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Ultimate Crispy Garlic Butter Shrimp Quesadillas (Under 25 Minutes)

Close-up of perfectly grilled shrimp quesadilla wedges stuffed with seasoned shrimp and melted cheese.
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Stop ordering takeout! Master the art of the restaurant-style shrimp quesadilla tonight with this simple, tested recipe. Get tender, zesty seasoned shrimp and perfectly melty cheese sealed inside unbelievably crispy tortillas—all ready in just 25 minutes! Ideal for quick weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 8 medium flour tortillas (8-inch size)
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack or Mexican blend cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
  • Lime wedges, for serving

Instructions

  1. Prepare the shrimp: In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Sauté the shrimp: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Make the garlic butter: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
  4. Assemble the quesadillas: Place one tortilla in the skillet. Sprinkle one-quarter of the cheese over half of the tortilla. Top the cheese with one-quarter of the cooked shrimp and a sprinkle of cilantro, if using. Fold the empty half of the tortilla over the filling.
  5. Cook until crispy: Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted. Brush the top of the quesadilla lightly with some of the garlic butter mixture in the pan while cooking the second side for extra flavor and crispness.
  6. Repeat: Remove the finished quesadilla and place it on a cutting board. Repeat the assembly and cooking process with the remaining ingredients, adding more butter to the pan if needed.
  7. Serve: Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve immediately with lime wedges.

Notes

  • For extra crispy tortillas, use a thin layer of butter or oil in the pan instead of relying only on the garlic butter mixture.
  • If you prefer a spicier kick, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the shrimp seasoning mix.
  • You can substitute the shrimp with cooked, shredded chicken for a different quick weeknight dinner option.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kingscook.com/shrimp-quesadilla-ultimate-crispy-garlic-butter/