Looking for a fast and fun meal that everyone in the family will love? Then you have to try these Cheesy Pizza Quesadillas! These easy-to-make quesadillas are perfect for school lunches, snacks, dinner, or even an appetizer and will be enjoyed by all – from toddlers to adults!
Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Pizza Quesadillas
Having a hard time deciding between Italian or Mexican food for dinner?
With these easy, cheesy pizza quesadillas, you won’t have to decide.
You’ll get a classic quesadilla stuffed with savory pizza sauce, gooey melted mozzarella cheese, and pepperonis. Now that’s a win-win!
I love pizza quesadillas for school lunches, snacks or busy weeknight meals. They’re quick, healthy, and customizable – you can make them super simple (sauce + cheese) or fancy-schmancy (pepperoni, sausage, sauteed mushrooms, feta, ricotta, etc.). Either way, these pizza quesadillas always turn out great, and they’re always requested by my family, week after week!
Feeding kids can be tricky! But, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here you can find 40 Family Dinner Ideas, over 100 Kid Snack Ideas, great Hidden-Veggie Recipes, 50 Cooking with Kids Recipes, and so much more! And for even more family-friendly recipes, check out my best-selling cookbook Little Foodies: Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste.
Reasons to Love Easy Pizza Quesadillas
- toddler, kid and adult-friendly
- easy to make – 10-minute meal!
- hidden veggies
- can customize with favorite fillings
- great for school or packed lunches
- healthy
- great for lunches, snacks or dinner
- can be made gluten and dairy-free
Ingredients
- Tortillas: I used flour tortillas for this recipe, but you can sub whole wheat or a gluten-free brand
- Pizza Sauce: homemade or store-bought
- Mozzarella: you can shred your own or use pre-shredded mozzarella from the store. I used pre-shredded cheese. You can also use an Italian cheese blend.
- Parmesan: optional, but is great to sprinkle on top.
- Toppings: you can use any topping you prefer. See below for lots of fun options and combinations.
Health Benefits of Pizza Quesadillas: Just because it’s pizza, doesn’t mean it’s not healthy! The tortilla provides carbohydrates, an important macronutrient needed for energy, and fiber if you’re using whole wheat. Pizza sauce is full of nutrients like vitamins A and C and potassium, and the cheese provides the calcium needed for healthy bones. Depending on what toppings you choose, you can boost the health factor even more with fiber and other nutrients from vegetables and protein from meats.
Allergy Substitutions
- Gluten-Free: use a trusted brand of gluten-free tortillas and gluten-free toppings.
- Dairy-Free: vegan cheeses have come a long way in their replication of taste, texture, and behavior (Melty! Bubbly! Stretchy!) so try plant-based mozzarella or parmesan-style shreds. If that doesn’t appeal, you can absolutely still have delicious pizzas sans cheese!
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep: preheat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Sauce: Place two tortillas on a large cutting board. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on one tortilla.
- Assemble: On top of the sauce, sprinkle a thin layer of cheese. Add a layer of any toppings you prefer. Sprinkle on another thin layer of cheese and a pinch of parmesan. Top with the other tortilla.
- Cook: Add a little cooking spray or butter to the warmed skillet, if you prefer. Gently place the quesadilla on the warmed skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes on one side or until golden brown. Flip and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Transfer the cooked quesadilla to a cutting board and repeat with the other pizza quesadilla.
- Eat: let cool slightly (those toppings will be hot) and slice into wedges, strips or chunks before serving.
Pizza Quesadilla Variations
There are so many tasty variations to be had with these pizza quesadillas. Just make sure not to overload the quesadillas with toppings or they will be too thick (and messy) for kids to eat.
Sauces
Toppings
- Veggies: bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach
- Cheese: mozzarella, parmesan, provolone, cheddar, “jack” cheeses, feta
- Meats: pepperoni, ground sausage, chicken, bacon crumbles
Expert Tips
- Soft tortillas can be a bit chewy and pose a difficult texture for younger eaters, so make sure to cut these pizza quesadillas into thin strips if serving to toddlers younger than 12 months old.
- Less is more, when it comes to fillings, especially pizza sauce or ones with more water content, like tomatoes.
- If you’re watching sodium content for toddlers and younger kids, use cheese like fresh mozzarella, fresh ricotta, and goat cheese, as they contain less sodium than some traditional cheeses, like parmesan or pecorino romano. You might also want to serve ham, sausage, and pepperoni sparingly for toddlers, as these meats can be saltier.
- If you’ve got picky eaters, try setting up the ingredients for these pizza quesadillas ‘buffet-style’ so that kids can make their own creations in a low-pressure setting.
Cooking with Kids
Both toddlers and kids will have a blast making these cheesy pizza quesadillas!
Toddlers
- Can help spoon and spread on the sauce.
- They can help sort ingredients into smaller bowls for buffet-style serving.
- Toddlers love to sprinkle on the cheese and add their own toppings.
Kids
- Kids can preheat the skillet.
- They can spoon and spread on the sauce.
- Kids love to sprinkle on the cheese and add their own toppings.
- With supervision, kids can cut the cooked quesadilla with a pizza cutter.
How to Store and Freeze
You can store cooked pizza quesadillas in the fridge for up to 4 days or freezer for 2 months. Make sure to let them come down to room temperature before storing them in an airtight container or freezer bag.
To reheat, simply pop them into the microwave for 30-second intervals until warm (my microwave takes 90 seconds). Or place them on a pre-heated skilled for 2-3 minutes on each side.
How to Serve Pizza Quesadillas
Pizza quesadillas make for a healthy and easy meal. I love to serve them with a side of fruit and steamed veggies for a balanced lunch or dinner. Here are several fruits and veggies that go well with these pizza quesadillas.
- cut grapes
- carrot sticks
- steamed broccoli
- apple slices
- mixed berries
- pepper slices
- quartered cherry tomatoes
- sugar snap peas
- mandarin oranges
- cucumber slices
- cantaloupe spears
More Pizza Recipes We Love
- 4 large flour tortillas, white, whole wheat or gluten free
- 1/3 cup pizza sauce, homemade or store bought
- 1 cup shredded cheese, Mozzarella or Italian blend
- 1/3 cup toppings, pepperoni, chopped peppers, sliced olives, etc.
- 1 tbsp parmesan (optional)
Toppings
- Veggies: bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach
- Cheese: mozzarella, parmesan, provolone, cheddar, “jack” cheeses, feta
- Meats: pepperoni, ground sausage, chicken, bacon crumbles