These salty mini cheese quesadillas are perfect party fare. They can be made ahead and reheated in 5 minutes and are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!
(This is an updated post from 2017.)
This post for mini 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 college, and it seems I’ve never stopped!
Table of Contents
What Makes These Mini Cheese Quesadillas So Amazing
- Perfect party food
- Deliciously salty and crisp
- Easy to feed a crowd
- No eating utensils are required
- Did I mention the cheese?!
What is a Quesadilla?
Essentially, a quesadilla is a flour tortilla filled with cheese and then cooked on a griddle.
They can be served open or folded.
An assortment of veggies and other proteins could be added, but I prefer mine just about straight up!
There are many versions of quesadillas, and I have listed a few at the end of this post.
Be sure to take a look at my favorite cheese quesadilla recipe!
What Makes These Different from Other Mini Quesadillas?
Salt. Salt takes these quesadillas to a different dimension.
Salting the quesadillas adds flavor, which, when you think about it, is what makes salty snacks so good. Whether it’s potato chips, 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 griddle.
And yes, they turn out crisp!
What Size of Tortilla Should Be Used?
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. With their salty exterior, they’re better than eating a crispy tortilla chip.
In this case, they are filled with cheese, green chile, and onion. But the salt addition gives these cheese quesadillas that extra special touch!
These Mini Cheese Quesadillas are Perfect Party Food!
These mini cheese quesadillas are perfect for a party and 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 crisps recipe can be made with any cheese, but choose a good melting cheese. I prefer Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese for quesadillas but use what you like.
Tortillas come 12 to a package, making 24 wedges after being cut in half. I made four packages, which worked out to 96 mini cheese quesadilla crisps!
It took me an hour to make these, but that’s not bad, considering how many I made.
They are easily reheated as needed, and everyone, including the kiddos, loves them!
Perfect for any occasion, you will hope for leftovers with these! Add in another appetizer or two to round out the party menu.
Even Perfect for a Sip-and-See Party
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 seeing.
I had never heard of a sip-and-see until a few years ago.
I’m told it’s an old Southern tradition 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; we gathered it from all our favorite places in Denver.
You can bet the mini cheese quesadillas disappeared fast and may become your family’s favorite quesadilla recipe!
Other Amazing Quesadilla Recipes
Grilled Quesadillas
Cheese Crisp Quesadilla
Waffle Iron Quesadillas
I’d love to hear if you make this recipe! Please share a review or rate the recipe,
and be sure to tag me on social!
Recipe Card
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Mini Cheese Quesadillas
- 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 flour 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 baking sheet 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.
Sue
Wednesday 8th of June 2022
These were fantastic! I had many requests for the recipe which I shared can these be frozen?
Abbe
Wednesday 8th of June 2022
I have never tried freezing them! Ususally they all get eaten! I would try freezing individual pieces and then placing them in an airtight container. To bake, preheat oven to 325 and place frozen individual quesadillas on a nonstick baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes until they are crisp and melty. Let me know how it goes!
Liz
Friday 24th of January 2020
I love a good quesadilla and these ARE fabulous quesadillas!
Abbe
Wednesday 29th of January 2020
Thanks Liz. They are winners!
Mimi
Thursday 23rd of January 2020
Well 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
Wednesday 29th of January 2020
Try the salt Mimi.You will be surprised!
sherry
Wednesday 22nd of January 2020
oh 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
Wednesday 29th of January 2020
Definitely addicting Sherry!
Marcelle @ A Little Fish in the Kitchen
Tuesday 7th of November 2017
These are super cute and I just know they taste great! Terrific party food! :)