Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • Constructing a quesadilla in a cast iron skillet that just barely fits it helps create an extra-crisp bottom crust.
  • Cheese spread out to the very edges crisps up, creating a browned, flavorful crust.
  • The pizza is cooked with a combination of the stovetop and the broiler to deliver results in under 15 minutes.

I once posted a quick-and-dirty recipe for makingworld-class bar-style pizza out of a flour tortilla and a cast iron skillet. And, while I may have been a little hyperbolic about it, it's still a fan-freaking-tastic snack that is definitely gonna get a bit more late-night circulation at my place.

Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (1)

But it wasn't until userrickjamisonposted it over onRedditthat the following suggestion was made by userStrungoutScott:

"My god, this looks incredible. For the extra lazy, couldn't I just fold this mother f*&ker in half, and have a crispy, pizza, mother-f*&king quesadilla??"

Nowthat'sa good idea if I ever saw one, and I figured it'd be even better if we took that idea and tweaked it just a bit to give birth to thepizzadilla(or is it a quesadizza?). This is what happens when a pizza and a quesadilla make sweet, sweet love: cheesy, greasy, crisp-edged glory.

Okay, so maybe not quite sweet, sweet love. This is more like down-and-dirty, one-night-only, in-a-van-by-the-river,bashwing!*-style, take-no-prisoners getting it on.

That'sDaniel'spatented randy-lovemaking noise.

Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (2)

Of course, I quickly found out that this idea is far from new. There are literallyhundreds of thousandsof similar recipes out there on the web. That said, it's the cast iron skillet, the crisp-cheese edges, and the broiled top that separate this one from the pack.

It starts just likethe tortilla pizza recipe, with a tortilla in the bottom of a hot, oiled cast iron skillet that barely fits it, topped with a thin layer of sauce—I used myNew York–style pizza sauce, but you can use any sauce you'd like—and a sprinkling of shredded mozzarella cheese. Instead of broiling it, we add a second tortilla to the top.

Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (3)

I cook the tortilla in the skillet over low heat, swirling it occasionally, until the bottom side is completely crisped up. Then I very carefully flip it over.

Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (4)

This is the trickiest part of a really, really easy recipe. Just do it fast, and try not to lettoomuch cheese drip out as you go.

Next, we top it. I use more sauce, more shredded low-moisture mozzarella, a few little chunks of torn fresh mozzarella, some shredded Parmesan, some slices of a fancy-pants pepperoni that I found at Whole Foods, some torn-up chunks of raw Italian sausage, and some torn basil leaves.

Under the broiler it goes. You want to blast it with heat so that it browns quickly. As the cheese melts, it should collect around the edges of the quesadilla and crisp up into a substantial brown crust.

Once it's out of the oven, I use a little offset spatula to gently release the crisp cheese edges from the skillet until the pizzadilla can slide around freely. If you lift it with a spatula to peek underneath and find that it's still a little soft on the bottom, just throw it on top of a burner over medium heat until it crisps up to your liking.

Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (5)

What slides out of the pan is the very opposite of an exercise in restraint. The bottom tortilla is crisp enough that you can pick up a slice and hold it out horizontally, but the upper tortilla softens up to the point that it's almost indistinguishable from the cheese, much like the upper crust in astuffed-crust Chicago-style pizza. It's really just there to allow you to fit more cheese on top without losing all structural integrity.

Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (6)

I felt dirty while making it, and when all was said and done, it was both gross and awesome at the same time, like all of the best flings.

October 2014

Recipe Details

Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe

Active15 mins

Total15 mins

Serves1to 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon (3ml)extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 large flour tortillas that just fit inside your cast iron skillet

  • 3/4 cup (180ml) store-bought orhomemadepizza sauce

  • 5 ounces (140g) shredded whole-milk low-moisture mozzarella cheese

  • 2 ounces (55g) grated Parmesan cheese, divided

  • 2 basil leaves, roughly torn

  • Additional toppings (such as crumbled Italian sausage mix), as desired

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to 6 to 8 inches below broiler element and preheat broiler to high. Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over high heat until shimmering. Reduce heat to low and wipe out excess oil with a paper towel.

    Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (7)

  2. Place tortilla in skillet with the rougher textured-side facing down. Spread half of sauce evenly over tortilla all the way to the edges. Spread half of mozzarella evenly over tortilla all the way to the edges. Place second tortilla on top. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until crisp on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip with a large spatula.

    Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (8)

    Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (9)

  3. Spread remaining sauce evenly over tortilla all the way to the edges. Spread remaining mozzarella and half of Parmesan evenly over tortilla all the way to the edges. Scatter with basil and add toppings (such as sausage) as desired.

    Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (10)

  4. Place skillet under broiler and broil until toppings are cooked through and cheese is melted and starting to brown in spots, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan. Using a small metal spatula, gently pry edges of pizza, releasing the cheese from the skillet. Peek under bottom. If more crispness is desired, place skillet over medium-heat and cook, swirling pizza and peeking occasionally, until desired crispness is achieved. Slide pizza out onto a cutting board. Cut and serve immediately.

    Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (11)

Special Equipment

Cast iron skillet, large spatula, small offset spatula

Read More

  • Extra-Crispy Bar-Style Tortilla Pizza Supreme
  • New York-Style Pizza Sauce
  • Quick Dinners
  • Pizza
  • Game Day
Pizzadilla (Quesadilla Pizza) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make a soggy quesadilla crispy? ›

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the quesadilla on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake for 10 minutes or until the tortilla is crisp and the cheese is melted throughout. Serve with a side of salsa, sour cream, and/or guacamole for dipping.

What is a chicken pizza quesadilla? ›

Cheesy Buffalo chicken filling is sandwiched between tortillas. But don't you dare call these quesadillas. They're pizzadillas – with a pizza on top! by: Half-Baked Harvest. Updated May 23, 2022.

How do you make quesadillas stick together? ›

You need to have cheese on both ends of the tortilla so it glues the ingredients together. Just like a stuffed grilled cheese! Not to mention, it's quesadilla math. The quesadilla I'm sharing below uses my turkey taco meat and I add beans, salsa, my quick pico and cheddar and monterey jack.

What kinds of cheese do you think goes well in a quesadilla? ›

Cheddar and Monterey Jack are standards of American-style quesadillas. But if you are planning ahead, consider that freshly grated cheese such as cheddar or Monterey Jack makes the meltiest quesadillas.

How to stop quesadillas from going soggy? ›

Toasting both sides of the tortillas takes an extra minute of your time but the results are more than worth it. It gives the tortilla a chance to better crisp up, withstanding any soggy fillings you might add. It makes the quesadilla easier to eat and easier to dunk in salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.

Should a quesadilla be crunchy or soft? ›

It's not soft, it's not a taco. Roasted Chile Poblano Quesadilla requires medium heat on a comal to turn the exterior crispy. The quesadilla is crispy on the outside without being hard, and it's moist on the inside, the melted cheese providing a contrast. You need really good melting cheese and good tortillas.

What does quesadilla mean in Mexican? ›

You might be wondering where this tasty treat called the quesadilla found its well-known name? Well, queso means cheese in Spanish, and Dilla means a slang term for a dude. So quesadilla translates into “cheese-dude.” This little cheese thing was originated in the northern and central Mexico back in the 16th century.

What is the difference between a tortilla and a quesadilla? ›

A quesadilla is a tortilla that's covered with cheese and other tasty toppings, folded in half, then fried or grilled to a nice, golden colour. Literally translated as “l*ttle cheese thing”, this dish is all about gooey cheese in a crispy parcel – like a delicious Mexican toastie!

What is a quesadilla with meat called? ›

Mulitas are like quesadilla sandwiches…with meat on the inside. Hello! That's cool! This carnitas recipe is suuuuper simple, and only takes about 3 hours of braising on the stove-top.

What is the hack for quesadillas? ›

Simply slice a tortilla halfway through, add different fillings to each of the four quadrants, do some folding, brown it in a pan and voilà! You have a delicious, healthy lunch ready in minutes.

How to keep quesadillas from falling apart? ›

To achieve this, simply dampen the edges of the tortilla with a bit of water before folding it. Remove from the pan and firmly press the edges together to create a tightly sealed quesadilla. How long do you wait to flip a quesadilla? Keep an eye on your cheese, other ingredients, and the bottom of the tortilla.

What can you put inside a quesadilla? ›

What toppings go in a quesadilla?
  1. Southwestern: Fill your quesadilla with black beans, chopped onions, peppers, tomatoes, corn, cilantro and pepper jack cheese. ...
  2. Mediterranean: Load your quesadilla up with a blend of chopped spinach, red onions, Kalamata olives, feta cheese crumbles and mozzarella cheese.

How to spice up a cheese quesadilla? ›

Or sprinkle in some chopped fresh cilantro or green onions. Spice it up: Add bold flavor by adding a pinch of chili powder, Za'atar seasoning, taco seasoning, or smoked paprika directly to the cheese. As it melts, the seasonings will elevate the overall taste of the quesadillas.

What is the best melting Mexican cheese for quesadillas? ›

Queso asadero is Mexican cheese that's great for melting. It is soft, white and creamy with a mild taste, and is often used to make pizzas, quesadillas and queso fundido.

How to make a 2 tortilla quesadilla? ›

Place one tortilla flat on the frying pan. Cook for 1 minute, then flip the tortilla over. Sprinkle a little more than 1/4 cup cheese on top of tortilla, followed by some olives, avocado, and hot pepper sauce. Place another tortilla on top to make a sandwich; cover with a lid.

How do you crisp a soggy tortilla? ›

To make tortillas crispy on the stove, you can either fry them in a skillet or bake them in the oven. For frying, preheat a skillet with a small amount of oil, cook the tortillas until blistering but still soft, flip and fold to form taco shells or continue cooking for flat tostadas until golden and crisp.

Can you crisp up tortillas? ›

Bake tortillas for 5 minutes, then turn tortillas using spatulas or tongs, rotate the cookie sheets, and bake for 3 to 6 minutes longer until tortillas are crispy and light brown.

How to make soggy fried chicken crispy? ›

The best way to reheat fried chicken is in an oven.
  1. Bring it to room temperature: Take the chicken out of the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before reheating. ...
  2. Give it some air: Place chicken on a wire rack and preheat oven to 400°F. ...
  3. Go high and fast: Bake chicken for 12 to 15 minutes.
Dec 19, 2023

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