Description
This Breakfast Quesadilla recipe is a hearty and flavorful way to start your day, combining fluffy scrambled eggs cooked with spinach and white beans, layered with melty cheese inside whole wheat tortillas. Perfect for a quick breakfast or meal prep option, these quesadillas can be enjoyed immediately or frozen for later use.
Ingredients
Scale
Egg Mixture
- 10 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Vegetable & Beans
- ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 cups lightly packed fresh spinach, roughly torn or chopped (about 4 ounces)
- 1 can reduced-sodium white beans (15 ounces), such as cannellini, Great Northern, or white kidney, rinsed and drained
Cheese & Tortillas
- 1 ½ cups freshly grated cheese such as cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, or similar melty cheese (about 5 ounces)
- 8 whole wheat tortillas, medium taco size (about 7 inches)
Instructions
- Mix the Egg Base: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, kosher salt, garlic powder, and ground black pepper until well combined. Set this mixture aside while preparing the other ingredients.
- Cook Spinach and Beans with Eggs: Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot and shimmering. Add the fresh spinach and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to wilt, about 1 minute. Then add the rinsed and drained white beans. Reduce the heat to medium-low, carefully pour in the egg mixture, and cook low and slow. Use a rubber spatula to gently move the eggs around often, allowing them to scramble evenly until just set, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper, then remove from heat. If freezing, let the filling cool completely.
- Assemble the Quesadillas: Lay one tortilla flat and sprinkle with one-eighth of the shredded cheese, leaving a small border around the edges. Spoon one-eighth of the egg, spinach, and bean mixture over the cheese, then fold the tortilla in half. Repeat this process with the remaining tortillas and ingredients to make eight quesadillas.
- Cook Quesadillas Immediately: Wipe out the skillet used earlier, then increase heat to medium. Lightly coat the skillet with nonstick spray or brush with additional olive oil. Cook each assembled quesadilla on both sides until golden brown and the cheese is melted, approximately 5 to 6 minutes total. Cut into wedges and serve warm.
- Freeze for Later Use: If freezing, ensure the egg filling cools completely before assembling. Wrap each quesadilla individually in plastic wrap and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container. Store for up to 2 months. To reheat, remove plastic wrap and warm the quesadilla in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through, or thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then cook in a skillet as described above.
Notes
- Use reduced-sodium white beans to keep sodium levels moderate.
- Sharp white cheddar is recommended for flavor, but feel free to use your favorite melting cheese.
- Make sure to let the egg filling cool completely before freezing to maintain texture and safety.
- The quesadillas can be reheated from frozen or thawed, offering flexibility for meal prep.
- Adjust seasoning after cooking the eggs since spinach and beans can influence saltiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesadilla
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 370mg
