Cheesy and savory with just the right amount of sweet, Hawaiian Quesadillas are perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Hawaiian Quesadillas are scrumptious and the cheesy deliciousness that your tastebuds have been craving. These crispy quesadillas are filled to the brim with melted cheese, ham chunks, and of course, sweet pineapple tidbits. In my family, Hawaiian ham quesadillas come highly requested for ANY meal of the day! I especially love to pair Hawaiian quesadillas with some leftover shrimp fried rice! It’s a complete meal that the whole family will love.
HAWAIIAN QUESADILLAS
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Pineapple on pizza is a very heated and divisive topic. You either love it or think it is an absolute crime against all things pizza. I, personally, am a big fan of pineapple on pizza. The combination of gooey cheese and sweet, tropical pineapple is simply delicious in my opinion.
What is LESS of a hot debate is whether pineapple belongs in a quesadilla. Short answer… YES, without any argument (ok I’m sure someone would argue it, but nobody in my family)! I’m serious when I say I serve these cheese Hawaiian quesadillas at any time of day.
Got leftover ham and want a quick breakfast the kids will love? Hawaiian quesadillas it is!
Need a snack after school for some hangry teenagers? Hawaiian quesadillas coming right up.
Simply can’t bear the thought of making an extravagant dinner and need something that’s going to be a hit for everyone? You guessed it… Hawaiian quesadillas.
If you want to go really crazy, (and by crazy I mean genius) turn this recipe into Hawaiian pizza quesadillas by either spreading some pizza sauce on the inside before pan-frying or simply give it as a dipping sauce on the side. Your Hawaiian pizza appreciating friends will LOVE it, and you just might be able to convert those pineapple hating haters 🙂
What is usually in a quesadilla?
Now you might be thinking to yourself, “Aubrey… in what WORLD does pineapple go in a quesadilla?!” Well, the answer is in my world and SOON to be your world if you try this recipe! A typical Mexican quesadilla has a blend of melted cheese and any kind of fillings ranging from chicken to beans to onions.
For these Hawaiian quesadillas you’ll need:
Ham –Â to make 4 servings of these yummy quesadillas you’ll need about 1 cup of finely diced ham. I LOVE making this recipe when I have leftover ham sitting around (like after a big family holiday!) because it’s a great way to use up the meat in a fresh and exciting way. If you don’t have leftover ham, just buy a ham steak at the grocery store and chop it up!
Pineapple –Â I prefer to use canned (drained) pineapple tidbits for Hawaiian quesadillas simply for convenience. But if you’ve got a fresh pineapple on hand, go ahead and chop it up for your quesadilla filling!
Green Pepper – I love the flash of green that the peppers add, but they also give a nice contrast to the sweet pineapple bits!
What kind of cheese is used in quesadillas?
A typical Mexican quesadilla is made with a blend of delicious melted cheese that usually centers around a sharp cheddar. However, because these quesadillas are more like a Hawaiian pizza quesadilla than a standard Mexican quesadilla, you’ll want mozzarella cheese.
I prefer my Hawaiian quesadillas on the super cheesy side, so I use 2 cups of shredded mozzarella for 4 servings. So, each quesadilla gets about 1/4 cup of yummy cheese!
How to make Hawaiian Quesadillas
So you’ve gathered all your ingredients, now it’s time to get cooking that Hawaiian ham quesadilla!
- Start by preheating a griddle or large skillet over medium-high heat. Pro-tip: I love using my large griddle simply because I can cook more than one quesadilla at once. The less time I spend cooking, the sooner I can chow down!
- Next, place a tortilla on the griddle. Spoon 1/4 of the ham evenly over half of the tortilla. Top the ham with 1/4 of the green pepper, 1/4 of the pineapple, and 1/4 of the cheese. Fold the empty part of the tortilla over the top of the ingredients and cook until the bottom begins to brown.
- Carefully flip the quesadilla over (you don’t want your yummy fillings spilling out!) and continue to cook until the bottom browns and the cheese is melted. Remove your quesadilla from the griddle and plop it on a cutting board. Slice it into 3-4 wedges.
- Repeat with the remaining ingredients until all your quesadillas are cooked to perfection. Serve hot and with pizza sauce if desired!
Need more family-friendly meal inspiration?
- Cheesy BBQ Quesadillas
- Hawaiian Grilled Salmon Filets
- Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
- Hawaiian Meatballs
- Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quesadillas
- more DINNER recipes…
Tools used to make Hawaiian Quesadillas
Griddle: I use this griddle for everything. From Hawaiian quesadillas to pancakes, it’s one of my favorite kitchen tools!
Pizza Cutter: the absolute best way to cut a quesadilla is with a nice, sharp pizza cutter.
*This post originally posted on 03/04/2016.
Ingredients
- 4 burrito-sized flour tortillas
- 1 cup cooked ham finely diced
- 8 ounces pineapple tidbits drained
- 1/4 cup green bell pepper seeded and finely chopped
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese shredded
- Pizza sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat a griddle or large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Place a tortilla on the griddle. Spoon 1/4 cup of ham evenly over half of the tortilla. Top with 1 Tbsp of green pepper, 2 ounces of pineapple, and 1/4 cup of mozzarella. Fold the bare part of the tortilla over the top of the ingredients.
- Cook until the bottom begins to brown. Carefully, flip the quesadilla over and continue to cook until the bottom browns and the cheese is melted. Remove from the griddle to a cutting board. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Cut each quesadilla into 4 slices and serve warm with pizza sauce for dipping, if desired.
Nutrition
