Easy Mexican Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe (Healthy)

By Rena Awada | Updated On May 7, 2022

This easy, Mexican shrimp quesadilla recipe is filled with savory and healthy ingredients! Tender fried shrimp, lime juice, taco seasoning, onion, and bell pepper are sautéed and layered in flour tortillas with melted gooey cheese to create the best healthy seafood quesadillas.

front view of shrimp quesadilla on white plate with melted cheese and lime wedges


Simply prepared within minutes, you will love this healthy shrimp quesadilla recipe! Fried Mexican shrimp quesadillas are perfect for family dinners, Cinco de Mayo, and any other occasion at home that calls for a fresh recipe made in under 30 minutes.

If you have ever wondered how to make shrimp quesadillas–don’t worry! We will teach you exactly how to create your very own shrimp quesadilla recipe in no time.

These quesadillas are delicious and filled with natural flavors of garlic, mozzarella, and parsley; yum! Serve these quesadillas with street corn salad, zesty salsa, fresh guacamole, cooked rice, etc. These seafood quesadillas are incredibly versatile and easy to make with very basic ingredients you may already have.

Sound easy enough?

Why This Recipe for Mexican Shrimp Quesadilla is the Best

  • Ready in 30 minutes: This is one of the quickest recipes as it is ready in about 15 minutes!
  • Family-friendly: Who doesn’t love quesadillas? The whole family will love the cheesy and crispy flavors of these Mexican-style seafood quesadillas.
  • Versatile: Switch up the peppers, onions, seasoning, and cheese in this recipe if you don’t have what the recipe calls for. Shrimp quesadillas are easy to make with all sorts of fresh savory ingredients.
  • Healthy with protein: With 20 grams of protein per serving, shrimp is very filling. This recipe is made with fresh veggies to make sure these quesadillas have plenty of fiber.
top view of shrimp quesadillas on white plate with limes

Ingredients for the Best, easy Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe

The ingredients for this easy quesadilla recipe are simple and can be found in most grocery stores. We love how flexible this recipe can be!

Fresh Ingredients

  • Onion: One large sweet onion is needed for these shrimp quesadillas to ensure there are plenty of fresh savory flavors.
  • Bell pepper: Orange bell pepper gives these quesadillas a little crunch with pops of color. Any colored pepper can work.
  • Shrimp: One pound of raw shrimp is needed for this recipe. Be sure to thaw the shrimp before using it in this recipe.
  • Lime: Fresh tart lime juice and zest give these quesadillas the best bold flavors which make this one of the best quesadilla recipes out there.
  • Garlic: Savory fresh garlic cloves are used for flavor, and you only need one to two cloves to make sure this recipe is flavorful enough.

Everything else

  • Oil: Olive oil is aromatic, rich in flavor, and allows the quesadillas to be perfectly crispy.
  • Taco seasoning: You can make your own taco seasoning at home with spices in your pantry or take the easy way out and buy premade taco seasoning. Both choices are delicious!
  • Cheese: Shredded mozzarella cheese allows these crispy quesadillas to be filled with gooey melted cheese that pairs perfectly with the shrimp and fresh veggies.
  • Tortillas: Flour tortillas are subtle and neutral in flavor which makes them ideal for this flavorful quesadilla recipe.
  • Parsley: Fresh parsley is used as garnishment and is highly recommended as it really elevates the notes of this easy shrimp quesadilla recipe.
flour tortillas, taco seasoning, mozzarella cheese, raw shrimp, garlic cloves, salt, pepper, olive oil, onion, lime, orange bell pepper, parsley on grey surface

How to Make Fried Shrimp Quesadillas

First, chop and prepare all of the ingredients and vegetables for the recipe. Secondly, be sure your shrimp has thawed.

In a large frying pan over medium heat, heat one tablespoon of oil. Next, add the chopped onion and bell pepper.

Sauté the veggies until golden brown in some areas–this will take about three to four minutes.

Next, stir in the prepared shrimp, lime zest and juice, garlic, and taco seasoning. Cook all of the ingredients in the pan for about four minutes until the shrimp is pink and opaque in color.

Remove the pan from the heat and set the cooked ingredients aside on a large plate. Next, wipe the skillet clean with a linen or paper towel.

Divide the shrimp, veggies, cheese, and parsley atop the tortillas. Next, fold the tortillas in half and reheat the pan over medium-low heat.

top view of shrimp with shredded mozzarella cheese

After that, over medium-low heat, drizzle the rest of the olive oil into the pan and cook the tortillas in a batch of two. Next, cook the tortillas for one to two minutes on each side until the cheese has fully melted.

Carefully, remove the quesadillas from the heat and turn the heat off. Finally, serve the cooked shrimp quesadillas with sour cream, pico de gallo, extra fresh parsley, lime wedges, or guacamole.

front view of shrimp quesadillas on white plate with sour cream and lime wedges

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • Not a fan of shrimp? Switch things up and use chicken, beef, or fish.
  • Use any kind of cooking oil in place of the olive oil.
  • Swap out the flour tortillas for corn tortillas. Also, keep in mind the corn tortillas will have slightly different flavors.
  • Any colored bell pepper will work for this shrimp quesadilla recipe.
  • Mexican-style, pepper jack, or Monterey Jack cheeses are suitable for these quesadillas.
  • Be sure not to overcook the shrimp. Overcooked shrimp will have different results.
  • Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Also, you can easily meal prep with shrimp quesadillas, too.
front view of shrimp quesadilla recipe with parsley and cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does shrimp quesadilla last?

Shrimp quesadilla will last in the refrigerator for up to four days. Just reheat the quesadilla and enjoy!

What to serve with shrimp quesadillas?

You can serve a variety of things with shrimp quesadillas such as refried or black beans, salads, soups, chips and salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro, rice, and so much more!

Are shrimp quesadillas healthy?

Yes, these shrimp quesadillas are healthy because they are made with olive oil, bell pepper, and onion! These quesadillas are filled with nutrients and are low in carbs.

What is shrimp quesadilla made of?

Shrimp quesadillas can be made with a variety of cheese and ingredients. For this recipe, the key ingredients are mozzarella, bell pepper, onion, lime juice, taco seasoning, and garlic.

What is traditionally in a quesadilla?

Traditionally, quesadillas are typically served with corn tortillas, cheeses, and proteins like chicken or shrimp. Also, quesadillas are commonly paired with sour cream and fresh salsa.

close view of wedges of shrimp quesadilla recipe with cheese

More Shrimp and Mexican-Style Recipes You Will Enjoy!

Spicy Shrimp Tacos

Easy Shrimp Fajitas

Cajun Shrimp Recipe

Easy Chicken Quesadilla

Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice

top view of shrimp quesadilla recipe on white plate

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front view of shrimp quesadillas with parsley and lime wedges

Easy, Healthy Shrimp Quesadilla Recipe

Enjoy this easy and delicious shrimp quesadilla recipe that is made with healthy savory ingredients! Seafood quesadillas are easy to make Mexican-style with fresh ingredients.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 330kcal
Author: Rena

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
  • 1 sweet onion chopped
  • 1 orange bell pepper chopped
  • 1 pound shrimp raw; peeled and deveined
  • 1 lime juice and zest
  • 1-2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 4 flour tortillas

Instructions

  • First, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in medium frying-pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and pepper. Sauté the vegetables for 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Next, stir in the raw shrimp, lime zest and juice, garlic, and taco seasoning. Cook the vegetable mixture for 4 minutes.
  • Remove pan from heat and set cooked ingredients aside on a plate. Wipe the pan clean with a paper towel and replace back over medium-low heat.
  • Divide the cooked shrimp, vegetables, shredded cheese, and fresh parsley atop 4 flour tortillas. Fold each tortilla in half.
  • Finally, cook the folded tortillas in the heated pan with remainder of oil for 1 to 2 minutes per side until the cheese has melted.

Notes

  • Not a fan of shrimp? Switch things up and use chicken, beef, or fish.
  • Use any kind of cooking oil in place of the olive oil.
  • Swap out the flour tortillas for corn tortillas. Keep in mind the corn tortillas will have slightly different flavors.
  • Any colored bell pepper will work for this shrimp quesadilla recipe.
  • Mexican-style, pepper jack, or Monterey Jack cheeses are suitable for these quesadillas.
  • Be sure not to overcook the shrimp. Overcooked shrimp will have different results.
  • Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. You can easily meal prep with shrimp quesadillas, too.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 1099mg | Potassium: 389mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1709IU | Vitamin C: 52mg | Calcium: 277mg | Iron: 2mg
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