Blooming Quesadilla Ring Appetizer (Printable)

Mini cheese quesadillas arranged in a stunning blooming ring, baked golden and served with salsa and sour cream.

# What You'll Need:

→ Quesadillas

01 - 16 small flour tortillas, 5-6 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)

# How to Make It:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when really you've got it done in under an hour.
  • Everyone eats with their hands, which somehow makes the party feel less formal and more fun.
  • You can prep the filling the night before and just assemble everything on baking day, so the morning-of stress disappears.
  • It's vegetarian-friendly without tasting like a compromise, and meat eaters won't even notice what's missing.
02 -
  • Overfilling is the number one way to end up with leaking cheese and broken seals, so resist the urge to be generous with the filling.
  • The arrangement matters because tightly packed triangles bake more evenly and look more intentional than scattered ones.
  • Serve it immediately—once it cools even slightly, the cheese sets and loses that pull-apart moment that makes people happy.
03 -
  • Pre-shredded cheese saves time, but if you shred it yourself, toss it with a tiny bit of cornstarch so it melts more smoothly without getting oily.
  • Keep the dipping sauces at room temperature or slightly cool—the contrast with the warm quesadillas is part of what makes them work so well together.
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