Jack O’Lantern Quesadillas
Ready in minutes, these adorable Jack o’Lantern quesadillas are the perfect Halloween dinner for picky eaters. Simple ingredients and a simple technique!
Halloween is such a fun time of year, but the expectations can be crushing. There are so many parties, and everything has to have that Halloween-y flair.
I’m all about simple, and I’m sure you are too (that’s why you’re here, right?). These Jack O’Lantern Quesadillas only take a few minutes more than a standard quesadilla, but you get to be the cool parent who made fun Halloween food.
This is also a picky eater friendly recipe. With only 2 very basic ingredients, a kiddo with taste or texture aversions is much more likely to give this a try than many other Halloween-geared foods.
What do I need for Jack o’Lantern Quesadillas?
Flour Tortillas – This recipe has been tested using flour tortillas. I’ve never tried it with corn or gluten-free tortillas, so I can’t make any recommendations there. I like the flour tortillas because they are sturdy, hold their shape, and are easy to cut.
Grated or Shredded Cheese – This is the filling. My family uses fiesta blend cheese for just about everything, so that’s what you’re seeing in the images. Any cheese that will melt well will work for this recipe.
Any extra fillings – We have some picky eaters at my house, so my Jack o’Lanterns are all-cheese all the time. However, if you have more adventurous palates, you could try adding a protein, some veggies, or a little salsa to liven this up. If you can put it in a normal quesadilla, you can put it in these.
How do I make Jack o’Lantern Quesadillas?
You are going to start by getting out all your ingredients and shredding the cheese if you need to.
Then, on a cutting board, you’ll lay 2 tortillas out, one on top of the other.
Using a paring knife, cut out a pumpkin shape, complete with stem.
Then, remove one of the tortillas from the stack. That will become the back.
On the front tortilla, cut out a Jack o’Lantern face. Use your imagination and all of your art skills!
Lay the back tortilla on a lined baking pan. Cover it with cheese and any other fillings you might be using.
Lay the front tortilla on top and press down slightly. If any cheese pieces stick through the holes, push them back in.
Bake the quesadillas at 425° for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are as crispy as you like them.
How to store the quesadillas (freezer and fridge)
These will store in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week. They do become slightly soggy the longer they are left, but you can fix that by popping them back in the oven at 425° for 5-7 minutes.
These quesadillas will freeze. After they’ve cooled, wrap them individually in plastic, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. You can eat them for up to 2 months. To reheat, allow them to come to room temperature, then either reheat in the oven or microwave.
Tips and Tricks
Crispy Quesadillas: If you like very crispy quesadillas, you can lightly brush the top tortilla with vegetable or canola oil. This will “fry” the top tortilla, leaving it a deep brown, bubbly, and very crispy. If you do this, watch your quesadillas carefully to avoid burning!
School Lunch: These are pretty good cold, which makes them a fantastic Halloween school lunch. Pair them with these adorable Clementine pumpkins for an on-theme meal with little to no effort!
Cutting the Faces – If you’re worried about cutting your faces, you could use these adorable pumpkin face templates from I.Am.Kristen. You have to scroll a bit to find them, but they are pretty cute. You could trace them with a toothpick, then use your paring knife to cut them out.
More Cute Halloween Food Ideas
Jack o’Lantern Quesadillas
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup shredded or grated cheese
- 4 flour tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°.
- On a cutting board, cut all tortillas to a pumpkin shape.4 flour tortillas
- Cut 2 of the 4 tortillas to have Jack o'Lantern faces.
- Lay the other 2 tortillas on a lined baking sheet.
- Spread the cheese over the 2 tortillas.2/3 cup shredded or grated cheese
- Top each quesadilla with one of the tortillas cut to have a Jack o'Lantern face.
- Bake at 425° for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving.
