Easy and fast, this pizza quesadilla is a healthy dinner that’s ready in just 15 minutes! A kid favorite, the “pizzadillas” can be customized for each individual diner — keep them vegetarian, load them up with pepperoni, or make them simple and cheesy with just 3 basic ingredients! Served with a side salad and some extra marinara sauce for dipping, this is one meal that the whole family can agree on.
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If you love pizza, don’t miss this popular cast iron deep dish pizza or our veggie pizza, too!
Cheese Pizza Quesadilla
Two of my boys’ favorite meals are quesadillas and pizza (typical, right?), so why not combine them? I told you this was kid-friendly! Since I almost always have mozzarella, marinara sauce, and flour tortillas in my pantry, these easy pizza quesadillas are a great last-minute lunch or dinner option that I don’t need to shop for.
What are quesadillas?
At its most basic, a quesadilla is a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla that is filled with cheese. Quesadillas sometimes include additional ingredients such as meats, veggies, beans, or spices. Cook the tortilla on a griddle to melt the cheese and crisp up the exterior and you’ve got an inexpensive and satisfying meal ready in minutes.
A full quesadilla is made with two tortillas that hold a layer of cheese between them. A half quesadilla is a single tortilla filled with cheese and folded into a half-moon shape. This recipe uses the “half quesadilla” method because I find that it’s easier to flip the tortilla when it’s smaller. That said, you can certainly take the same ingredients and make yours “full” pizza quesadillas.
Pizza Quesadilla Ingredients
This is a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for a classic cheese pizza quesadilla. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Flour tortilla: for a “half quesadilla,” you’ll need just one large flour tortilla. If you prefer the full quesadilla, use two tortillas and double the fillings!
- Marinara sauce: I always have this in my pantry for quick pasta dinners, but you can use pizza sauce if you’ve got it! The marinara sauce also works well as a dip for serving with your pizzadilla.
- Cheese: shredded mozzarella cheese is a classic pizza ingredient, but we also love the salty, sharp addition of grated Parmesan cheese. You can use just about any good melting cheese that you like.
How to Make a Pizza Quesadilla
While the base of this recipe requires just 3 ingredients, you can add as many additional pizza “toppings” as you like, such as pepperoni, sausage, or sautéed mushrooms and onions.
- Spread marinara sauce on half of a tortilla.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Add extra “toppings” of choice — for instance, grated Parmesan cheese and sliced pepperoni.
- Finish with another layer of mozzarella (to help seal the quesadilla shut), and fold the tortilla over.
- Cook the quesadilla on a griddle (or in a large skillet) for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until browned and crispy.
- Remove to a cutting board, allow to cool for a few minutes, and then slice into triangles and serve.
How to Make Quesadillas in the Microwave
Assemble the pizza quesadilla as instructed. Place on a microwave-safe plate, and cook on HIGH until the cheese is melted (about 1 minute).
How to Make a Quesadilla in the Oven
Assemble the quesadilla as instructed. Place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Spritz the top of the quesadilla with olive oil or cooking spray (this will help it get crispy and golden brown in the oven). Bake the quesadilla at 450°F for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is golden brown.
What to Serve with a Pizza Quesadilla
I like to serve the quesadillas with a side of warm marinara sauce or Ranch dressing for dipping. For even more veggies on the side, try offering:
- Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette, Caesar Salad, Mixed Greens with Dijon Vinaigrette, or a House Salad with Candied Pecans
- Tomato Salad with Basil and Balsamic
- Tomato, Onion, and Cucumber Salad
- Garlic Roasted Broccoli
- Parmesan Roasted Yellow Squash
- Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Casserole
- Zucchini Fritters
- Sauteed Zucchini
- 2-Ingredient Italian Sugar Snap Peas
- Perfect Oven Roasted Asparagus
How to Store & Reheat Pizzadillas
How to Store: Quesadillas are best when served warm from the griddle. If you have leftovers, the pizzadillas will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
How to Reheat: To reheat the quesadillas, warm in a skillet over low heat or in a 375°F oven for 8-10 minutes (or until heated through). This will help crisp up the tortillas again. I do not recommend reheating in the microwave, since the tortillas will get soggy.
Pizza Quesadillas Recipe Variations
- Delicious extras to add to your pizza quesadillas: pepperoni, cooked Italian sausage, sliced chicken, chopped ham, olives, and sautéed vegetables such as peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
- Make healthy pizza quesadillas by using wholegrain tortillas, reduced-fat cheese, and plenty of fresh vegetables!
- Prepare vegetarian pizza quesadillas by omitting pepperoni, sausage, and other meats. Stuff plenty of sautéed veggies into the quesadillas so that they’re satisfying and flavorful, or keep it simple with just cheese.
- Make pepperoni pizza quesadillas (as shown here) using a few slices of pepperoni and a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese!
Tips for the Best Pizza Quesadilla Recipe
- This recipe yields one quesadilla, but you can easily double, triple, or quadruple the ingredients to feed a family.
- Use at least two different types of cheese for the best flavor. We love a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Try cooking with kids! This is an easy way to let your little ones help in the kitchen. Allow the children to assemble their own quesadillas by adding the toppings of their choice.
More Quesadilla Recipes
Taco Quesadilla
33 minutes mins
Chicken Quesadilla with Corn and Black Beans
50 minutes mins
Pizza Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 1 flour tortilla
- 2 tablespoons marinara sauce or pizza sauce
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Optional additional ingredients: grated Parmesan cheese, sliced pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, sausage, or any other pizza toppings of your choice
- For dipping: warm marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat a flat griddle or a large skillet over medium heat.
- Spread marinara sauce on half of the tortilla. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese, and any other toppings of your choice. Add another layer of mozzarella over toppings.
- Fold tortilla over.
- Spray griddle with cooking spray and cook quesadilla for 2-3 minutes per side, or until browned. Remove to a cutting board and allow the quesadilla to cool for a few minutes. Cut into triangles and serve.
Notes
- Delicious extras to add to your pizza quesadillas: pepperoni, cooked Italian sausage, sliced chicken, chopped ham, olives, and sautéed vegetables such as peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
- Make healthy pizza quesadillas by using wholegrain tortillas, reduced fat cheese, and plenty of fresh vegetables!
- Prepare vegetarian pizza quesadillas by omitting the pepperoni, sausage, and other meats. Stuff plenty of sautéed veggies into the quesadillas so that they’re satisfying and flavorful, or keep it simple with just cheese.
- Make pepperoni pizza quesadillas (as shown here) using a few slices of pepperoni and a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese!
- This recipe yields one quesadilla, but you can easily double, triple, or quadruple the ingredients to feed a family.
- Use at least two different types of cheese for the best flavor. We love a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Try cooking with kids! This is an easy way to let your little ones help in the kitchen. Allow the children to assemble their own quesadillas by adding the toppings of their choice.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in March, 2014. It was updated in January, 2019.
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