15 Irresistibly Ooey-Gooey Vegan Quesadillas to Savor! – One Green Planet

Quesadillas are a part of Mexican cuisine that are traditionally corn tortillas filled with a stringy cheese cooked on a pan until the cheese become ooey-gooey melted deliciousness and both tortillas have browned and become beautifully crisped. Of course, as the dish became adopted into the diets of other countries, people began experimenting with stuffings and toppings of the crispy tortilla meal.

Since the abundance of melty cheese is the main feature of quesadillas, you may think that you can no longer enjoy the deliciously simple food while following a plant-based diet. However, we’ve got some innovative quesadilla recipes that will satisfy your craving for the Mexican dish! Because after all, we all deserve quesadillas.

Some of them use more traditional Mexican flavors like black beans and sweet potato while others fuse the food with other cuisines and classic comfort foods.

1. Spinach Artichoke Quesadilla

These Spinach Artichoke Quesadillas are anything but traditional! The hot, cheesy, and comforting flavors of your favorite warm dip fill the toasty tortilla. To make matters even better, these crunchy yet creamy quesadillas can be made with 8 simple ingredients you likely already have sitting around your kitchen. Be sure to sprinkle on a healthy helping of red pepper flakes and enjoy your two favorite comfort foods fused into one delish dish.

2. Spicy Bean, Mushroom, and Avocado Quesadilla 

In place of your typical cheese, this Spicy Bean, Mushroom, and Avocado Quesadilla layers on a homemade creamy tahini dressing. The beans are packed with the classic Mexican flavors of cumin, cayenne, and paprika. The spice from the beans is soothed by the meatiness of the mushrooms and the creamy avocado. The healthy and wholesome ingredients will satisfy your craving for a quesadilla and nourish your body and mind at the same time!

3. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quesadilla

Who needs cheese when you can have mashed sweet potato infused with smoky flavors? If you are craving traditional Mexican flavors, then the Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quesadilla is for you. After a layer of the sweet potato mash, the tortilla is slathered with a tangy, spicy bean dip and then filled with tender peppers, onions, and fresh spinach. Top all of that with a few spring onions, a dollop of guacamole, and your favorite salsa and you will not be disappointed.

4. Roasted Pumpkin and Mushroom Quesadillas With Ancho Chili Cream 

Yep, you better believe that these Roasted Pumpkin and Mushroom Quesadillas With Ancho Chili Cream taste just as good as they look. These flavorful pockets of savory scrumptiousness are filled to the brim with seasoned and roasted pumpkin, pan-grilled onions and mushrooms, wilted spinach, and a cashew cream pumped up with ancho chili powder. Who would have thought pumpkin and quesadillas would have been such a perfect match?

5. Skillet Breakfast Quesadilla 

Though breakfast burritos first come to mind when you think Mexican-American breakfast fusion, this Skillet Breakfast Quesadilla deserves some serious attention! This warm and toasty dish is bursting with savory goodness from the zesty tofu scramble, black beans, and Shiitake bacon. Plus, it has plenty of melty cheese and a kick thanks to the jalapeño and chili powder.

6. Smoky Shepherd’s Pie Quesadilla 

Say hello to the ultimate comfort food fusion recipe: the Smoky Shepherd’s Pie Quesadilla. The dish has all the classic shepherd’s pie flavors you’ve come to love- potato, warm spices, and mixed vegetables. This quesadilla is taken to the next level by the smoky lentil hummus that adds a meaty umami flavor and even more creamy goodness. The yellow-orange hue of the sweet potato even looks like the cheese you’d expect to see in a traditional quesadilla!

7. Roasted Broccoli and Sauerkraut Quesadilla 

Not in love with any processed vegan cheeses? Make your own gooey, miso cashew cheese in seconds and then spread it in this Roasted Broccoli and Sauerkraut Quesadilla! The flavor combinations may sound a bit unusual, but broccoli and cheese are a longtime undeniably tasty pairing that is only enhanced by the fermented, sour yet sweet bite of sauerkraut.

8. Cheesy Corn and Smashed Avocado Quesadilla

This Cheesy Corn and Smashed Avocado Quesadilla embodies the ooey-gooey goodness that made you fall in love with quesadillas in the first place. The “cheese” is made with corn, nutritional yeast, garlic, and salt. Along with the cheese, there is smashed avocado and cherry tomatoes between the two crispy, toasted tortillas. Though the cheesy quesadillas may feel like a total comfort food indulgence, they are remarkably healthy!

9. Kimchi Quesadilla

These Kimchi Quesadillas are a real game-changer. They’re made with a thick, umami-rich black bean spread, crunchy fresh greens, spicy and tangy kimchi, and a perfectly crispy tortilla. Get your taste buds ready ’cause these are packed with flavor!

10. Colcannon Quesadilla

Ireland meets Mexico in these quesadillas stuffed with colcannon, a classic Irish mixture of mashed potatoes and cooked greens. This Colcannon Quesadilla is super simple to make, only requires 5 ingredients, and is the ideal comforting meal after a long day. For optimal enjoyment, serve it up with a spicy mint chutney, picante sauce, or green chili sauce.

11. Spinach Quesadillas With Strawberry-Spring Onion Salsa

Feeling adventurous? These Spinach Quesadillas With Strawberry-Spring Onion Salsa uniquely balance sweet and savory flavors. Nutritional yeast and baby spinach fill the tortillas and the salsa made from strawberries, spring onions, balsamic vinegar, and lime can be layer on top to add a juicy burst of flavor with every bite.

12. Roasted Broccolini and Balsamic Quesadilla

Nothing will make your food look more appetizing and taste more delicious than a healthy drizzle of balsamic vinegar. The Roasted Broccolini and Balsamic Quesadilla is proof of this fact. The roasted broccolini adds smoky flavor and texture, and the balsamic reduction makes it feel like a gourmet treat. In this quesadilla, you can choose whatever vegan cheese would pair best with the flavors. Be creative!

13. Pumpkin, Apple, and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas

Pumpkin, Apple, and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas give you the perfect excuse to enjoy cozy fall flavors year round! A little creamy, a little crispy, a little sweet, a little smoky, and even a little spicy if desired, these unique quesadillas are a little piece of heaven. Serve them warm with a cool dollop of vegan sour cream.

14. Butternut, Kale, and Black Bean Quesadillas

Tender toasted butternut squash, protein-packed black beans, and sautéed kale are combined to create Butternut, Kale, and Black Bean Quesadillas that are savory, slightly spicy, and delicious. Roasted red pepper hummus acts as the cheese in this recipe and provides a perfect layer of creaminess among the crunchy and tender vegetables.

15. Dessert Quesadilla

All those savory quesadillas make you crave a bite of sweetness? Lucky for you, we have a Dessert Quesadilla that is luscious, chocolatey, and berrylicious without being too rich or heavy. They are filled with vegan cream cheese, sweet blueberries, and drizzled with a delicious dark chocolate sauce.

What are you waiting for? Break out that package of tortillas or whip up a stack of your own if you are feeling extra chef-like. These are 15 interesting takes on the classic quesadilla all worth trying ASAP.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and incorporating more plant-based foods into your diet is known to Support various health benefits, including reducing chronic inflammation, improving heart health, enhancing mental well-being, achieving fitness goals, meeting nutritional needs, managing allergies, and promoting gut health, among others. Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer,  prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend grabbing our favorite plant-based cookbooks and downloading the Food Monster App — with over 20,000 delicious recipes, it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

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