Baked Quesadillas

This is a tale of Baked Quesadillas.

Well actually the original recipe I wrote used a flat top in a restaurant.

Picture it, Ontario, July 1999….

When I was 20 I met a guy and fell absolutely in love with him. I mean I thought the sun would rise and set around him. We moved in together after his family invested in a building to renovate and ultimately house a restaurant. This was my first time managing people and a restaurant. I actually cringe when I look back on those days. Like what was I thinking 🙈🙈🙈

Omg such a range of emotions – mostly yucky.

I will not go on about the negative stuff, in life we either repeat our mistakes or learn from them 🤗

I learned from mine 🙂

Omg that was 23 years ago!!! 23, omg do you remember Palm Pilots!?! Lmao that’s how long it was… he had a Palm Pilot!!!  I had an IBM think pad lol…! Do you remember Nelly Furtado ???

Ah!

My bestie sent me some embarrassing pics from back then… can you imagine if there was Facebook back then???

Omg… do you remember AOL!?! Omg I used that for homework 🤣🤣🤣 I’m actually laughing out loud right now!

So what does antiquated technology have to do with quesadillas you ask?

Nothing.

However, in the restaurant he had there were quesadillas on the menu. A large tortilla shell stuffed with chopped tomatoes, green onion and cheese. Served with plastic cups full of sour cream and salsa.

I wrote almost all the recipes for the restaurant and I’m proud to say that my recipes were in the acceptable food cost range of between 25-30%. His were not 🙂

Again where am I going with this?

We had a server that worked for us and he came to us one day and said a customer wanted a quasi-della. We had no idea what he was talking about, he had to bring the menu to us!

Any way those memories just came flooding back.

Now would I ever go back to that time in my life?

Hell. No.

Thank you for the memories and life experience but this gal is happy.

I’m genuinely happy in life.

I can’t even think of something I want for a Christmas present.

I’m blessed and I’m grateful.

Omg, do you remember…

Just kidding, I’m done… the moment has passed 🤩🤩🤩

This is how you make Baked Quesadillas:

 

Spray two baking sheets with some cooking spray then lay two shells on each sheet (it’s okay if they hang over the edge because you’r going to fold them in half before you baked them.

You’re going to build the quesadilla on one side of the shell only:

Evenly spread two tbsp of cheddar across the bottom of half the shell.

Top the cheese evenly with a quarter of the tomato and green onion (I just throw them in a bowl as I prep);  season with salt and pepper.

Top with another 2 tbsp of the cheddar.

Gently fold the bare side of the tortilla shell over the toppings; press down gently to ensure the shell stays folded.

Season the top of the shell with some taco seasoning.

Transfer to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.

Flip the quesadillas carefully, I use a spatula and pull the open side over to keep the filling in.

Season this side with taco seasoning.

Return to the oven and bake for another 8-10 minutes; stay close to the oven to make sure the quesadilla don’t burn.

One more…

Serve immediately!

Products used in this recipe

More and more as prices are going through the roof I’m turning to no-name brands.  Personally I like the Great Value brand you find at Walmart.  So I used Great Value Tortilla Shells, Great Value Sour Cream, a beefsteak tomato, green onion and:

Black Diamond Tacos and Nachos grated cheese.  This worked awesome because it seems to be lightly dusted with cumin – a very happy surprise for this girl 🙂

What I served with this recipe

Green Salad

with my…

Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing

Not to toot my own horn but this dinner was freaking awesome 🤣🤣🤣

 

Crispy on the outside, ooey- gooey in the middle; these quesadillas are lightened up because they’re baked but they’re so good you can’t tell 🙂

 

Other Recipes you might like

Santa Fe Chicken Quesadilla

 

Soft Beef Tacos

 

Shrimp Tacos

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