Pumpkin Patch Quesadillas
Cheesy quesadillas cut into pumpkins with jack-o'-lantern smiles. A 15-minute dinner for about $0.60 a pumpkin.
This is Halloween dinner without the stress. The cheese peeks through the carved faces, so every pumpkin glows orange.
A quick tip for parents
Make these before trick-or-treating. A warm, filling dinner first means fewer candy meltdowns later.
Allergens and swaps
Allergy-friendly note (Teal Pumpkin Project): A teal pumpkin on the porch tells trick-or-treaters you have non-food treats or allergy-safe options. Contains wheat and milk. Use corn tortillas for gluten-free and a dairy-free shred for dairy-free.
Ingredients
- 6 flour tortillas (8-inch)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
- 1/2 cup refried beans (optional, for protein)
- 1 small green bell pepper (cut into little stems)
- 1 tsp oil
Method
- Use a pumpkin cookie cutter or a knife to cut pumpkin shapes from the tortillas, two per pumpkin.
- On half the shapes, cut small triangle eyes and a smile with a paring knife (grown-up job).
- Spread beans on the plain shapes, top with cheese, and lay a face shape on top.
- Cook in a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden and melty.
- Add a green pepper stem to each pumpkin and serve with salsa.
Notes from the kitchen
- Save the tortilla scraps, brush with oil, and bake at 375°F for 8 minutes for free chips.
- Kids can sprinkle cheese while a grown-up does the knife and the stove.
No pumpkin cutter?
Cut circles with a cup, then add a pepper stem. They still look like pumpkins.