Hi, Seafoodies!
We’ve always loved that idea of having a signature recipe up your sleeve, something you can make without really thinking about it because it’s practically down to muscle memory.
These new Air Fryer Tuna Quesadillas? That’s our version. If we had to pick one recipe that we could make with our eyes closed, that works for lunch or dinner, that uses pantry staples and that genuinely tastes good enough to make again and again—this would be it.
One of the best things about these quesadillas is how versatile and convenient they make it to turn canned or pouched tuna into something that feels completely different from your typical tuna salad. Tuna gets mixed with diced celery for crunch, chopped pickle for tang, fresh cilantro and a hit of Old Bay seasoning that brings in just a little bit of that coastal flavor that we all know and love! Mayo and lemon juice bind everything together, then the whole mixture gets sandwiched between two types of cheese—Monterey Jack and mild cheddar (because one cheese is never enough)—inside a flour tortilla. (You can also use grain-free tortillas for a gluten-free version.) The air fryer crisps it all up in about 8 minutes total (remember— if this is going to be your signature dish, it can’t take forever to make,) just long enough to get that perfect golden exterior with melted, gooey cheese inside.
That’s it. Fifteen minutes from start to finish. Four servings. Ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and fridge. That’s the kind of recipe that earns its spot in your regular rotation, and quietly becomes your default solution to “Hey, I’m kinda hungry, how about you?”
And honestly, using the air fryer is another big reason why making this recipe is so stress-free—no flipping quesadillas in a skillet and worrying about them falling apart, no heating up the whole kitchen and no potential oil splatters to dodge or wipe up! Just spray the basket with oil, fold your tortilla and let that air fryer do its thing! You can make two at a time, depending on your air fryer size, which means everyone’s eating hot quesadillas at roughly the same time instead of one person waiting while everyone else starts to dig in.
Serve them with salsa, hot sauce, guacamole or sour cream—depending on what sounds good and what you have hanging around in your kitchen. Add these to your repertoire and suddenly you’ve got your own signature dish worthy of a cooking montage—except this one happens in real time!
Happy crunching (and dipping!)
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Air Fryer Tuna Quesadillas
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 (6 oz.) cans or pouches of tuna in water, drained
- 2 medium celery stalks, diced (about ½ cup)
- 1 medium kosher dill pickle spear, diced (about ¼ cup)
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
- 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese, divided
- 4 (8-inch) soft flour tortillas
- Olive oil or avocado spray
- Salsa, hot sauce, guacamole, Greek yogurt or sour cream for topping (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine tuna, celery, pickle, mayonnaise, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, pepper and Old Bay seasoning. Mix to combine well.
- Spray air fryer basket insert with olive oil or avocado oil. Place one tortilla in basket, then add ¼ cup of the Monterey Jack cheese on half of the tortilla, top with ¼ tuna mixture, then top with ¼ cup of the cheddar cheese. Fold tortilla in half. Spray lightly with oil. Repeat with a second tortilla.
- Cook at 350°F for 4 minutes or until the quesadilla is crispy and golden. Flip, and cook for another 4 minutes. (If tortilla has lifted away from the fillings, press it back down with a spatula.) Remove and place on plate.
- Repeat the process with the remaining two tortillas, tuna mixture and cheese.
- Serve immediately with your choice of toppings.
Recommended Equipment: Air fryer, bowl, fork to mix, spatula, cutting board, knife
- Category: Tuna
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