Quesadilla glycemic index

Quesadilla has a glycemic index of 36, which is low. A 150 g serving (1 quesadilla) has a glycemic load of 14 (medium).

Also known as: cheese quesadilla

Glycemic indexLow
36
glucose = 100
Glycemic loadMedium
14
per 150 g
  • Serving150 g
  • Available carbs40 g
  • Fiber3 g
  • Sugars3.6 g
  • Protein20 g
  • Calories474 kcal

Serving: 1 quesadilla.

What to know

A quesadilla with cheese, beans and avocado tested low GI. The fat and protein from the fillings slow down the tortilla's carbohydrate.

Glycemic load by portion size

GI stays the same whatever you eat, but glycemic load scales with the amount: eating twice as much doubles the effect on blood sugar.

AmountAvailable carbsGlycemic load
50 g13 g5Low
100 g27 g10Low
150 g · 1 quesadilla40 g14Medium
300 g · double serving80 g29High

What the studies found

The value comes from a single published measurement in the International Tables of Glycemic Index (2021), so treat it as a guide.

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Frequently asked questions

Is quesadilla low glycemic?

Yes. With a GI of 36, quesadilla is in the low range (55 or less).

What is the glycemic load of quesadilla?

A 150 g serving (1 quesadilla) has a glycemic load of 14, which is medium. Glycemic load combines GI with the amount of carbohydrate in the portion: 10 or less is low, 11 to 19 medium and 20 or more high.

Can people with diabetes eat quesadilla?

With a GI of 36 and a medium glycemic load per serving, quesadilla can be part of a diabetes-friendly diet with attention to portion size and pairing it with protein, fat or fiber. Everyone responds differently, so talk to your doctor or dietitian about your plan.

How many carbs are in quesadilla?

A 150 g serving has about 43 g of total carbohydrate, including 3 g of fiber, leaving 39.9 g of available carbohydrate (the part that raises blood sugar). Per 100 g: 28.6 g of carbohydrate.

Nutrition facts

per 100 gServing (150 g)
Calories316 kcal474 kcal
Carbohydrates29 g43 g
Available carbs27 g40 g
Fiber2 g3 g
Sugars2.4 g3.6 g
Protein13 g20 g
Fat16 g24 g

Source: USDA FoodData Central, Quesadilla, cheese only (FNDDS, FDC 2708591). Available carbohydrate = total carbohydrate minus fiber.

Sources: Atkinson FS, Brand-Miller JC, Foster-Powell K, Buyken AE, Goletzke J. International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values 2021: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;114(5):1625–1632. USDA FoodData Central. How we calculate each value: Methodology & sources.

Data last reviewed 2026-09-29.