Two folded quesadillas make a filling dinner, and the filling is mostly pantry and freezer staples: a can of black beans, a cup of frozen corn, one pepper and one onion. Mashing half the beans keeps the filling from falling out when you flip them.
Ingredients and cost
Each cost is for the amount this recipe uses. Pantry items like oil, spices and soy sauce cost more on your first trip, then last for many meals.
| Ingredient | Price used | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Flour tortillas8 (8-inch) | $0.25/tortillaEstimate | $2.00 |
| Black beans, canned1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed | $1.31/lbUSDA, 2023 | $1.22 |
| Cheddar cheese1½ cups shredded (6 oz) | $6.13/lbBLS, Sep 2026 | $2.30 |
| Green bell pepper1, diced (6 oz) | $1.50/lbUSDA, 2023 | $0.56 |
| Onion1 small, diced (5 oz) | $1.06/lbUSDA, 2023 | $0.33 |
| Frozen corn1 cup (5 oz) | $1.83/lbUSDA, 2023 | $0.57 |
| Ground cumin and chili powder1 tsp each | $0.08/tspEstimate | $0.16 |
| Vegetable oil1 tbsp | $0.05/tbspEstimate | $0.05 |
| Saltto taste | $0.05/dishEstimate | $0.05 |
| Total | $7.24 | |
| Per serving (serves 4) | $1.81 |
Directions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the onion and pepper with the cumin, chili powder and a pinch of salt until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the corn and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Tip the vegetables into a bowl, add the beans, and mash about half the beans with a fork so the filling holds together.
- Wipe out the skillet. Lay in a tortilla, cover half of it with a little cheese, an eighth of the filling and a little more cheese, then fold it over.
- Cook over medium heat until golden and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes a side. Repeat with the rest, keeping finished quesadillas warm in a 200°F oven.
- Cut into wedges and serve with salsa or sour cream if you have them.
Budget tips
- Canned beans and frozen corn keep for months, so this is a good dinner for nights when the fridge looks empty.
- Cooked from dry, black beans cost about a third as much per cup as canned (USDA, 2023). Cook a pound on the weekend and freeze it in 1½-cup portions, about one can's worth.
- Leftover chicken from honey garlic chicken thighs makes a good addition.
How we priced this recipe
- BLS, Sep 2026: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, U.S. city average, September 2026.
- USDA, 2023: USDA Economic Research Service, Fruit and Vegetable Prices, 2023 (the latest year published).
- Estimate: Food Butler estimate of a typical U.S. store-brand shelf price, October 2026. Neither BLS nor USDA publishes an average price for these items.
Your store's prices will differ. See all priced recipes.