If you are looking for a fun new dinner option, sheet pan quesadillas may be just the thing! It has a crispy shell filled with meat and cheese. Add your favorite toppings for an exciting meal the whole family is sure to love.
This sheet pan quesadilla can be served as a great snack while watching the big game or as a fun meal. Either way, it is a much easier way to make quesadillas for a crowd thanks to the help of the oven and a couple of sheet pans.
The Beauty of Sheet Pan Recipes
By now, you know I love using a sheet pan to take tasks that used to be monotonous and make a whole batch at once. While homemade pancakes are delicious, it takes a while to make them for a bunch of people.
That is where sheet pan pancakes come in. You can make them all at once.
What is better than an egg in a hole? Sheet pan eggs in a hole with bacon, you can make 6 at once without having to flip them.
The same can be said here. Rather than making individual quesadillas, you fill up a sheet pan with all of your favorite fillings and bake it to crispy goodness.
In a way, it is like making a giant flat chimichanga. The outside is golden and crunchy, but the inside is soft and delicious.
Filling Your Quesadilla
Use this recipe as the starting point. Once you have the basic instructions down, you can change the fillings to match your flavor preferences.
We love ground venison tacos, so we used lots of ground venison seasoned with taco seasoning to keep it simple. If you have ground venison, and want to reduce the gamey flavor, squeeze a little lime juice over it.
You can also reduce the meat and add some drained black beans instead. Or try using ground beef, ground turkey, or shredded chicken.
If you have leftover sheet pan chicken fajitas, chop up that meat and toss it in the middle. That would be delicious.
Or try a chorizo filling similar to yummy chorizo tacos. It is a classic filling that is also great in quesadillas.
Even some leftover salsa chicken would be good. There really are an almost endless number of fillings that would be tasty.
No matter what fillings you choose, you are going to want some cheese. Again, your options are almost limitless here.
Colby Jack is always a great option. Or you can use cheddar, Monterey Jack if you prefer. They even have Mexican blends or cheese made specifically for quesadillas if you prefer.
Assembling the Quesadilla
Now that we have your fillings figured out, it is time to assemble this beast. Luckily, it is easy.
Just spray a sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray. Take 6 large burrito sized tortillas and place them around the border.
You will use one at each short end and two along each long edge. Place one tortilla in the center.
Sprinkle half of the cheese on the tortillas, then top it with whatever fillings you decided on. Distribute the remaining cheese over the top.
Put another tortilla over the center of the fillings, then fold over the sides. It should cover the fillings completely.
Spray the bottom of another sheet pan and put it over your quesadilla. That will help to hold the tortillas in place.
Bake it for about 20 minutes, then remove the pan. Keep the quesadilla in the oven for another five minutes or so to crisp the top.
That’s it!
Topping Ideas
Once you cut your quesadilla into squares, it is time to dig in. It will be good on its own, but I think it is the toppings that make these kinds of meals.
We love sour cream with quesadillas, so for us that is a must. You could also use salsa or guacamole.
We added some chopped lettuce and tomatoes as well. A few pickled jalapeño slices add some spice.
You could add a splash of hot sauce or taco sauce if you would like. Anything you would eat on tacos or nachos would be great here as well.
How do you store leftovers?
Leftover should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can keep them for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, freeze the pieces in airtight containers or freezer bags.
How do you reheat leftovers?
You can microwave leftover pieces if you would like, but you will lose some of the crunch.
To maintain the crunchy exterior, gently warm the leftovers in a skillet over medium-low heat. Or warm them up on a pan in a 350F oven for about 10 minutes.
If you tried this recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments. Hungry for more? Be sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Sheet Pan Quesadilla
Ingredients
- 8 large burrito sized tortillas
- 2 pounds ground venison or beef
- 2 packages taco seasoning
- 1 pound shredded cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 °F
- Brown the meat in a skillet. Add the taco seasoning and cook according to package directions.2 pounds ground venison, 2 packages taco seasoning
- Spray the a half sheet pan with cooking spray.
- Lay 6 tortillas in the sheet pan, one on each of the short edges and two on each of the long edges so that about half of the tortilla is overhanging the pan. Place a 7th tortilla in the center.
- Sprinkle tortillas with half of the cheese. Top with the prepared taco meat, then the remaining cheese.1 pound shredded cheese
- Fold the tortillas over the filling and use the last tortilla to fill in the center.
- Spray the bottom (the part that normally touches the counter) of the second sheet pan. Place over the quesadilla to hold the tortillas in place.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the top sheet pan and bake for 5 more minutes.
- Let rest for about 5 minutes, then cut into squares to serve.
Andrea Nine
Friday 10th of November 2023
This just made quesadillas so much easier. I love this.
Carlee
Friday 10th of November 2023
It's definitely a fun way to make them for a crowd. Thanks, Andrea!