Pizza Quesadillas

When you don’t have time to make pizza dough, go with pizza quesadillas. This recipe is inspired by some of the most popular pizza toppings including pepperoni, salami, mozzarella and red sauce. However, you don’t need to stick to this exact recipe, there are tons of ways to riff off the basic guidelines.

If you love this quirky, fun meal try out our other, most-loved quesadilla recipes—perfect for a quick dinner, snack or anything in between.

Pizza Quesadilla Ingredients

Diana Chistruga for Taste of Home

• Spaghetti sauce: Instead of salsa, this recipe calls for spaghetti sauce. Either your favorite storebought or a homemade spaghetti sauce works well.
• Butter: Smearing on a layer of butter helps crisp the quesadillas and adds a whole other dimension of flavor.
• Tortillas: Between corn and flour tortillas, we recommend using flour. Not only is their flavor more similar to pizza crust, they develop a nice crisp in the skillet.
• Mozzarella: As a dependable melting cheese, mozzarella helps bind the other ingredients in the quesadilla together. For creamiest results, opt for fresh mozzarella.
• Salami: One of the most popular Italian foods, salami is a cured pork sausage. It adds a pop of salty, umami flavor to this snack.
• Pepperoni: While similar, pepperoni is spicier and fattier than salami. It’s also cured for less time, so it’s more moist.
• Parmesan: Depending on the kind of Parmesan you choose, it will be aged between 12 and 36 months. During this time, flavors develop and moisture evaporates, leaving you with a nutty, pleasantly pungent cheese.
• Oregano: We recommend using dried oregano because fresh may overpower this recipe.

Directions

Step 1: Heat the spaghetti sauce

Diana Chistruga for Taste of Home

Place a small saucepan over low to medium heat and add the spaghetti sauce. Cook for three to four minutes or until heated through.

Step 2: Butter and fill the quesadillas

Diana Chistruga for Taste of Home

Meanwhile, spread the butter over one side of each tortilla. On the unbuttered side of two of the tortillas, lay down the mozzarella, then the salami and pepperoni. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and dried oregano. Top with remaining tortillas, buttered side up.

Step 3: Cook on the griddle

Diana Chistruga for Taste of Home

Place a griddle over medium heat and add a quesadilla, cooking for about two to three minutes on each side, or until the cheese is melted through. Repeat with the remaining quesadilla, cut into wedges and serve with warmed spaghetti sauce for dipping.

Diana Chistruga for Taste of Home

Pizza Quesadillas Variations

• Switch up the fillings: Find inspiration in popular pizza recipes. You can get as simple or as gourmet as you’d like, from veggies to meats.
• Make it open-faced: If you want to go lighter on the carbs or just heavier on the toppings, skip the second tortilla. That said, you may want to throw the tortilla on the griddle beforehand so both sides can get a nice crisp and stand up to the toppings.

How to Store Pizza Quesadillas

To store pizza quesadillas, first allow them to cool and wrap them in a layer of foil. Place them in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, simply place them on the griddle over medium heat or, in the oven at 350°F until the cheese is soft and melted.

Can I freeze pizza quesadillas?

To freeze this recipe, wrap the quesadillas in foil and then place in an airtight container. Keep in the freezer for up to three months. You may notice when you thaw and reheat these that the cheese has changed in texture slightly. This is normal but of course, it may not be as enjoyable as before.

Pizza Quesadillas Tips

Diana Chistruga for Taste of Home

How to keep pizza quesadillas from going soggy?

While a little butter or coating of oil on the tortilla can help it to brown, avoid putting on too much. Doing this helps the tortilla to more effectively develop a light, crispy texture instead of soggy.

How to fold a quesadilla?

While this recipe doesn’t require you to fold the quesadilla, some people do like to. Feel free to fold the tortilla in half before you cook it, eliminating the need to add the second. Or, try slicing a flap down the middle and folding it in four sections to create a deliciously stacked quesadilla.

What goes well with pizza quesadillas?

Of course, a pizza quesadilla pairs well with spaghetti sauce but you can mix it up and still keep with the pizza theme, if you’d like. Try a pesto pizza inspired quesadilla, serving the pesto on the side for dipping.