Quesadilla vs. Burrito — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 15, 2024
A quesadilla is a Mexican dish featuring a tortilla filled with cheese and sometimes other ingredients, grilled; a burrito is a tortilla rolled around a filling, typically including beans, meat, and cheese.
Difference Between Quesadilla and Burrito
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A quesadilla is traditionally made with a single tortilla folded in half, filled primarily with cheese, and sometimes meat, beans, or vegetables, then cooked on a griddle until the cheese melts. Whereas a burrito involves wrapping a larger tortilla around a more substantial combination of ingredients, including rice, beans, meat, cheese, and vegetables, often entirely enclosing the filling.
In terms of preparation, quesadillas are simpler and quicker to make, often served as a snack or a light meal. On the other hand, burritos are more complex and filling, commonly eaten as a main meal and known for their variety and adaptability to different ingredients.
The cheese in a quesadilla acts as the central element, melting and binding any other added ingredients together, providing a gooey and creamy texture. Conversely, in a burrito, the mixture of ingredients like rice, beans, and meat takes precedence, with cheese being just one component among many, contributing to a more diverse texture and flavor profile.
Quesadillas are typically served with dips such as guacamole, sour cream, or salsa on the side, enhancing their flavor without overwhelming the delicate balance of cheese and tortilla. Burritos, however, often incorporate sauces and salsas within the wrap, creating a more integrated and moist eating experience.
Lastly, the serving size and presentation differ significantly; quesadillas are usually cut into wedges, making them easy to share and eat by hand, while burritos are served whole, often wrapped in foil to keep them intact and warm, making them a more portable and self-contained meal option.
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Comparison Chart
Main Ingredients
Cheese, sometimes with added meats or vegetables
Rice, beans, meat, cheese, vegetables
Preparation
Folded and grilled tortilla
Tortilla rolled around a filling
Texture
Crispy outside with gooey cheese inside
Soft tortilla with varied interior textures
Serving Size
Typically smaller, often cut into wedges
Larger, usually served whole
Accompaniments
Often served with dips on the side
Sauces and salsas are usually included inside
Compare with Definitions
Quesadilla
A simple, cheese-based snack or meal.
She made a quick quesadilla for lunch.
Burrito
A hearty, portable meal option.
She took a burrito for her lunch on the go.
Quesadilla
Often enjoyed with various dips.
The quesadilla was served with a side of guacamole.
Burrito
A rolled tortilla with various fillings, including beans and meat.
He ordered a beef burrito with extra cheese.
Quesadilla
Can include a variety of fillings besides cheese.
They added mushrooms and spinach to their quesadilla.
Burrito
Often includes a mixture of rice, beans, and proteins.
The burrito was packed with rice, black beans, and grilled chicken.
Quesadilla
Typically has a crispy exterior.
He enjoyed the crispy edges of the quesadilla.
Burrito
Can be smothered with sauce and cheese.
They served the burrito smothered in green chili.
Quesadilla
A Mexican dish of a tortilla filled with cheese and grilled.
We ordered a chicken quesadilla for an appetizer.
Burrito
Encloses all ingredients, making it easy to eat without utensils.
The tightly wrapped burrito was perfect for eating without a mess.
Quesadilla
A flour tortilla folded in half around a savory filling, as of cheese or beans, then fried or toasted.
Burrito
A burrito (English: , Spanish: [buˈrito] (listen)) is a dish in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine that took form in California cuisine, consisting of a flour tortilla wrapped into a sealed cylindrical shape around various ingredients. The tortilla is sometimes lightly grilled or steamed to soften it, make it more pliable, and allow it to adhere to itself when wrapped.
Quesadilla
A Mexican dish made by filling a tortilla with cheese and sometimes other ingredients and then cooking it until the cheese is melted.
Burrito
A flour tortilla wrapped around a filling, as of beef, beans, or cheese.
Burrito
A Mexican dish consisting of a flour tortilla wrapped around a filling of meat and/or beans, cheese etc.
Burrito
(slang) To wrap someone or something up like a burrito.
Burrito
A flour tortilla folded around a filling.
Burrito
A flour tortilla folded around a filling
Common Curiosities
Can you add meat to a quesadilla?
Yes, meats such as chicken, beef, or pork can be added to a quesadilla along with the cheese.
What are typical burrito fillings?
Typical burrito fillings include rice, beans, meat, cheese, lettuce, and salsa.
Is a quesadilla always served with dips?
While not mandatory, quesadillas are often accompanied by dips like guacamole, salsa, or sour cream.
What's the main difference between a quesadilla and a burrito?
A quesadilla is a folded tortilla with cheese (and sometimes other fillings), grilled, whereas a burrito is a rolled tortilla enclosing a variety of ingredients.
What makes a quesadilla crispy?
Cooking a quesadilla on a griddle or pan until the cheese melts and the tortilla turns golden brown gives it a crispy texture.
Is it common to include vegetables in a burrito?
Yes, vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and peppers are often added to burritos.
Can a burrito be eaten by hand?
Yes, burritos are commonly designed to be a portable, hand-held meal, often wrapped in foil to maintain their shape.
Can quesadillas be baked instead of grilled?
Yes, quesadillas can be baked, although grilling or pan-frying is more traditional for achieving a crispy exterior.
Are quesadillas considered a full meal?
Quesadillas can be a snack or a light meal, depending on the fillings and the serving size.
How do you seal a burrito to prevent spillage?
Proper rolling techniques, including folding in the ends before rolling, help seal a burrito.
Is a quesadilla healthy?
The healthiness of a quesadilla depends on the ingredients used, such as the type of cheese and any additional fillings.
What type of cheese is best for a quesadilla?
Melting cheeses like mozzarella, cheddar, or Monterey Jack are popular choices for quesadillas.
Are burritos originally from Mexico?
Burritos are a Mexican-American food, with their popularity and variations expanding significantly in the United States.
What's a "wet" burrito?
A "wet" burrito is covered in sauce and often cheese, served on a plate and eaten with a fork.
Can quesadillas be made with flour or corn tortillas?
Yes, quesadillas can be made with either, but flour tortillas are more common due to their flexibility and size.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
