Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Quesadillas
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.My Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Quesadillas are the cutest and most delicious Halloween party idea to make with kids. I make these three-ingredient quesadillas with whole wheat tortillas, cheese, and pumpkin puree that are sure to bring a smile to your kids’ faces and are perfect for festive get-togethers.
I am a huge fan of pumpkin. Whether I’m making fun treats like vegan pumpkin pie for the holiday season or pumpkin choco chips cookies for a healthy snack, I love finding recipes that not only taste fabulous but are also super easy too.
With Halloween coming up, I wanted something that would get the kids excited, so I made a batch of these Halloween quesadillas with leftover pumpkin puree I had from making pumpkin Greek yogurt breakfast parfaits and turned them into jack-O-Lantern faces. The kids loved them and had so much fun helping me make them for our Halloween party.
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👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
These Halloween quesadillas are so adorable and are likely to become a tradition during the fall in many households. They’re super easy to make, and I promise, even picky eaters will gobble them up! The kids loved cutting out the pumpkin shapes and putting them on the griddle pan. With only 3 ingredients, they’re the simplest, tastiest quesadilla recipe you will find! Everyone at our party loved them. Even if you aren’t a huge Halloween person, if you love pumpkins, these little beauties are just what you need.
I kind of stumbled on the idea to turn regular tortillas into faces by cutting out circles, spreading leftover pumpkin puree and cheese on top. Then, cut Jack-O-Lantern faces with the remaining circles and place them over the cheese. The idea was pure genius, and my kids were so impressed that I came up with the idea on the spot. It took me less than 20 minutes to whip up 4 funny Halloween quesadillas using 8 tortillas. Which they gobbled up in minutes, so I had to run to the shop to buy 24 tortillas to make 12 quesadillas for the party.
They taste like a pizza sandwich, but with pumpkin puree instead of tomato sauce, and tortillas instead of pizza dough. They’re healthy, sugar-free, and perfect for Halloween-inspired parties. Plus, you can make them a day or two before and warm them up in the microwave or oven just before the guests arrive, which is exactly what I did. If you need a quick and easy recipe for your party that the kids can help with, Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin quesadillas are perfect!
🥘 Ingredients
I use just 3 ingredients to make this super-easy quesadilla recipe! Check them out below:
Tortillas: I used whole wheat flour tortillas for my quesadillas, but sprouted wheat, spelt, or white whole wheat flour tortillas would all work well.
Pumpkin Puree: To make 4 of them, I used just a couple of tablespoons of pumpkin puree for the base sauce of these quesadillas. Make sure you’re using 100% pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
Cheese: Because what are quesadillas without cheese 🙂. I used Monterey Jack, but Mexican shredded cheese blend, or even just pure cheddar cheese, would work great for a delicious stringy pull.
🔪 How To Make
In just 20 minutes, you’ll have a plate of Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Quesadillas to serve to your guests! Follow my 5-step guide below:
Cut Tortillas: I use a cookie cutter to cut out 8 pumpkin-shaped tortillas.
Make Jack-O-Lantern Face: Then, using a sharp knife, I cut a jack-o-lantern face into four of the pumpkin-shaped tortillas.
Assemble: To cook them, I heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat and place the remaining four pumpkin tortillas (without faces) on the griddle. Then, I spread a little less than 1 tsp of pumpkin puree on each tortilla and top with shredded cheese.
Stuff with Cheese: Next, I place the pumpkin-shaped tortillas with faces on top of the cheese.
Cook on Skillet: I cook for five minutes until the cheese is melted, then flip and cook for an additional two to three minutes. Allow them to cool slightly before serving.
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for this easy Jack-O-Lantern Face quesadilla recipe is not to overstuff the quesadillas with ingredients. If you do, you will have a mess, and they will likely spill out as you are cooking them. It happened to me on the first batch until I adjusted the amount of pumpkin puree and cheese.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Divide the filling evenly: I always make sure to spread the filling evenly so each quesadilla cooks nicely and stays easy to flip.
- Keep the heat low: I cook the quesadillas on medium-low heat so the cheese melts slowly and the tortillas get a golden crust. This way they never burn or cook unevenly.
- Get the kids involved: My kids love helping me fill and fold the tortillas, and it turns dinner into something fun we do together. They are always proud to eat what they helped make.
📖 Variations
Since quesadillas are versatile, I decided to make a few variations for everyone to choose. Give one of these variations a try if you want to have different-flavored Halloween Jack-O-Lantern quesadillas!
Extra protein: I added a few black beans on top of the pumpkin puree to give a boost of protein and nutrients. Plus, the beans taste really good with the cheese and pumpkin. Pinto beans are also a good option for this variation.
Make it spicy: For those who like their food with a bit of kick like I do, place a few sliced jalapenos or chopped green chiles on top of the cheese to increase the heat. This variation was mainly popular with the adults, but for my surprise some kids also liked the sweet and spice combo.
Add veggies: I made a few of the quesadillas with cooked mushrooms, spinach, chopped tomatoes, and corn. Just a spoonful is enough to provide extra nutrition. No need to overload them, or the filling will spread out of the quesadillas. Try any veggies you want, but make sure they’re chopped into small pieces.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
I serve these adorable jack-o-lantern quesadillas with other Halloween party foods to get everyone in the festive spirit. Give some of these easy recipes a go:
For my last Halloween party, I whipped up a batch of Halloween monster cookies and these funny face Halloween apples to pair with Jack-O-Lantern quesadillas. It makes such a difference to the mood when people see a variety of Halloween-inspired treats rather than just vegan egg rolls, sandwiches, and other party foods.
These vegan party food ideas are great, though, for any party if you are struggling for ideas. For a fun, super easy, and delicious drink, this witches brew cocktail is a house favorite! It’s primarily for adults as it contains vodka, but that can be removed to make a kiddy friendly cream soda version with matcha. You’ll need to make a few pitchers of this cocktail, as it goes pretty quickly.
🧊 Storage Directions
Refrigeration: I have found the best way to store leftover Halloween pumpkin quesadillas is by wrapping them up in plastic wrap. Then I put each Halloween quesadilla in a plastic or glass food container. They typically last around 3 days in the fridge.
Freezing: The best is to flash freeze the quesadillas so they don’t stick to each other. To do that, I place them on a baking sheet and freeze them for 2-3 hours. Then, I remove them from the baking sheet and put them in a freezer-safe container. They last up to 2 months.
Reheating: To reheat leftover quesadillas, I use the air fryer, oven, or microwave. For the air fryer, reheat them for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Using the skillet method, I place the skillet over medium-high heat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, flipping over to warm both sides. To reheat in the microwave, simply place them on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 30 seconds – 1 minute.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Why is the filling pouring out of the quesadillas?
From my experience, this happens when I overload the base with pumpkin puree or add too much cheese. For best results, just spread a small spoonful of pumpkin puree and a sprinkle of cheese onto the bottom tortilla, then place and gently squeeze the edges down on the top layer to help seal them.
How do I make quesadillas crispy?
The key is to cook them low and slow on the stovetop, typically over medium-low heat. That way, the cheese will melt, and the tortilla will get crispy and golden brown without burning!
Can I prepare Halloween quesadillas in advance?
Yes. The best way to prepare these quesadillas in advance is to place them uncooked in an airtight container with greaseproof paper in between each quesadilla so they don’t stick together and pop the container in the fridge until you’re ready to cook them. You can also cook them first and reheat them later when you want to serve them.
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Quesadillas
My Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Quesadillas are the cutest and most delicious Halloween party idea to make with kids. I make these three-ingredient quesadillas with whole wheat tortillas, cheese, and pumpkin puree that are sure to bring a smile to your kids' faces and are perfect for festive get-togethers.
Servings: 4 quesadillas
Calories: 105kcal
Ingredients
- 4 burrito sized whole wheat or spelt flour tortillas
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese or Mexican shredded cheese blend
- 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
- Olive Oil Cooking Spray
Equipment
- Pumpkin Cookie Cutter
Instructions
- Use the cookie cutter to cut out 8 pumpkin shaped tortillas.
- Use the knife to cut jack o lantern faces into four of the pumpkin shaped tortillas.
- Heat a skillet or griddle over medium high heat. Spray with olive oil cooking spray. When the griddle is hot, place the remaining four pumpkin tortillas (without faces) on the griddle. Spread a little less than 1 tsp of pumpkin puree on each tortilla, top with shredded cheese and place the pumpkin tortillas with faces on top of the cheese.
- Cook for five minutes, until cheese is melted, then flip and cook an additional two to three minutes.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for this easy Jack-O-Lantern Face quesadilla recipe is not to overstuff the quesadillas with ingredients. If you do, you will have a mess, and they will likely spill out as you are cooking them. It happened to me on the first batch until I adjusted the amount of pumpkin puree and cheese.
- Divide the filling evenly: I always make sure to spread the filling evenly so each quesadilla cooks nicely and stays easy to flip.
- Keep the heat low: I cook the quesadillas on medium-low heat so the cheese melts slowly and the tortillas get a golden crust. This way they never burn or cook unevenly.
- Get the kids involved: My kids love helping me fill and fold the tortillas, and it turns dinner into something fun we do together. They are always proud to eat what they helped make.
Nutrition
Serving: 1quesadilla | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 11.9g | Protein: 4.8g | Fat: 4.9g | Saturated Fat: 2.8g | Cholesterol: 11.4mg | Sodium: 208.5mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1.3g
Oh wow – these are so cute! I can’t wait to give them a try this season! 🙂
Thanks Mahy! Hope you love this recipe as much as we do!
Love how quick and easy these are! Perfect numbers for Halloween too!
Totally! Enjoy!
So cute and a total hit with the kids!
Awesome! Thanks for letting me know Gina!
I thought they were cookies when I first saw them ~ what kid wouldn’t LOVE these?
Haha I know right?? They are super adorable!
how fun these were the kids just had a blast and they were also delicious!
Yay! So glad your family liked this recipe!
Oh my gosh, adorable! And love the savory spin to a pumpkin treat instead of cookies 🙂
Yes!! That’s what I was going for! 🙂 Thanks Gina!
These are so cute. Such a clever idea! They will be perfect when my niece and nephews come to visit this weekend.
Thanks so much!! I’m sure they will have fun making them!
These are so cute and easy! My kids will love them for Halloween.
Totally!! My kids like them so much we even make them at random times throughout the year!
These are super cute. I am definitely going to be making them for Halloween.
Thank you so much Dannii! 🙂
Oh my goodness, these quesadillas look so amazing! I am sure my kids will go crazy over them and I love how easy these are to make 🙂
Hehe yay!! I can’t wait for your kids to try them!