Pizza Quesadillas

Who needs delivery when you can create the ultimate pizza-quesadilla mashup right in your kitchen? This genius combo brings together everything you love about crispy, cheesy pizza and wraps it in a golden, toasted tortilla exterior.

Get ready for the most satisfying crunch followed by that perfect cheese pull moment. We’re talking perfectly crispy pepperoni, melty mozzarella, and just the right amount of pizza sauce, all contained in a neat, handheld package that’s ready in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 8 flour tortillas (8-inch size)
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
• 6 ounces pepperoni, thinly sliced
• 16 ounces pizza sauce
• 2 tablespoons butter, for cooking

Steps

1. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat and fry pepperoni for 2-3 minutes until crispy and slightly curled at the edges. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil. This pre-crisping step ensures your pepperoni stays crispy inside the quesadilla.
2. Brush each tortilla with pizza sauce using a pastry brush, applying an ultra-thin layer (about 1 tablespoon per tortilla). The sauce should barely coat the surface – if it drips when turned over, you’ve used too much and risk soggy quesadillas.
3. On one tortilla (sauce-side up), sprinkle 1 ounce shredded mozzarella in an even layer. Arrange 6-8 pieces of the crisped pepperoni over the cheese, then top with another 1 ounce mozzarella. Place second tortilla on top, sauce-side down.
4. Preheat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon butter and let it melt completely. The pan is ready when a drop of water sizzles on contact.
5. Carefully transfer assembled quesadilla to the pan. Cook for 3-5 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. You’ll know it’s ready to flip when the cheese starts melting at the edges and the bottom tortilla shows golden-brown spots.
6. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 1 minute (this prevents cheese from oozing out). Cut into quarters using a sharp knife or pizza cutter. Serve immediately with warmed pizza sauce for dipping.

Smart Swaps

• Use whole wheat tortillas for extra fiber
• Try plant-based cheese and pepperoni for a vegetarian version
• Substitute part-skim mozzarella to reduce calories

Make It Diabetes-Friendly

• Use low-carb tortillas (saves 15g carbs per serving)
• Choose sugar-free pizza sauce (reduces carbs by 4g per serving)
• Add vegetables like mushrooms and bell peppers to increase fiber
• Limit portion to 1/4 quesadilla (15g net carbs) and pair with salad

Pro Tips

• Shred your own cheese – pre-shredded has anti-caking agents that affect melting
• Pat pepperoni with paper towels after crisping to remove excess oil
• Don’t overfill – it makes flipping difficult and leads to filling spillage
• Let quesadillas rest on a wire rack instead of a plate to maintain crispiness