Easy Halloween Quesadillas (Low Carb!)

These jack o lantern quesadillas are low carb tortillas filled with gooey melted cheese, with a spooky pumpkin face cut into the top so the cheese peeks through. They take about 15 minutes, cost next to nothing, and they're the kind of fun Halloween food that kids and grown-ups on a low carb diet can both dig into.

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Halloween is the perfect time to have fun with your food, although it can feel like the options are limited when you're eating low carb. Most of the party food out there is candy, cupcakes and chips. After the great reactions to my Low Carb Halloween Chips, I wanted a quick Halloween lunch that everyone at the table would enjoy, and these cheesy jack-o'-lantern quesadillas are it. With the right tortillas, one whole quesadilla comes in at under 10g net carbs.

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

• Low carb tortillas. These make or break the recipe, because a regular flour tortilla carries most of a normal quesadilla's carbs. I like Mission Carb Balance soft taco tortillas, which are about 4g net carbs each and hold together well under the broiler. The whole wheat version works too. Any low carb wrap in the 6 to 8 inch range is fine; just check the label, since net carbs vary a lot between brands. Very thin or very small wraps are harder to cut a face into without tearing.
• Shredded cheese. Chihuahua cheese melts beautifully and has a mild, buttery flavor, but a Mexican blend, Monterey Jack or cheddar all work. Orange cheddar looks especially good glowing through the face. Shredding your own from a block melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese, which is coated to stop it clumping.
• Optional extras. A pinch of chili powder or cumin in the cheese, a few pickled jalapenos, or a spoonful of cooked shredded chicken all fit inside without changing the method. Keep the filling fairly flat so the top tortilla sits evenly.

Helpful Tips

Cut the face with a small, sharp knife. A paring knife or a sharp serrated knife gives you the cleanest lines. Lay the tortilla flat on a cutting board and cut straight down with the tip rather than dragging the blade, which can tear the tortilla. Simple triangles for the eyes and nose and a zigzag mouth read best from across the table.

Keep the features big and away from the edge. Leave at least an inch of tortilla between the face and the edge so it doesn't split when you lift it. Larger shapes also let more melted cheese show through, which is the whole point. If you're making a batch, cut one face first and use it as a template for the rest.

Crisp the bottom tortilla first. Broiling the bottom tortilla on its own for a minute per side gives the quesadilla a sturdy, crunchy base that won't go soggy under the cheese. A silicone baking mat on the sheet stops anything sticking and makes clean-up easy.

Don't walk away from the broiler. Low carb tortillas are high in fiber and go from golden to burnt quickly. Stay by the oven, check after a minute, and pull the sheet out as soon as the cheese is bubbling.

No broiler? Use a skillet. Cook the bottom tortilla in a dry nonstick pan over medium heat until lightly crisp, add the cheese, lay the face tortilla on top and cover the pan with a lid for a minute or two until the cheese melts. The top won't be as crunchy, but it's just as tasty.

Variations

• Chicken or beef. Add a thin layer of shredded rotisserie chicken or seasoned ground beef under the cheese for a heartier lunch or dinner.
• Spicy jack-o'-lantern. Use pepper jack cheese and scatter chopped jalapenos over the cheese before the top goes on.
• Different faces. Cut a ghost, a bat, a cat or a spider web design instead. Small cookie cutters work well for simple shapes.
• Party-size bites. Use a round cookie cutter to cut mini circles from the tortillas and give each one a tiny face for a Halloween appetizer platter.
• Pizza quesadilla. Swap the Mexican cheese for mozzarella, add a few slices of pepperoni, and serve with low sugar marinara for dipping.

Serving Ideas

Serve the quesadillas whole so everyone gets to see their own face, or slice them into wedges once the "wow" moment is over. Sour cream, salsa verde and a big spoonful of Low Carb Chunky Guacamole with Cumin are all great for dipping, and Keto Creamy Jalapeno Sauce is lovely if you like a little heat.

For a Halloween party spread, put them out alongside the Owl Veggie Tray and the Puking Pumpkin with Spicy Guacamole. For an easy family dinner, pair them with a crunchy green salad or a bowl of soup.

Storing & Freezing

These are best eaten fresh while the cheese is melty and the tortillas are crisp. Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat them on a baking sheet under the broiler or in a dry skillet for a couple of minutes to bring the crunch back. The microwave works in a pinch, but the tortillas will soften.

You can freeze assembled quesadillas wrapped individually in plastic wrap and foil for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in a 375°F (190°C) oven for about 10 minutes, until hot all the way through. To prep ahead for a party, cut the faces into the tortillas earlier in the day and keep them in a zip-top bag so they don't dry out, then broil everything just before serving.

FAQ

How many carbs are in a cheese quesadilla?

A typical cheese quesadilla made with regular flour tortillas can easily have 35 to 50g of carbs or more, and nearly all of that comes from the tortillas. Cheese itself has barely any, around 1g for half a cup of shredded cheese. Swap in low carb tortillas and the numbers drop dramatically: this recipe works out at about 9g net carbs for a whole quesadilla made with two tortillas of about 4g net carbs each. The recipe card below has the full nutrition, and it's worth checking your tortilla label, since brands vary.

Are these jack o lantern quesadillas keto?

Yes, as long as your tortillas are low in net carbs. At under 10g net carbs per quesadilla they fit into most keto days, especially with a high fat dip like guacamole or sour cream on the side.

Can I make them in an air fryer?

Yes. Air fry the bottom tortilla at 375°F (190°C) for 2 minutes, add the cheese and the face tortilla, and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Lay a small metal rack or a toothpick on top if the fan tries to lift the top tortilla.

More Low Carb Halloween Recipes

If you loved these spooky quesadillas, here are a few more Halloween treats you might enjoy:

• Low Carb Mummy Hot Dogs
• Low Carb Monster Bites - a Halloween appetizer!
• Halloween Spider Deviled Eggs
• Glitter Halloween Cocktail
• Low Carb Halloween Recipes

📖 Recipe

StepAwayFromTheCarbs.com

Low Carb Halloween Cheese Quesadillas

4.84 from 6 votes

Cheesy low carb jack o lantern quesadillas with a spooky pumpkin face cut into the top tortilla. A fun, 15-minute Halloween lunch or party snack at about 9g net carbs per quesadilla.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Makes: 1 quesadilla

Net Carbs: 9

Calories: 308

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

• 2 low carb tortillas about 4g net carbs each, 6-8 inch
• ½ cup shredded cheese chihuahua or Mexican blend

Step-by-Step Instructions

 

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1. Set an oven rack about 6 inches below the broiler and preheat the broiler to high. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
2. Using a small, sharp knife, cut jack-o'-lantern eyes, a nose and a mouth into one of the tortillas. Keep the shapes large and at least 1 inch from the edge.
3. Place the uncut tortilla on the baking sheet and broil for about 1 minute per side, until lightly crisp. Watch closely, as low carb tortillas brown quickly.
4. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the crisp tortilla. Place the cut tortilla next to it on the sheet and return to the broiler for 2-3 minutes, flipping the cut tortilla halfway through, until the cheese has melted and the face tortilla is crisp on both sides.
5. Lay the jack-o'-lantern tortilla on top of the melted cheese, press gently, and serve right away.

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 23gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 911mgPotassium: 43mgFiber: 31gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 379IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 403mgIron: 2mgNet Carbs: 9g

Notes

Net carbs depend on your tortillas. Mission Carb Balance soft taco tortillas are about 4g net carbs each; check the label if you use another brand.

No broiler? Crisp the bottom tortilla in a dry nonstick skillet over medium heat, add the cheese and the face tortilla, then cover with a lid for 1-2 minutes until the cheese melts.

Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat under the broiler or in a dry skillet to re-crisp.

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Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is my best approximation. Net carbs are calculated as the total grams carbs minus the total grams of fiber.