Best Quesadilla Makers

Best Quesadilla Makers

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Casey Thaler, NASM-CPT, FNS
Latest posts by Casey Thaler, NASM-CPT, FNS (see all)

Love a good, cheesy quesadilla? Who doesn’t? These Mexican staples are similar to the classic American grilled cheese, but substitute a tortilla for the white bread – and they’re absolutely delicious. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best quesadilla makers on the market today.

You are probably accustomed to ordering quesadillas at restaurants, or even picking one up via the drive thru. But you may not realize you can make your own quesadillas – right in the comfort of your own kitchen.

These appliances don’t cost very much, but they make cooking a quesadilla an absolute breeze. Simply fill your tortilla with your desired foods, flip it over, and place it inside your chosen quesadilla maker.

Within minutes, you’ll have a finished meal – completely ready to eat. There are thousands of quesadilla makers on the market though, so we’ve aggregated millions of customer reviews, tested the top models, and can confidently tell you which products to avoid – and more importantly – which are the best quesadilla makers on the market today.

Our Top Pick

Elite Gourmet EQD-118

Not only is this machine reliable – it’s very affordable. While you can certainly spend far more and get a premium quesadilla maker, we think this is the sweet spot on what most people will want to spend.

It was easy to use in our testing, made delicious quesadillas, and has tons of great customer reviews. Easily our top pick.

Other Great Picks

Nostalgia Taco Tuesday Deluxe

Another affordable option, this quesadilla maker from Nostalgia has everything you could want. Its non-stick surface was also easy to clean, and we highly recommend this for anyone who loves a little extra filling inside their quesadillas.

Of course, it’s not quite as advanced as premium models – but it’s also 1/3rd of their retail price. If you want a great budget pick, but still want great performance – this is another great product to choose.

Proctor Silex Sandwich Toaster

Do you love grilled cheese sandwiches, as well as quesadillas? If so, grab this awesome sandwich maker from Proctor Silex.

Not only did we love the very low price point, we thought the triangular sandwich-shaped plates were perfect for all our needs. While you can certainly spend 3-4 times more and get a deluxe sandwich maker – for most people, we think this is the perfect balance between affordability and performance. Our highest recommendation.

Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press

This great product from Hamilton Beach not only works great for making quesadillas – it can also make the perfect panini. Since Hamilton Beach is well-known for their kitchen appliances, this product is also made with excellent craftsmanship.

In fact, if you want a product that is not solely limited to just making quesadillas, this is one of the best choices on the entire market. It also has a myriad of perfect customer reviews backing its durability, and it stood up perfectly during our extensive testing – so we highly recommend this product.

Dash Mini Maker

With tens of thousands of stellar customer reviews, and an extremely low price point, this mini machine from Dash is tough to beat. While it would not be the pick to go with if you want full-size quesadillas, it is a great choice for mini ones.

Each quesadilla will be about 4 inches, which means this is a great machine to make appetizers with. Of course, the Mini Maker can also make waffles, as well as other foods, so it’s a completely steal for the almost-free price. Our highest recommendation.

Holstein Housewares Omelet Maker

Not only does this awesome kitchen appliance cook a perfect omelet, it also makes excellent quesadillas. We loved how easy it was to use, as well as how easy it was to clean.

With a very good price point, and a plethora of 5-star customer reviews, it is another great pick. One caveat, is that we don’t know how well it may hold up over time, but from our testing, it worked absolutely flawlessly in the short term. Highly recommended.

Hamilton Beach Quesadilla Maker

This specifically designed quesadilla maker from Hamilton Beach is yet another great choice. It has an endless amount of great user reviews, and got our food ready to eat in just 5 minutes.

While you could opt for other models (perhaps machines that have multiple functions) – for the quesadilla purist, this is a fine choice. It’s hard to ever go wrong with a Hamilton Beach kitchen appliance, and this is yet another great product from their research and development team. A top pick.

Nostalgia MGD5OR

This mini griddle from Nostalgia is an affordable, multifunctional pick. While it will make smaller quesadillas (as well as waffles, breakfast sandwiches, and any number of other meals) – it doesn’t lack in performance.

Because it’s so small, it is a perfect option for trips. Backed by tons of reviews from actual buyers, and with an extremely affordable price point, we highly recommend it.

MasterChef Quesadilla Oven

This is a little more deluxe than most other picks on our list, and boy does it perform well. With a rotating base, this machine can also cook pizzas, cinnamon buns, and all kinds of other goodies.

MasterChef is known for their high-quality kitchen appliances, and this device is no exception. We loved the quesadillas we made with it, as well as the pizza recipe we tested. A definite thumbs up.

Hamilton Beach Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker

This insanely great appliance from Hamilton Beach is perfect for making multiple quesadillas at once. You can also make a flurry of breakfast sandwiches flawlessly and easily, which we also love.

If you want a long-lasting, high-performing, and diverse kitchen appliance – this is the pick for you. The five-star user reviews aren’t lying – this is an absolutely wonderful (and affordable) machine.

What Is A Quesadilla Maker?

A quesadilla maker is a kitchen appliance (much like a waffle maker) that is specially designed to cook quesadillas. Oftentimes, these machine will also be capable of cooking sandwiches, paninis, waffles, and other foods, as well.

Operating them is very easy. You simply turn on the machine, let it heat up, and then place your quesadilla inside.

After just a few minutes of cooking, your food will be ready. Of course, since the machine will have hot edges, make sure you exercise safety and caution, when removing finished food from the device.

What Else Can You Make In A Quesadilla Maker?

This answer will depend largely on which model you go with, but there are usually a wide variety of other foods you can make in a quesadilla maker. Some examples include omelets, sandwiches, waffles, paninis, pancakes, crepes, grilled cheeses, french toast – and much more.

How Do You Make A Quesadilla In A Quesadilla Maker?

This is quite easy – start by plugging the machine in. Once the light goes off (or on, depending on your model), the machine will be ready for you to start cooking.

Place your tortilla(s) on the base, and then add your filling. If not using the half-moon method, add another tortilla on top, and close the lid.

Once the cheese starts to slightly peek outside of the edge of the machine, your quesadilla will be ready. Make sure to let it cool down, before consuming.

How Do You Make A Quesadilla Better?

This is – of course – ultimately up to personal taste and preference, but there are a few well-known tricks of the trade. Firstly, choose a wide variety of flavors, meat, and cheeses.

This will surprise your tastebuds, and also enhance the flavor. For example, we love to add some hot sauce to our finished quesadillas (usually by dipping the finished tortilla into the liquid).

This brings out some bold flavors, and definitely adds a bit of a traditional Mexican vibe to the meal. We also like to throw all of the ingredients in the filling in a hot pan for a few minutes, first, so they meld together.

What Tortilla Is Best For A Quesadilla?

Tacos and quesadillas – while seeming similar – are actually a little different, when it comes to successfully constructing them. As such, you will want to avoid the corn tortillas used for most tacos, and instead opt for flour tortillas, for making your quesadillas.

Flour tortillas will be flexible enough to withstand flipping and moving – but they are still strong enough to not break. We also recommend using just one tortilla to make each quesadilla, as this technique makes it a lot more likely that the finished product will stay together.

What Is The Best Cheese For A Quesadilla?

Taco Bell (an American chain restaurant) uses cheddar cheese in their quesadillas, as well as Monterey jack, and American cheese. You may sometimes see them reference a “three cheese blend”, which consists of what we just mentioned.

Of course, in Mexico, cheddar cheese would not ever be used (at least traditionally). Ultimately, this comes down to personal preference, as we’v never met a quesadilla we didn’t like – regardless of which type of cheese was used.

What Kind Of Cheese Do Mexican Restaurants Use In Quesadillas?

If you’re looking to make authentic Mexican quesadillas, the type of cheese (as well as other ingredients) you use, can be crucial. There are a few cheeses are traditionally used in Mexican quesadillas, and one in particular, to avoid.

The best options to use for quesadillas include Chihuahua cheese, asadero cheese, Oaxaca cheese, and manchego cheese. If you can’t find any of these, you can opt for mozzarella cheese, or other options.

One cheese that would almost never be used in traditional Mexican quesadillas, would be cheddar. So if you want to stay truly authentic, avoid using this cheese in your quesadillas – but truthfully, we think quesadillas taste delicious with any cheese.

How Do You Clean A Quesadilla Maker?

Cleaning a quesadilla maker is usually very straightforward. While you should check the manual that came with your specific model for more detailed instructions, we’ve listed some general cleaning guidelines for quesadilla makers below.

To begin with, make sure the unit is off, and has properly cooled down. From there, use a damp cloth (in a pinch, a wet paper towel can work), and wipe down every inch of the machine.

It shouldn’t take much more than this for the machine to be cleaned, but you can give it a few more once overs, if desired. For extra tough food and grime, you can try removing it with a plastic (or rubber) spatula.

How Much Is A Quesadilla Maker?

Quesadilla makers can range from $10 to $300 – though unless you have unique needs, we think most people will be quite happy with models under $100. If you plan on using it every day, and also want other functions, we’d recommend spending as much as possible, as you’ll want the machine to last for years (without needing to be replaced).

This is a cautious balance between too much, and too little. You want to make sure you have cheese to hold the quesadilla together, as without it, it will likely fall apart.

While there are no hard and fast rules, we recommend about a 50/50 mix of cheese to other fillings. If you want avoid overstuffing your quesadilla, stick to about 2-3 tablespoons of total food placed inside each quesadilla.

This should get you in the optimal range for each serving of food, without causing leakage. Of course, some additional home kitchen experimenting may still be required – especially if you are filling each bite with lots of different foods and flavors.

The Best Quesadilla Makers

There you have it – our top picks for the best quesadilla makers. Whether you want a budget machine that only makes your favorite Mexican food, or you want a deluxe model that makes waffles, sandwiches, paninis, and more – we’ve got you covered.

Quesadillas are absolutely delicious no matter how they’re prepared, and one of the best parts of owning a quesadilla maker, is in being able to customize your own quesadilla to your heart’s content. If you liked our review on these models, be sure to check out some of our other top kitchen appliance reviews.

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