Loaded with melted cheese, scrambled eggs and leftover ham, this breakfast quesadilla is the best way to fuel up in the morning! Plus, you’ll be using up the leftover ham in your fridge and transforming it into a protein-packed meal.
Not sure what to do with leftover ham from the holidays? This breakfast quesadilla is the best way to turn into something new (though this ham salad is wonderful for lunch too).
Loaded with cheesy eggs, onions, peppers and cooked ham, this quesadilla is a savory breakfast that provides both comfort and fuel.
With only a handful of ingredients, you can whip up this quesadilla quickly in the morning and enjoy it alongside a cup of coffee. Perfect for weekends or hosting brunch where everyone can customize their own.
Here Are The Ingredients You Need For The Breakfast Quesadilla
Eggs and Milk – the basics for any breakfast recipe. Cream can also be used to scramble the eggs.
Whole wheat tortilla – whole wheat gives you an extra dose of nutrients. Likewise, if you need to make this recipe gluten-free, all you need to do is grab a gluten-free tortilla.
Cheddar cheese – make sure to grate it and not slice it so that it melts better. Any cheese you have on hand can be subbed in here.
Green onion – though it’s not necessary, green onion brings all the flavors together nicely.
Cooked ham – use what you have left over in the fridge and dice it finely. If your ham has a glaze, know that a sweeter flavor will come through in the quesadilla. Chopped cooked ham can also be used on this BBQ Hawaiian pizza.
How To Make A Breakfast Quesadilla
Step 1: Cook the Eggs
Whisk together the eggs and milk in a small bowl and cook them in a greased skillet over medium heat. Stir them frequently to scramble them and set them aside when they’re finished.
Step 2: Assemble the Quesadilla in the Pan
In the heated pan, add a dash more grease or spray before laying the tortilla flat on top. Sprinkle most of the shredded cheese over the entire surface (set aside some cheese for topping).
Then, add the eggs on top of the cheese and layer on the cooked ham and green onion. Season with salt and pepper as desired.
Step 3: Get it Melty!
Top the quesadilla with any cheese leftover and fold it in half in the pan. Press the quesadilla down with a spatula and cook it until the bottom starts to brown and the cheese is melted and gooey.
Remove from the pan, slice it and serve.
Why You’ll Love The Recipe
- The breakfast quesadilla is a delicious and very easy way to use up the leftover ham you have in the fridge. With minimal effort, you have a protein-packed breakfast to fuel you up.
- This recipe is extremely simple but also very versatile. You can add seasonings, ingredients or toppings to the breakfast quesadilla to make it new each time.
- It’s a healthy breakfast that is packed with protein to keep you full along with savory, comforting flavor.
Tips and Tricks To Make The Best Breakfast Quesadilla
Since you’ll be laying the tortilla flat into the pan, make sure your pan is large enough before you add the cooking spray. A 10-inch skillet should work well.
Don’t overlook re-greasing the pan after scrambling the eggs. Without enough of it, the tortilla will most likely burn.
You want the bottom of the quesadilla to turn a nice golden color before you remove it.
Breakfast quesadillas taste best fresh. If you store the quesadilla once made, the tortilla tends to get a bit soggy in the fridge. If you need to meal prep this recipe, make the scrambled eggs in advance and then just assemble the quesadillas once you make them. Recipes like our bacon egg cups or spinach frittata are better suited for breakfast meal-prepping.
Topping Additions and Variations
When it comes to a breakfast quesadilla, there are so many ways to vary the taste and make it taste fresh each time. Below are some tasty ideas:
Vegetables: in addition to green onions, adding sliced mushrooms, bell peppers or chopped red onion is a great way to boost your veggie intake.
Fresh herbs: if you love lots of flavors, add in or top your quesadilla with fresh parsley, basil, or even cilantro. A homemade pesto like arugula pesto is also an easy way to add herbaceous flavor.
Toppings: once the breakfast quesadilla is cooked, have sides of salsa, sour cream, or avocado to mix in with each bite.
What does well in quesadillas?
Quesadillas can be made with many flavors and ingredients and truly depends on your personal preference. Some common ingredients are red onions, peppers, chopped tomatoes, cubed ham, diced chicken, all sorts of cheeses and even olives. Our smashed white bean quesadilla is a great example of unique ingredients that shine in quesadilla form.
How do you jazz up a quesadilla?
Add a flavor punch to your quesadillas by adding in some sliced jalapeños, pickled shallots, chili powder, smoked paprika, or fresh cilantro. Each of these will bring a whole new flavor to a basic recipe.
Can you freeze quesadillas?
Yes! Allow them to cool before storing them in a sealed bag with each slice separated by layers of parchment paper. To enjoy, either microwave from frozen or let them thaw in the fridge and then bake them in the oven until warm and crisp.
More easy breakfast recipes like this to try
This kale and feta egg bake is a simple savory breakfast that can also double as a great dinner recipe for crazy nights.
Make your own breakfast hot pockets with this recipe and have a freezer breakfast ready to go for busy mornings.
Mini ham cheese and spinach breakfast pies are a savory bakery-style breakfast featuring the indulgence of puff pastry that make the ultimate brunch fare and can also be made with leftover ham.
Easy Breakfast Quesadilla
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 whole wheat tortilla , 8-10 inches
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup chopped cooked ham
- 1 green onion, chopped
- pepper
Instructions
- Whisk the eggs and milk together in a small bowl.
- Heat a skillet to medium and grease with butter or cooking spray.
- Once hot, add the eggs to the skillet and scramble. Transfer to a dish and set aside.
- Add a bit more grease to the skillet and lay the tortilla flat in the pan.
- Sprinkle most of the cheese over the entire surface of the tortilla, then transfer the scrambled eggs onto one side of the tortilla. Place the chopped ham and green onion on top of the eggs and season with some black pepper.
- Top with the remaining cheese and fold the tortilla in half.
- Press down with a spatula and cook until the cheese is melted and the bottom starts to brown.
- Transfer to a cutting board, slice into thirds and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
The eggs were fluffy and the melted cheese added a delicious gooeyness. Topped mine with avocado and it’s a perfect breakfast to start my day! Great recipe to use up some leftover ham.
I had some leftover tortilla wrap so I decided to make this recipe! It was so delicious! Aside from cheddar, I also added some mozzarella too!
So good! Super perfect for my busy mornings since it’s fast and easy to make. Added some mushrooms and had salsa on the side and it taste so delicious!
Added some diced tomatoes and avocado slices for extra freshness – it was delicious! Such a great way to sneak in some veggies.
Forgot to re-grease the pan after cooking the eggs, and the tortilla did burn a bit. Note to self: don’t skip that step next time! But the dish still turned out so yummy!
I’m a sucker for quesadillas but I’ve never had one for breakfast. I love this recipe! The macros are super balanced and I’m loving the amount of protein in this recipe.