Sincronizadas (Stacked Ham and Cheese Quesadillas)

By Paola Briseño-González

Published March 9, 2026

  • Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
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Ready In
25 min
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Sincronizada means “synchronized” in Spanish, and this deluxe quesadilla is called just that because of the way two tortillas are aligned and pressed together. Unlike a straightforward quesadilla, which uses one tortilla folded in half, a sincronizada always uses two stacked tortillas, cheese and thinly sliced ham. Want to make it vegetarian? Skip the ham and opt for sliced roasted mushrooms instead. Sincronizadas are typically served with a fork and a knife, like a personal pizza of sorts, or cut into wedges with salsa on the side. But when you want to make more than one serving, choose large tortillas to make one big sincronizada for an easygoing meal. The quick carrot escabeche, inspired by pickled jalapeños, offers a nice crunch and brightness, but store-bought pickled jalapeños are also a delicious and easy alternative. 

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Ingredients

Yield:2 to 4 servings

For the Carrot Escabeche (optional)

  • 1 tablespoon avocado or vegetable oil

  • 2 medium carrots (about 8 ounces), sliced very thinly 

  • 1 jalapeño (seeded, if you like), thinly sliced lengthwise

  • ¼ teaspoon sugar 

  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper 

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 2 large limes)

  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

For the Sincronizada

  • ½ teaspoon avocado or vegetable oil

  • 4 thin slices ham 

  • 2 (10-inch) flour tortillas

  • 4 ounces grated Monterey Jack or low-moisture mozzarella

  • Pickled jalapeños, for serving (if not making carrot escabeche)

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (2 to 4 servings)

20 grams carbs; 30 milligrams cholesterol; 247 calories; 6 grams monosaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 14 grams fat; 3 grams fiber; 473 milligrams sodium; 11 grams protein; 4 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    If making the carrot escabeche, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add the carrots and jalapeño and cook, tossing with tongs, until just softened, 2 to 5 minutes. Season with sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt and a bit of pepper. Transfer to a medium bowl and toss with lime juice and vinegar; set aside. 

    1. Step 2

      Prepare the sincronizada: Wipe skillet clean and heat oil over medium-high. Arrange ham slices in a single layer (they will overlap, that’s fine!) and cook until golden brown in spots on both sides, turning with tongs, 1 minute per side. Transfer ham to a large plate and set aside. 

    1. Step 3

      Place one tortilla in the pan and heat until warmed through, 30 seconds per side. Sprinkle cheese evenly over to cover the tortilla all the way to the edges, and cook until cheese is melted, 60 to 90 seconds. Top cheese with the browned ham slices and then top with the remaining tortilla; using a spatula, flip the sincronizada onto the other side and cook until crisp and golden, 2 minutes. 

    2. Step 4

      Slide the sincronizada onto a cutting board and cut into quarters. Tuck a bit of carrot escabeche or pickled jalapeño into each quarter and serve immediately.

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Comments

Yespat

I make grilled cheese sandwiches using tortillas, and using whatever cheese I have. I find it works best using a non-stick pan and a tiny pat of butter in the pan and another atop the sandwich. It is so easy and delicious. The addition of the ham and jalapeno slices would be a good one.

Yespat

I make grilled cheese sandwiches using tortillas, and using whatever cheese I have. I find it works best using a non-stick pan and a tiny pat of butter in the pan and another atop the sandwich. It is so easy and delicious. The addition of the ham and jalapeno slices would be a good one.

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