A quick and easy vegan Avocado Quesadilla recipe! This healthier, dairy-free quesadilla replaces cheese with creamy plant-based avocado instead. Plus it only takes 10 minutes to prepare! (Vegan, gluten-free option.)
Quesadillas were always a quick and easy meal for us, but when I stopped eating dairy cheese, well… so went the quesadillas.
I desperately wanted them back in my life and although an obvious substitution would be vegan cheese, this seemed like it could be a job for avocados.
Turns out it's a great replacement! I like that they're healthier than cheese quesadillas, and I think they taste even better.
Customizing
These are easy to customize with your own favorite additions. A few ideas include:
Beans: Add cooked black beans, pinto beans, white beans, etc.
Veggies: Cooked sweet corn, fire-roasted corn, sautéed onions, bell pepper, etc.
Spices + seasonings: Taco seasoning, smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, etc. are flavorful additions as well.
Tip: Or you can simply replace the cheese with avocado in any of your own favorite quesadillas!
For more inspiration, also browse all 15 minutes or less recipes.
Avocado Quesadilla
Ingredients
- 1/2 avocado (more if you prefer)
- 1 small roma tomato (diced)
- 1 green onion (sliced)
- 2 tsp. nutritional yeast
- Seasonings of choice (taco seasoning, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, etc.)
- Salsa to taste (I like Blender Salsa)
- 1 large tortilla (gluten-free if desired)
Instructions
- On one half of the tortilla, smash avocado with a fork. Sprinkle nutritional yeast and any seasonings on top. Add tomato, green onions, and salsa if using.
- Fold over the top half of the tortilla, and place on a skillet over medium heat.
- Heat for a few minutes on each side until warmed through.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)
Sodium: This is omitted as I cannot provide an accurate number. I encourage you to calculate your own to provide a much more precise reading based on the exact ingredients, brands, and amounts you're using.
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Sara
Yummy! We skipped the nutritional yeast and flavored with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt. Delicious and easy!
Kaitlin McGinn
Excellent! Love those flavorful spices - thanks for sharing!
Michelle Rivera
I am so excited to try this! Growing up in Puerto Rico we eat avocado with pretty much every meal! We are now changing out diet to vegan slowly but surely and this seems like a delicious meal to try! I love your site, thanks for all this recipes.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
That's great! Hope you enjoy.
Cameo
These look amazing! My kids LOVE avocado. Without a cheese substitute do they stay together well? I'm imagining my kids eating it and most of the avocado on the floor!
Cameo
These are great! Yum! And not too messy. Toddler approved!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
So great to hear!
Kristi
Is nutritional yeast the same you use to make bread? If not where do you get it?
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
It's different than bread yeast, and has a wonderful "cheesy" taste to it. I buy Bob's Red Mill Nutritional Yeast Flakes - you can find it online, or many stores now carry it too!
Anonymous
YUM! This looks delicious, what type/brand of tortillas do you use?
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
I try to find local whole grain tortillas when possible, but otherwise will opt for Udi's gluten-free tortillas.
Blakeney Jessica
Hello! I was wondering what to use in my pan so that the quesadillas don't stick. Do you think that Safflower Oil would do the trick? Thanks!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
I use my nonstick skillet for quesadillas, so I've never had an issue with the tortillas sticking without oil. But feel free to use a VERY light coat of oil when making quesadillas to get them nice and crispy. Safflower oil should do the trick!
Blakeney Jessica
Thanks! They turned out great and were delicious!
Heather Bornstein
Where do you get nutritional yeast? I am always looking for it!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
A lot of health food stores or grocery stores carry it now, but you can also find it online.
Donna
These quesadillas were soooooo good! I'll be making them again! Thanks for another great recipe. My all time favorite recipe of yours is the Southwestern Chopped Salad with Cilantro. Have made it several times and ALWAYS enjoy every, tasty bite!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
That's awesome, Donna! Glad you're enjoying the salad too!
marleen claeys
It was delicious!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
So great to hear!
Jess-a-Roo
Hi Kaitlin! If I nix the nooch (nutritional yeast), would you suggest adding in Parmesan or just leaving it out with no substitutes? Thank you.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Hey Jess! Either would be great!
Kathleen
What is the purpose of the nutritional yeast?
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Hi Kathleen! Great question - nutritional yeast adds a nice savory, cheesy, nutty flavor so I love to use it in my quesadillas.
Skye Travis
Yeast is jam packed with B vitamins and an ok source of protein, and fiber. Nutritional Yeast (like Bob's Red Mill) has, in just 2 tablespoons, the following: 395% of your daily Thiamin, 285% of Riboflavin, 115% of Niacin, 150% of your B6, 135% of your Folate, and 145% of your B12. Not to mention 4grams of protein.
That's not bad for 30 calories of delicious nutty, creamy flavor. What's nice about Bob's yeast is that it is inactive - so it doesn't cause some of the same troubles that live yeast can cause in our systems (or so I've read).
Nichole
What a cool idea, I love it! I've missed quesadillas since going vegan, too. By the way, you probably already know this, but if you sprinkle Indian black salt on them they taste just like a hard boiled egg. Is there anything avocados can't do?
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
That's awesome - thanks for the tip!