Cheese Quesadillas with Copycat Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce tastes JUST like the original. From a former Taco Bell worker and current Taco Bell Quesadilla addict.
Copycat Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce
Ok. I have a little confession to make. I LOVE Taco Bell. It’s my guilty pleasure. I actually used to work at Taco Bell in college (gotta pay tuition somehow!)!
I jam-pack my kids’ meals full of fruits and veggies and protein and whole grains… And then after they’re sleeping, I have a greasy Taco Bell snack. But shhh… Don’t tell them that. My favorite go-to item is a cheese quesadilla. The only thing that really makes this quesadilla different than any other quesadilla on the street is the Taco Bell Quesadilla sauce. The creamy jalapeno sauce, or CJ sauce, as we used to call it when I worked there. So, in an effort to save money (as always) and to feel slightly less guilty about the junk-food-factor, I’ve come up with this cheese quesadilla with Copycat Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce recipe.
I had already tried a few that I found online from here and there, but they were always just slightly off. This Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce, though? It’s right on. I swear it.
Cheese Quesadilla with Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce Recipe
Copycat Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce
Ingredients
For the Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 2 tablespoons jalapeno slices
- 2 teaspoons of the water/ juice the jarred jalapenos are in
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- just a tiny pinch of granulated sugar optional
For the quesadillas
- cheese and tortillas for the quesadillas
- chicken or steak strips optional
Instructions
- If you have a food processor, you can throw all of the ingredients in for the sauce, mix it up, and it's done. If you don't have a processor, you'll need to mince your jalapeno slices. Then whisk all the quesadilla sauce ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
- Chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Add as much cheese and sauce onto a tortilla as you'd like. Add any meat you're using. I usually just stick to the cheese only. Place another tortilla on top.
- In a medium to large skillet, fry in a tablespoon of butter (or other oil) until browned. Flip and brown the other side.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you like this Copycat Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce Recipe? Find more on my Appetizers and Dip it! boards on Pinterest!
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Chrystal @ YUM eating says
September 16, 2014 at 2:46 pmI am always looking for good Mexican recipes. Taco Bell is a treat for me as I can’t eat their stuff often. I prefer to make as much as I can at home. Thanks for this recipe, sounds delish!
Sydney @ Tastefully Frugal says
September 21, 2014 at 11:00 pmI LOVE Taco Bell’s quesadillas too! The sauce definitely makes the quesadilla… I will definitely be trying this soon. Thank you for linking up to Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesdays. I’ll be pinning this to my snacks board and the Tasty Tuesdays board. Hope you have a great week and come link up again!
Kelsey says
February 15, 2016 at 2:54 pmThank you so much for this recipe. It tastes really close to Taco Bell, but somehow, it’s even better!! I appreciate you taking the time to share it, you cured my taco bell craving!
Kay says
June 28, 2016 at 7:40 pmI just made this with full-fat sour cream instead of mayonnaise. I 100% reccomend using sour cream! It’s perfect and delicious! TBH, the thought of ruining a perfectly tasty quesadilla with a big blob of seasoned mayonnaise makes me gag. So for other mayo haters: use sour cream!!
Britt says
September 28, 2016 at 8:05 pmJust made it. SPOT ON!!!! Exactly the same, but just a little better.. My son, who’s the world’s pickiest eater,” just scarfed down 2 in a matter of 3 min. I LOVE this recipe. It’s PERFECTION!!! I think it’s a perfect copycat, but better because it’s fresh. I can’t thank you enough, making my kids food is difficult, as not only are they extremely picky, but they like completely different things. Dinner=argument.. xo.??
Lillian says
February 28, 2017 at 10:50 amJust made this, letting it sit for another few more hours, does the overwhelming mayo taste dissipate after letting it sit?
Maybe it’ll taste better after I actually use it on the quesadillas, but right now, tasting with a chip, it’s a mexican mayo, not bad, but very mayo
Michelle says
February 28, 2017 at 11:21 amYes, before the flavors are combined thoroughly, you won’t be able to pick out one specific flavor as much
Nick Stoner says
May 8, 2017 at 8:34 pmThe recipe calls for 1/8 teaspoon of garlic. Is that minced garlic, garlic powder, or garlic salt?
Michelle says
May 9, 2017 at 8:27 amGarlic powder. Sorry for the confusion! I’ll update the recipe.
Kyndal says
May 12, 2017 at 9:14 pmBless you. ??
Sam says
August 7, 2017 at 11:31 amWhat brand of mayo do you use?
Lindsay says
August 18, 2017 at 5:27 pmIt’s really good but wayyy to spicy!! I will probably use less jalepenos and cayenne next time. Otherwise it’s very similar! Thanks!
Leo says
November 18, 2017 at 4:12 pmNailed it! I’m afraid to estimate how many Taco Bell quesadillas I consumed during college, and I could always tell when they skimped on the sauce or didn’t include it at all. I wonder if the minced jalapeños are really necessary? I don’t remember any bits in the Taco Bell sauce, but the flavor is definitely spot on. Thank you for the recipe.
Amber says
January 15, 2018 at 2:23 pmHi, I just made this recipe and it was soo good! I’ve always wanted the yummy sauce that was in the Taco Bell Quesadilla and now I do! I was wondering if I could share this recipe on my blog, as long as I link back to you!
Thanks (:
Patty Cupples says
March 7, 2018 at 4:14 pmAwesome! I had a Taco Bell quesadilla for lunch and it had a great flavor so I came home and started hunting a recipe, I am so happy that I found yours! I wanted to make it for my family tonight so I ran to my kitchen and got busy, I just tasted it and it and it taste great. I did add a scoop of sour cream to make it go farther, I think they are going to love it! Thanks so much!
Jose says
April 23, 2019 at 10:48 pmWhat kind of cheese do you guys use?