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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I 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!
I 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!
Thank 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!
I 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!!
Just 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.??
Just 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
Yes, before the flavors are combined thoroughly, you won’t be able to pick out one specific flavor as much
The recipe calls for 1/8 teaspoon of garlic. Is that minced garlic, garlic powder, or garlic salt?
Garlic powder. Sorry for the confusion! I’ll update the recipe.
Bless you. ??
What brand of mayo do you use?
It’s really good but wayyy to spicy!! I will probably use less jalepenos and cayenne next time. Otherwise it’s very similar! Thanks!
Nailed 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.
Hi, 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 (:
Awesome! 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!
What kind of cheese do you guys use?