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These Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas bring the classic fusion of broccoli and cheddar cheese to make one delicious and healthy snack or meal. Made with fresh broccoli and carrots, melted cheddar cheese, and spices. All wrapped in a warm tortilla. These cheesy and tasty quesadillas make for the perfect finger food for toddlers and kids. Get those veggies in a fun way while staying healthy!

Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas

These Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas are a crowd pleaser. The whole family can enjoy these as a meal or a snack. I loved making these for my daughter when she was a baby/toddler. It was one of the first recipes I started making for her when introducing BLW.

These Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas are also great to make as an appetizer. Make them for a dinner party, holiday, game day, Super Bowl, etc. Everyone will for sure love them!

My favorite part about this recipe however, has to be the heathy twist it gives to a classic cheese quesadilla. I love cheese quesadillas, I can eat them all day. The broccoli and carrots added to this recipe also adds essential vitamins and minerals. Perfect way to add more veggies to your little one’s meal and they may not even notice they’re in there!

Ingredients needed to make Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas:

• Broccoli– Slightly cook your broccoli to soften it a bit. This will prevent your quesadillas from overcooking since broccoli takes a longer time to cook through.
• Cheddar Cheese– You can use either yellow or white cheddar cheese. You can also use 1 part cheddar and 1 part mozzarella to get that cheesy pull when you bite into your quesadilla.
• Carrots– Add more nutrition and you can’t have broccoli and cheese without some carrots.
• Spices– Pink sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
• Butter– For cooking.
• Whole Wheat Tortillas– Or any preferred tortillas.

Equipment needed to make Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas:

• Steamer or Small Saucepan– To slightly cook your broccoli before mixing with the other ingredients.
• Large Cast Iron Skillet or Griddle– For cooking your quesadillas.
• Large Mixing Bowl– To mix all ingredients together.
• Spatula– A silicone spatula works best.

How to make Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas:

• Step 1– Start by chopping off broccoli stem and separating florets. Place broccoli florets in a steamer or pot. Steam or boil broccoli for 10 minutes or until broccoli is soft and tender. Make sure not to overcook. 
• Step 2– Drain broccoli and place on a cutting board. Chop cooked broccoli into small minced pieces.
• Step 3– In a large mixing bowl, combine broccoli, shredded carrots, pink sea salt, black pepper and garlic powder. Toss until all ingredients are well combined. Divide into 4 equal parts.
• Step 4– Grease griddle or cast iron skillet with butter and heat-up on medium-high heat. 
• Step 5– Place a tortilla on heated surface and pour one of the 4 parts of broccoli mixture on top of tortilla. Make sure to pour it on one half side of the tortilla. Grab a handful of cheese and spread over broccoli mixture on top of tortilla. 
• Step 6– Using a spatula, fold other half of tortilla over half with mixture and cheese. Grently press down with spatula and pan-fry for 1-2 minutes. Do 3 minutes if you want cheese to melt more. Careful not to burn outside of tortilla. 
• Step 7– Flip over and pan fry on the other side for another 1-2 minutes again. Use spatula to push any mixture or cheese that may have fallen out of tortilla back into it. 
• Step 8– Remove quesadilla from griddle or skillet and set aside. Repeat steps with the rest of tortillas and mixture. 
• Step 9– Cut each quesadilla in half to end up with 2 slices. Serve tortillas while still warm with preferred dip such as sour cream, salsa, or guacamole. Enjoy!

Tips and Substitutions:

1. Careful not to overcook broccoli when steaming or boiling- You just want the broccoli cooked enough until it’s soft and tender. Remember it will cook a bit more when pan frying the tortillas.
2. If any broccoli or cheese fall out while you’re folding the tortilla– Use spatula to stick back into the quesadilla.
3. If you want the cheese to melt more or tortillas to get warmer– leave for an extra minute on both sides.
4. Add more protein- You can add some shredded chicken.
5. Substitute cheese- You can use mild cheddar or mozzarella. 
6. Use vegan cheese- This will make these vegan friendly!
7. Substitute for butter- Use refined coconut oil or avocado oil.

Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas FAQ’s:

What do you put in quesadillas?

A plain quesadilla usually consists of just a tortilla and melted cheese. You can add any variety of vegetables you’d like e.g. onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, and/or tomatoes. You can also add some protein like steak or chicken. In this case, we are using a classic blend of broccoli and cheese with some added carrots for extra nutrients.

Are quesadillas healthy?

Like almost any other food, quesadillas can be both healthy and unhealthy. If you order a quesadilla at a fast food restaurant then no it won’t be healthy at all. If you make it at home and use fresh and good quality ingredients to make it, then you can make a very healthy quesadilla. You can load it with veggies, cheese, and even a protein of choice.

What is the best way to cook a quesadilla?

My favorite way to cook a quesadilla is on the stovetop. I like to use a large cast iron skillet. It gives the tortilla a nice chard coating and perfectly melts the cheese.  If I’m making quesadillas for a larger crowd, like a Super Bowl party, I like to use a griddle to make more at once.

What is the best cheese combo for quesadillas?

The best cheese to use in quesadillas is cheddar. You can use either yellow or white cheddar. You can also sprinkle in some mozzarella cheese to get that cheesy pull when you bite into your quesadilla.

Can I add more protein to these Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas?

Broccoli and Cheese both contain some protein. However, if you would like to add more protein to these Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas you certainly can. You can add some steak, shredded chicken would be great too.

Can I use frozen broccoli?

Yes. I do prefer to use fresh broccoli, however if all you have is frozen broccoli you can use it. I would let the broccoli thaw out a bit and get rid of any liquid it may leave behind. This way, you won’t have to add any cooking time to your quesadillas and overcook/ burn the outside.

Meal Prepping it:

Quesadillas are super easy to make and are great for meal prep. Make a few and pack them up for a quick lunch or light dinner.

How to store Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas:

Place quesadillas in an airtight container or a freezer bag. This will preserve the freshness of the quesadilla for a few days. Keep quesadillas refrigerated for 3-4 days.

Can Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas be frozen?

Yes. These quesadillas can be frozen. Place them in a gallon freezer bag and tightly close after taken all the air out of the bag. I would highly suggest placing a piece of parchment paper between each quesadilla to prevent them from sticking to each other after they freeze.

Defrosting and Reheating:

To defrost your quesadillas, place them in the fridge overnight so they can thaw-out. The best way to reheat them is on the stovetop or griddle. Placing them in the oven for a few minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit is also another option. You can reheat them in the microwave too, however this may make them a bit mushy.

Did you like this Broccoli and Cheese Quesadillas? You may also like these other quesadilla recipes:

• Roasted Red Pepper Mushroom Quesadillas

You may also want to check out these other veggies loaded, kid friendly and approved Finger Food recipes:

• Mini Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese with Spinach
• Sweet Potato Chickpea Nuggets
• Zucchini Quinoa Egg Bites
• Broccoli Tots

*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.

**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used. 

**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family. 

***Post originally published on May 18, 2017.

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