preheat the skillet over medium heat so the steak was being put on a hot pan. 

Ingredients

Carne Asada. Although this is one ingredient, this does require a handful of ingredients for the marinade. Trust me, it is so worth it! It makes for the most delicious quesadilla.

Flour Tortillas. I like making quesadillas with flour tortillas simply because they are easier to work with compared to corn tortillas. You'll want to be sure to buy the large flour tortilla at your local grocery store so you can make large quesadillas. 

Shredded Cheese. You can either use what you have or get creative with the cheese that you use! There are plenty of options, and I've included some of the best types of cheeses for you to add to your grocery list. 

How to make carne asada quesadillas

1. Preheat your oven to 375F.
2. Take your cooked carne asada and dice it up into bite-sized cubes. Set aside.
3. On a baking sheet, lay down your tortilla.
4. On half of the tortilla, spread shredded cheese and steak.
5. Fold the tortilla in half and repeat another 3-4 times, or until your steak is gone.
6. Bake at 375F for 10 minutes, then flip and then bake for an additional 5 minutes, until you have a crispy tortilla that's golden brown in color. 
7. Serve with a side of sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. 

TIP: using a pizza cutter to slice quesadilla recipes into triangles will make your life SO easy! 

What kind of tortillas should you use for steak quesadillas?

I prefer flour tortillas but here are some options depending on what your preferences are. 

• Corn Tortillas - these are difficult to work with, but you have to make sure that you wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave the tortillas for 1 minute. These are also gluten-free. 
• Whole Wheat Tortillas - if you prefer whole wheat to flour tortillas, you can absolutely use these types of tortillas. 
• Protein Tortillas - I sometimes buy these at ALDI, but there are plenty of brands out there that have protein tortillas. If you're trying to increase or maintain a certain level of protein in a day, these are a great option for this recipe.

Best cheese for quesadillas

​There are so many different types of cheese you can include in these easy carne asada quesadillas. Here are a few options that'll give you the best flavor.

• Pepper Jack
• Oaxaca Cheese
• Cheddar Cheese
• Monterey Jack Cheese
• Queso Fresco 

​TIP: For the best results and the best melted cheese, I definitely would opt for buying a block of cheese versus pre-grated cheese. This is a personal preference, but grating your cheese rather than buying pre-shredded cheese gives you the best result.

Substitutions and Variations

Veggies. If you want to add veggies to this recipe, feel free! Bell peppers, corn, and onions are all great options.

Extra protein.​ If you want to add extra protein you can add black beans to this quesadilla! 

Steak. If you don't have all the ingredients for carne asada recipes, you can take marinated steak, and cook it to your liking. This is also a great recipe if you have leftover steak you are trying to repurpose. 

Other meat. Of course, you can make this recipe with any cut of meat. Chicken and pork are both great options and again, this is a perfect way to use up any leftover meat you may have in the fridge. 

Storage

You'll want to store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, heat up a skillet over medium high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Add your leftover quesadillas in a single layer onto the large skillet, add a tablespoon of water, and cover. Let it cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. 

What to serve with this carne asada quesadilla recipe

There are so many great recipes to serve with this steak quesadilla. Here are a few dips and sides that you can serve. 

• Refried beans
• Hot sauce
• Guacamole
• Lime wedges
• Sour cream, or Greek yogurt
• Fresh pico de gallo

FAQ

What is the meaning of Asada?

"Asada" is a Spanish word meaning "roasted."

What are the two types of carne asada?

The two types of canre asada are skirt steak and flank steak. Skirt steak is thinner, but tends to be more fatty. Flank steak is a bit thicker and a little leaner. 

Amazon home kitchen finds

If you don't already, I highly recommend getting yourself a cast-iron skillet! It's perfect for winter recipes and really getting a nice sear on any meat. 

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Want more appetizer recipes?

• Ciabatta Pizza Recipe
• Burrata Caprese
• Homemade Pizza Bites