Blooming Quesadilla Ring Appetizer (Printable)

Mini cheese quesadillas arranged in a stunning blooming ring, baked golden and perfect for sharing at parties.

# What You'll Need:

→ Quesadillas

01 - 16 small flour tortillas, 5 to 6 inches diameter
02 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
04 - 1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
05 - 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
06 - 1 small green onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - Salt and black pepper to taste
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

→ Garnish and Dipping

12 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
13 - 1 cup prepared salsa
14 - 1/2 cup sour cream
15 - 1 avocado, sliced (optional)
16 - Lime wedges (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, black beans, diced bell pepper, sliced green onion, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
03 - Cut each flour tortilla in half to create 32 semicircle pieces.
04 - Place 1 tablespoon of cheese mixture on each semicircle. Fold the straight edge over the filling to form a triangle, pressing gently to seal edges.
05 - Arrange quesadilla triangles on prepared baking sheet with points facing inward and slightly overlapping to form a blooming flower shape.
06 - Brush the tops of all quesadilla triangles with melted butter.
07 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until tortillas are golden brown and cheese is melted.
08 - Slide onto a serving platter and sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro.
09 - Place salsa, sour cream, and avocado slices in small bowls in the center of the ring. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours when you really spent twenty minutes assembling triangles.
  • Everyone can grab their own piece without hovering over a cutting board.
  • You can stuff them with whatever cheese and fillings are already sitting in your fridge.
  • The center becomes a built-in dipping station, which means fewer dishes to wash later.
02 -
  • If you skip the parchment paper, the cheese will glue itself to the pan and you'll lose half your quesadillas trying to pry them off.
  • Don't overfill the tortillas or they'll burst open in the oven and leave you with a cheesy mess instead of neat triangles.
  • Let the ring cool for a minute before moving it, or the whole structure might collapse on the way to the plate.
03 -
  • Use a pizza cutter to slice the tortillas quickly and evenly without tearing them.
  • If your tortillas are stiff, warm them in the microwave for 10 seconds to make folding easier and prevent cracking.
  • Brush butter on the parchment paper under the ring too for extra crispness on the bottom.
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