Vegetarian Quesadillas with Crumbled Tempeh

Looking for the best vegetarian quesadillas that are actually filling, flavorful, and easy to make? These veggie quesadillas are packed with seasoned crumbled tempeh, sautéed vegetables, and melty cheese-all tucked inside a crispy tortilla.

Whether you're vegetarian, trying to eat less meat, or just need a quick weeknight dinner, this vegetarian quesadilla recipe has a high-protein tempeh filling that is a satisfying option you'll want to make on repeat. They also go great with Easy Avocado Cilantro Dressing or Green Chile Queso Sauce as a sauce for the quesadillas.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love These Vegetarian Quesadillas
• What is Tempeh?
• Why You'll Love These Vegetarian Quesadillas
• 📋 Ingredients for Easy Veggie Quesadillas
• 📖 How to Make Veggie Quesadillas
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Tempeh vs Other Vegetarian Quesadilla Fillings
• 🍴 More Easy Vegetarian Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• ⭐ Reviews

Why You'll Love These Vegetarian Quesadillas

• High-protein vegetarian meal (thanks to tempeh).
• Ready in just 20 minutes.
• Loaded with veggies and bold Tex-Mex flavor.
• Easily customizable (vegan, gluten-free options)
• Perfect for meal prep or quick dinners.

What is Tempeh?

Tempeh is made from cooked and fermented soybeans. Tempeh recipes are a great way to add protein to your meals if you're plant-based or incorporating less meat into your diet. It is a great replacement for ground meat when you're going vegan or if it's Meatless Monday in your household. It has a nutty flavor and a firm texture. Tempeh marinates really well, too, so you can flavor your veggie quesadilla filling with your favorite seasonings. Tempeh is a great way to show you how to add protein without meat in a veggie quesadilla.

Why You'll Love These Vegetarian Quesadillas

• High-protein vegetarian meal (thanks to tempeh)
• Ready in just 20 minutes
• Loaded with veggies and bold Tex-Mex flavor
• Easily customizable (vegan, gluten-free options)
• Perfect for meal prep or quick dinners

📋 Ingredients for Easy Veggie Quesadillas

• Tempeh: I use the Lightlife brand Tempeh. I use a grater to shred my tempeh then cook it with the veggie mix to make my crumbles. Vegetarian tempeh recipes are so versatile. I have used it with Mexican-inspired flavors as well as in a salad with Miso Sauce.
• Veggies: I used bell pepper, onions, corn, mushrooms, and spinach.
• Tortillas: I use flour tortillas. My favorite is H-E-B's fresh flour tortillas. Corn tortillas work well with these.
• Tomato paste and taco seasoning: for all the flavors. I get these from Thrive Market or look for a no sodium added option.
• Cheese. I love using Tillamook cheddar cheese or Kirkland's Mexican blend cheese. These are great non-animal rennet options. If you want to make this tempeh and veggie quesadilla as a vegan quesadilla, you can either omit the cheese or use vegan cheese.

📖 How to Make Veggie Quesadillas

• Make the tempeh filling. I used a shredder for this but you can also crumble by hand.
• Cooking tempeh and veggie mix. Briefly sauté the vegetables, add the crumbled tempeh, cook it until it gets slightly browned on the edges, add the tomato paste, taco seasoning, then salt to taste.
• Assembling the quesadillas. Take a tortilla, add cheese on half the tortilla, add the tempeh filling, top it with some more cheese, and fold it over. cook the quesadillas until slightly brown and crispy! 
• Serve warm! 
• If you're running low on time, you can also make these into a tempeh taco and they turn out amazing. Simply take your tortilla, assemble the tempeh crumble filling, add cheese, and a sauce like the avocado cilantro sauce, and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Tempeh vs Other Vegetarian Quesadilla Fillings

• Tempeh gives you a high-protein, meaty texture. I think this is the best vegetarian quesadilla filling if you're looking for that type of texture.
• Beans give you a softer. Beans are also more budget-friendly.
• Tofu has a milder flavor but is also versatile, as shredding and baking it can give you a similar meaty texture.
• Paneer. A fusion style that will give you a richer, creamier texture.

This vegetarian quesadilla recipe would work great as a make-ahead snack or an appetizer for a party as well! You can also make the tempeh filling ahead and use it for the tempeh tacos bar, and allow guests to assemble their own tempeh tacos! Serve with avocado, salsa, sour cream, or any hot sauce of your choice. Serve warm and enjoy!

🍴 More Easy Vegetarian Recipes

• Crispy Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
• Vegetarian Mexican Casserole
• Vegan Esquites (Mexican Street Corn Salad)
• Black Bean and Mango Salad with Lime Dressing

For more tempeh recipes, check out this Tempeh Salad with Miso Ginger Sauce or use tempeh in place of tofu for these Vegan Tofu Tacos.

If you loved these Vegetarian Quesadillas, please let me know in the comments below! I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Subscribe for my weekly emails at the bottom so you never miss a new recipe!

📖 Recipe