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These salty, cheese quesadillas are perfect party fare. Make ahead, reheat in 5 minutes and guaranteed to be a party pleaser!
(This is an updated post from 2017.)
This post for cheese quesadillas is the most popular post on my blog. Perfect for enjoying while watching a game, I figured it was high time I updated this!
Cheese quesadillas are a winner with everyone and always have been. These salted tortillas filled with gooey cheese, chiles and minced onions are a real crowd pleaser.
I started making these in my college days and it seems I’ve never stopped!
What is a quesadilla? Essentially, a quesadilla is a flour tortilla that is filled with cheese and then cooked on a griddle. They can be served open or folded. An assortment of veggies could be added along with other proteins, but I prefer mine just about straight up!
There are many versions of quesadillas and I listed a few at the end of this post. Be sure to take a look at my favorite cheese quesadilla recipes!
What makes these cheese quesadillas different from others?
Salt. Salt takes these quesadillas to a different dimension. Salting the quesadillas adds flavor, which when you think of it is what makes salty snacks so good. Whether it’s potato chips, or popcorn, or Fritos, salt is a key component.
And then there’s butter. Many quesadillas use oil, but I think butter adds more flavor. I use butter on my baking sheets and bake my quesadillas rather than cook them in a skillet or on a griddle. And yes, they turn out crisp!
Find 4″ street taco sized tortillas to make these perfect for a party. Even though they are small enough to serve in their entirety, I cut them into two and serve them without salsa, which keeps things easy for entertaining.
They don’t need salsa as these cheesy quesadillas become quite crispy and with their salty exterior, they’re better than eating a crispy tortilla chip.
Except in this case they are filled with cheese, green chile and onion. But it’s the salt addition that give these cheese quesadillas that extra special touch!
These quesadillas are perfect party food!
Perfect for a party, these mini cheese quesadillas really don’t take long to make. I grate all the cheese in the food processor, and then stir in the onions and chilies. Please grate your own cheese. It is so much better.
My cheese quesadilla recipe can be made with any cheese, but please choose one that melts well. I prefer Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese for quesadillas, but truly use what you like.
Tortillas come 12 to a package so that makes 24 wedges after being cut in half. Yes, I can do math! I made 4 packages, so that worked out to 96 mini cheese quesadilla crisps!
It took me an hour to make these, but I don’t think that’s so bad considering how many I made. They are easily reheated as you need them and everyone, including the kiddos, love them!
Perfect for any occasion, you will hope for leftovers with these!
It isn’t often enough that one gets to welcome a baby to this world. What a fun time we had enjoying little Aiden. Before we know it he’ll be walking! But let’s backtrack a moment.
Over Labor Day one of my closest friends, who happens to be the grandma, asked if I would mind hosting a sip and see. I had never heard of a sip and see until a few years ago. An old Southern tradition I’m told, to welcome the baby; a little sip, a little see and everyone is happy! It’s not really a shower, though some did bring gifts.
Zoe and I settled on a “welcome to the world” theme. The menu was fun to plan. Our event was held from 1-3 which didn’t make it lunch, so that simplified things a bit.
The menu was fun and we gathered it from all our favorite places in Denver.
You can bet the quesadillas disappeared fast.
Please Pin and Share!
I love sheet pans and these got pretty good reviews. Perfect for sheet pan dinners or for baking quesadillas, I think everyone should fave a few in their kitchen.
My absolute favorite tool in the kitchen is my kitchen shears. I use them for cutting up chicken, slicing a pizza and cutting quesadillas into wedges.
Quesadilla Crisps and A Sip and See
- Prep Time: 30 Minutes
- Cook Time: 15 Minutes
- Total Time: 45 Minutes
- Yield: 48 Wedges 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Mexican
Description
Ingredients
- 2 packages of “street taco” sized tortillas
- 4 c grated cheese (I used cheddar and jalapeno jack)
- 2 4 oz cans diced green chilies, drained
- 1/2 c diced onion
- 4 T melted butter
- Coarse Kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425. In a large bowl combine cheese, chilies and onion. Mix well.
- Using a pastry brush, brush a large sheet pan with melted butter. Sprinkle generously with 2 t coarse salt. Place 7-8 4″ tortillas on sheet.
- Place 1 heaping tablespoon of cheese mixture on each tortilla. Spread over surface evenly.
- Bake for 5 minutes or until cheese has melted. Remove from oven and fold in half, pressing sides gently together. Remove from sheet pan and let cool if serving later. Repeat until all tortillas are used. Store in refrigerator if reheating later.
- If reheating, remove from fridge and let come to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350. Place quesadillas on sheet pan in a single layer. Heat for about 5 minutes. Slice in half, (I use a scissors) when removed from oven. Serve warm.
Notes
Makes 48 wedges if you cut in half.
Keywords: cheese quesadillas, cheese quesadilla recipe, cheese for quesadillas, recipe for cheese quesadillas
More Quesadillas:
Grilled Quesadillas
Waffle Iron Quesadillas
Cheese Crisp Quesadillas
Liz
January 24, 2020 at 11:18 amI love a good quesadilla and these ARE fabulous quesadillas!
★★★★★
Abbe
January 29, 2020 at 11:56 amThanks Liz. They are winners!
Mimi
January 23, 2020 at 8:57 amWell this is fascinating! Salt! I also only use butter. There’s just no substitute. And, I love the little tortillas now available. Can’t wait to try these with salt!
Abbe
January 29, 2020 at 12:04 pmTry the salt Mimi.You will be surprised!
sherry
January 22, 2020 at 11:40 pmoh you’re making me drool abbe. yum! quesadillas have become a bit more of a thing here in australia in recent years. these are delicious I bet! cheers sherry
Abbe
January 29, 2020 at 12:05 pmDefinitely addicting Sherry!
Marcelle @ A Little Fish in the Kitchen
November 7, 2017 at 12:02 amThese are super cute and I just know they taste great! Terrific party food! 🙂
La Table De Nana
November 6, 2017 at 9:31 pmBTW Zoe..the new mom and baby A are so cute:) I MISS baby days!
La Table De Nana
November 6, 2017 at 9:30 pmI think I want to make these:)
mjskit
November 6, 2017 at 3:52 amKnow that's the way to be welcomed into the world and the family! This little boy is going to become a foodie really early with a banquet like this as his welcoming party. What great treats!!!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
November 4, 2017 at 6:28 pmI'm originally from the south but I never heard of a sip and see…what a cute idea. I can see why your mini quesadillas would be a success.
Gloria Baker
November 4, 2017 at 4:41 pmall these looks wonderful but absolutely Im in love with quesadillas, stuning!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
November 4, 2017 at 3:40 pmI love the idea of a sip and see, Abbe! What a darling way to welcome a baby for the proud grandmother. Everything looks delicious and another great idea to have a world-wide menu.
Sue/the view from great island
November 3, 2017 at 5:47 pmThese look insanely good, Abbe, we are huge slaty chip fans here ~ and love the 'sip and see' sounds like a blast!
Tricia Buice
November 3, 2017 at 2:44 amThis is the perfect party food! I love your creative "baby shower" theme – so sweet and smart! Great job Abbe 🙂
HWC Magazine
November 1, 2017 at 6:08 pmNow that is a fun party! We are all about eating around the world. Love love your little mini treats but your current sharing tools will not allow me to share your long pin. Are you aware of this?
Angie Schneider
November 1, 2017 at 5:15 amI am saving this for the family gathering! They look so delicious with melted cheddar.
Kitchen Riffs
October 31, 2017 at 11:50 pmI've never heard of a sip and see. Although I'm probably not the traditional target audience for one. 🙂 But I'm certainly the target audience for this nifty quesadilla crisps! These look really good — fun little treat. Thanks!
Jeff
October 31, 2017 at 11:25 pmI spent all weekend making tortillas! Bring your leftovers over!