My Pepperoni Pizza Quesadilla recipe is a tasty twist on pizza but done in minutes! Pepperoni, cheese and other toppings make this a family friendly snack or lunch idea!
Quesadillas have been a staple around our house for as long as I can remember. Theyre so easy to make and my kids love them!
I originally developed this Pepperoni Pizza Quesadilla recipe several years ago when I worked on a project with several other bloggers and a cookbook author. The idea was to take a recipe in the cookbook and make a change so that it would be a new recipe.
And since my kids love quesadillas and pizza, this seemed like a natural mash up recipe to me! Theyre like a tortilla pepperoni pizza with a top and a bottom.
A tasty twist on a traditional quesadillas recipe that combines the favorite flavors of pizza, they are perfect for a snack or light dinner. Pair it with a salad and youve got a simple, healthy meal for your family!
Tips for Making a Pepperoni Pizza Quesadilla
If you havent gotten the idea already, these quesadillas are so simple to make!
My kids are teenagers now, but quesadillas were one of the first meals they learned how to make on their own. Sometimes we will build the quesadilla right in the pan but you can also prep them on a cutting board so that all you need to do is move them over to the pan.
I also like to saut the vegetables I am using to make them a little softer. Since they are cooking inside two tortillas, they will usually be a little crisper than if you saut first. Depending on who wants what, I will sometimes saut everything all together. Otherwise I will cook them separately.
To assemble the pizza quesadilla, first, lay out one tortilla then sprinkle on a bit of the cheese. Sprinkle on a little bit of the pizza seasoning.
From there, everyone can add what they like. My son likes them simple with just pepperoni and cheese. I like them fully loaded with all the vegetables too. My daughter will mix it up and do things differently depending on her mood and my husband will often go off on his own and add another ingredient like black olives!
To cook them, start by melting a little bit of the butter in a saut pan over medium heat. If youve assembled them already move the bottom tortilla layered with your ingredients. Cook on medium high heat. As the cheese begins to melt, add the top tortilla.
I usually use a spatula to smoosh the top and bottom tortillas together so that all the ingredients melt into each other and the quesadilla stays together.
Check the bottom of the quesadilla semi-frequently to avoid burning. Once it has a gold color, use your spatula to flip it over. You only need to cook it on the second side for a couple of minutes because the melting of all the ingredients has already been done. Basically, youre just getting that crispy, golden color on both sides at this point.
When I was talking to my sister about recipes using pepperoni and mentioned this pepperoni pizza quesadilla recipe, she asked wheres the sauce? Thats the thing! The sauce is just used for dipping. You dont actually add it to the quesadilla. You can also use something like my Slowcooker Homemade Spaghetti Sauce.
I think that the pizza flavors really pop this way! Maybe because theyre not overpowered by a bunch of sauce.
What Ingredients are Needed for Pepperoni Pizza Quesadilla Recipe?
Flour or Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas I usually buy the store brand because they actually taste better to us and are less expensive too. I also use the ones that are about 8-inches in size.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese You buy the preshredded or I will often buy a big block of mozzarella and shred it using my food processor. Then Ill spread it out on a baking sheet, flash freeze (until frozen), then store in a labeled ziptop bag in the freezer. Saves money too!
Pizza Seasoning you can find this in the herbs and spices aisle of the grocery store.
Sliced Pepperoni We prefer the turkey pepperoni because its a bit healthier and lower in sodium and again, the store brand works best for us!
Chopped Vegetables like Onions, Bell Peppers, Mushrooms Or choose other vegetables that you like on your pizza.
Butter We use the butter in the pan when making the quesadillas. It makes them less likely to stick to the pan but also adds a tasty golden crust the quesadilla too.
Tomato Sauce I keep things simple and just add some of the pizza seasoning to boost its flavor. You can also substitute premade pizza sauce or even use marinara sauce. This is for dipping the quesadillas as you dont add it to the actual quesadilla!
Make Ahead Tips for Pepperoni Pizza Quesadilla
Ive never
actually made these fully ahead of time but I will have to try that soon!
In the meantime, I can say that prepping some of the ingredients in advance
will help you save time and possibly money too.
Chopping the vegetables you plan to use ahead of time will save money. Sometimes I even use the frozen onions or bell peppers from the grocery store to save even more time. Ill often take it one step further and saut the vegetables then store in the refrigerator until Im ready to assemble my pepperoni quesadilla.
The same thing can be done to make the dipping sauce. Just assemble and store in the refrigerator until serving time.
HOW TO SHRED AND FREEZE MOZZARELLA CHEESE
As I mentioned earlier, I usually buy mozzarella cheese in the big blocks vs. already shredded. Not only does this save me money per ounce it also means there is no anti-caking ingredient in the cheese.
To do so, I cut it into smaller chunks then use my food processor shredding attachment to shred it all up. It literally only takes minutes! This is the food processor I have and I love it!
Then I spread the shredded cheese on a lined baking sheet. I use silicone baking mats like these but you can also use wax paper or even foil. Lining the pan makes it less likely for the cheese to stick to the pan.
Once the cheese is frozen, I will scoop it all up and store in a freezer safe bag or other container. Dont forget to date and label your cheese! I love these reusable freezer-safe labels for my containers!
I almost always have a stash of shredded mozzarella cheese in my freezer ready for all kinds of recipes.
More Easy Quesadilla Recipes and Recipes Using Pepperoni
If youre a fan of quesadillas like we are, be sure to check out my recipes for Grilled Mango Poblano Pepper Quesadillas and Simple Mediterranean Quesadillas too! We love experimenting with new flavor combinations.
If you love twists on pizza like we do, dont miss my Whole Wheat Pepperoni Pizza Bites (perfect for lunch or as an appetizer!) or Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad recipes also!
Changing up a recipe to make it with pepperoni pizza flavors is easier than you think! Have you ever had a stuffed portobello mushroom? I love them for a healthier meal option. This Portobello Mushroom Pizza from Carmy looks SO good!
If youre looking for something a little more indulgent, then check out this Easy Pepperoni Pizza Dip from The Bitter Side of Sweet blog. I think this would be perfect for a party!
Similar to my pizza quesadilla, Saving Dollar & Senses Grilled Pepperoni Pizza Sandwich looks like another easy meal option.
And Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread from Baked Bree sounds pretty awesome to me! Its like a slice of pizza all rolled up and baked into bread. Delish!
Pepperoni Pizza Quesadilla
Ingredients
- 8 flour tortillas 8-inch size, may substitute whole wheat flour tortillas
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 teaspoon pizza seasoning or substitute tsp oregano, tsp. basil and tsp garlic salt
- 1 cup pepperoni sliced
- 1/2 cup onions diced
- 1/2 cup green bell peppers diced
- 1/2 cup mushrooms diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon pizza seasoning
Instructions
For Quesadillas
-
Heat non-stick skillet to medium-high heat.
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Place tortilla in skillet and layer cheese, pizza seasoning and toppings on one tortilla.
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Top with another tortilla and heat until crispy, about 3-4 minutes.
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Press down top tortilla into melted ingredients so it will stick together then flip over and grill another 3-4 minutes.
-
Let the quesadillas sit for a minute before you slice each into six wedges and serve them with pizza sauce.
For Pizza Dipping Sauce
-
In small bowl, combine tomato sauce with tsp. of pizza seasoning.
-
You may also use prepared pizza sauce purchased at the grocery store.
Notes
Nutrition
This post originally appeared here in June 2013. It was updated January 2017 with new photos and again in January 2020 with additional photos and content to make it more user friendly!
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