Today I am sharing how to make Steak Quesadillas in your waffle maker! After making waffle maker quesadillas this way years ago, its now a go-to method and its a perfect leftover steak recipe!
Making Steak Quesadillas in your waffle maker is SO easy and the best part is that the quesadillas come out perfect every time. Hot, cheesy and perfectly crisp where you want them to be.
These are a favorite of my husband and son (and all of my sons’ buddies as well). When the boys know I plan on making quesadillas, they get very excited, lol! I once fed five 13-year-old boys chicken quesadillas, cheese quesadillas and steak quesadillas and they literally each ate 3 whole quesadillas! Two of them ate 4!! I was a quesadilla making machine!
The really convenient thing about making quesadillas in a waffle maker vs a pan is that you don’t have to flip them, just press, cook & serve!
You can sauté your veggies and cook your steak in advance if you like. Or make everything fresh and then get down to assembling the quesadillas. If you make things in advance or are using leftovers, the heat of the waffle iron will warm things up easily. Just allow leftovers to come up to room temp a little before assembling that way everything will be hot and delicious!
Once you set up your ingredient area (your mise en plas) it’s a snap to assemble and cook the quesadillas. No flipping required! I actually have a few authentic Mexican Comals that I cook with yet I prefer our quesadillas made in the waffle maker. Beef, chicken or veggie, they all work this way. Give it a try!
Ingredients
To make these steak quesadillas you need: flour or corn tortillas, cooked steak sliced thin, sautéed peppers and onions, salt, pepper and taco seasoning and cheese(s) of your choice. Optional ingredients include cilantro, black beans, salsa, pico de gallo, taco or hot sauce, corn etc.
Variations
- Make these quesadillas on your Blackstone griddle, comal or pan on the stove vs a waffle maker, it all works!
- Make chicken, steak, cheese or veggie quesadillas.
- Add whichever ingredients or side condiments you feel you’d enjoy.
- Season veggies and steak simply with S&P or use taco seasoning or a Mexican seasoning blend.
- Use any cheese you enjoy (that melts well).
Tips
- Preheat and lightly oil your waffle maker with cooking spray, a spray bottle or a silicone brush.
- Assemble quesadillas on a cutting board and then gently lift onto the waffle maker. IF you have everything ready to go and are quick, you can also assemble quesadillas ON the waffle maker, being careful to not touch the hot iron (I find this method easier and quicker).
- Once quesadillas ore on the waffle maker, close the lid gently, and gradually begin to press down, allowing things to settle gradually vs just smashing.
- Don’t overload your quesadillas as you don’t want things spilling out as you compress
- Use a metal spatula to pull up a corner of the quesadilla then lifting it out to cut and serve.
I Hope you have fun making & easting these Steak Quesadillas! XO Colleen
Recipe originally posted July, 2017. Update July, 2025.
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Colleen Kennedy is the author of 3 cookbooks and has appeared on QVC and other shows inspiring home cooks of all levels. She has a popular TikTok channel @ColleensCooking with hundreds of short recipe videos. Colleen lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and kids, she started the food blog, Soufflé Bombay in 2009. Read more about her here.
How to Make Steak Quesadillas in Your Waffle Maker
Waffle Maker Steak Quesadillas. So easy, no flipping! Steak Quesadillas recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 ribeye steaks or which ever cut you prefer (1 or 2 steaks depending on their size) or leftover steak
- 2 TBS butter
- 2 green peppers seeded cut into thin slices
- 1 large Vidalia onion sliced
- Salt & pepper
- 4 – 6 to 8-inch diameter flour tortillas you can also swap for corn tortillas
- 1 ½ cups Shredded Mexican cheese more or less to taste
- Black beans (optional)
- Salsa (optional)
- Sour Cream (optional)
Instructions
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Cook your steak(s) to your liking, When making quesadillas I cook to just under medium.
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Choose to grill your steaks or pan fry. Be sure to season them well first. Allow steaks to rest before slicing.
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Saute your peppers and onions in butter, season well with salt and pepper as they cook.
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When ready to make quesadillas. Set up your ingredients in the line of order you will be adding them to the tortilla. It’s efficient that way.
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Spray waffle iron with Pam or whatever you use and heat it until hot/ready.
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Once iron is ready, lay one tortilla on the griddle then sprinkle cheese, add beans, peppers & onions, steak slices and then add some more cheese (the same as you first did or mix it up with a second variety of cheese as suggested…no rules here). Top with the another tortilla gently close the waffle iron putting more and more pressure in it. Hold it closed for 30 seconds, pressing down where cool. Allow it to continue cooking another 3-3 ½ minutes or so, putting pressure on it every now and again.
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Once the tortilla looks done to your liking (with some brown or crisp edges/spots, get under it with a small metal spatula or butter knife and spatula and place it on a cutting board for a minute or two. Use a sharp chefs knife to cut it into 4 triangles right along the waffle marks. Don’t “saw” it into quarters, press and roll your chefs knife to make a clean cut. Serve with salsa and repeat until full.
Notes
You can cook the peppers & onions and steak a bit ahead of time if you like. Just bring to almost room temp when ready to assemble. You can season simply with S7P or with taco seasoning if you prefer.
I use a circular Belgian-style waffle iron.
Nutrition
Serving: 6servingsCalories: 308kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 22gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 246mgPotassium: 323mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 460IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg
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