My family first tried these during an impromptu movie night and everybody grabbed seconds before the film even started
Ingredients
- Olive oil or butter: for rich flavor and helps crisp up the tortillas use high quality extra virgin olive oil or real butter for best taste
- Diced onions: add natural sweetness and savoriness make sure they are fresh and firm
- Diced bell peppers: bring a colorful crunch pick peppers that feel heavy with glossy skin
- Italian seasoning: adds herb flavor and depth check your spice blend for freshness by aroma
- Dried basil: gives sweet earthy aroma look for green flakes and avoid brown ones
- Salt and pepper: balance and enhance all flavors use fine sea salt and fresh ground pepper for a cleaner taste
- Eight eight inch tortillas: provide the crispy base choose flour or whole wheat tortillas that are pliable
- Marinara or pizza sauce: creates the classic pizza tang opt for a thick rich sauce for less sogginess
- Grated mozzarella cheese: brings stretchy melty goodness go for whole milk mozzarella and grate yourself for best melting
- Pepperoni: delivers smoky spiced flavor look for good quality pepperoni with no fillers and slice thin for even distribution
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep The Pan And Veggies:
- Start by heating olive oil or butter in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat so the fat shimmers but does not smoke add diced onions bell peppers Italian seasoning basil salt and pepper cook everything while stirring for about three to four minutes until vegetables are softened and onions are translucent then transfer vegetables to a clean bowl and set aside to cool slightly this creates a flavorful base that elevates the final taste
- Assemble The Quesadillas:
- Lay out your tortillas on a clean work surface spoon marinara or pizza sauce evenly over half of the tortillas spreading right to the edge sprinkle cooked vegetables over the sauce layer on pepperoni slices so every bite gets some top generously with grated mozzarella cheese cover with the remaining tortillas pressing gently to seal the filling inside
- Cook Until Crispy:
- Heat the same skillet over medium heat carefully place one assembled quesadilla in the pan cook for two to three minutes on the first side until the bottom is golden and crispy press gently with a spatula to encourage even browning flip with care and continue cooking another two to three minutes until cheese melts and the second side crisps up repeat this process with all remaining quesadillas serving them hot