Halloween is just around the corner, and I’ve got a bewitching recipe that will make your celebrations extra special. Jack-o’-Lantern face Quesadillas are a fun, kid-friendly twist on a classic favorite that will leave your little goblins and ghosts grinning from ear to ear!
Why Make Easy Jack-o’-Lantern Quesadillas
- Creative Fun: Cooking with kids can be a blast, and these quesadillas offer a fantastic canvas for little artists to express themselves. Let them design their own jack-o’-lantern faces for a truly unique mealtime experience.
- Festive Spirit: Halloween is all about the spooky spirit, and these quesadillas will add a touch of Halloween magic to your family meals. They’re perfect for themed parties or just to get everyone in the spooky mood before trick-or-treating!
- Parenting Hack: If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner idea that pleases both picky eaters and adults, look no further. Jack-o’-Lantern Face Quesadillas are a versatile dish that can be adapted to suit everyone’s tastes.
The Ingredients
- Tortillas
- Shredded cheese or other fillings of choice! Pumpkin purée with honey and cinnamon is delicious!
How to Make Jack-o’-Lantern Quesadillas
1. Create the face: Cut out a jack-o’-lantern face into a tortilla. If you’re making one quesadilla you’ll need one face, two quesadillas will need two tortilla faces, etc. Remove the cutouts from the quesadilla and get ready to assemble.
2. Choose your fillings: To the other non-face tortillas, top with your fillings of choice. You can use shredded cheese or create a sweet quesadilla with pumpkin puree, a drizzle of honey and dash of cinnamon.
3. Brown the face side: Place the jack-o’-lantern face tortilla into a pan on medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the tortilla is warmed through and a little crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside.
4. Cook the filling side: Add the other tortilla topped with your filling to the same pan. Cook until cheese it melted or other filling is warmed through.
5. Add the face: Place the jack-o’-lantern tortilla on top of the filled tortilla and continue cooking until the bottom tortilla has browned. Do not flip or all your filling will spill out!
6. Remove and serve: Carefully slide the quesadilla onto a plate and serve with dips of choice. For cheese quesadillas we like guacamole, salsa or sour cream. For the sweet pumpkin quesadilla some maple syrup on the side is always welcomed!
Occasions for Jack-o’-Lantern Face Quesadillas
- Halloween Night Dinner: Kick off your Halloween festivities with a special dinner featuring these delightful quesadillas. They’ll set the tone for a fun-filled evening of trick-or-treating and spooky games.
- Halloween Parties: Hosting a Halloween gathering for family and friends? These quesadillas will steal the show as a fun and interactive snack or appetizer, especially along side this Halloween Taco Dip.
- Weeknight Dinner: Don’t limit these treats to just Halloween night. Make them any time you want to add a touch of whimsy to your family dinners! Use cookie cutters to cut out any fun shape you want!
- After-School Snack: Surprise your kids with a Halloween-themed after-school snack. It’s a fantastic way to keep the excitement alive in the days leading up to the big night.
Different Filling Ideas:
- Classic Cheese: Start with a classic and simply fill your quesadillas with a blend of gooey cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. This ensures the pumpkin face really stands out.
- Protein Power: Add some protein with grilled chicken or black beans for a more filling meal using the cheese as your “glue”.
- Veggie Delight: Add in some veggies like diced bell peppers, onions, or spinach for added nutrition and a burst of color.
- Spooky Salsa: Serve your quesadillas with a side of chunky tomato salsa or guacamole for a fresh and zesty kick.
More Halloween Recipes for Kids
Making Jack-o’-Lantern Face Quesadillas is not only a tasty treat but also a fantastic way to bond with your kids and infuse some Halloween magic into your family meals. So, this Halloween, let your creativity run wild and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Images by Ivan Solis
Easy Jack-o’-Lantern Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 4 tortillas (flour, whole wheat or any other kind will work)
- shredded cheese (if making cheese quesadilla)
- pumpkin purée, honey and ground cinnamon (if making sweet pumpkin quesadilla)
Instructions
- Cut out a jack-o’-lantern face into a tortilla. If you’re making one quesadilla you’ll need one face, two quesadillas will need two tortilla faces, etc. Remove the cutouts from the quesadilla and get ready to assemble.
- To the other non-face tortillas, top with your fillings of choice. You can use shredded cheese or create a sweet quesadilla with pumpkin puree, a drizzle of honey and dash of cinnamon.
- Place the jack-o’-lantern face tortilla into a pan on medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the tortilla is warmed through and a little crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add the other tortilla topped with your filling to the same pan. Cook until cheese it melted or other filling is warmed through, about 2-3 minutes.
- Place the jack-o’-lantern tortilla on top of the filled tortilla and continue cooking until the bottom tortilla has browned, another minute or two. Do not flip or all your filling will spill out!
- Carefully slide the quesadilla onto a plate and serve with dips of choice. For cheese quesadillas we like guacamole, salsa or sour cream. For the sweet pumpkin quesadilla some maple syrup on the side is great!
