These mini quesadillas are the perfect way to use up leftover mac and cheese. They’re easy to customize, fun to make and delicious to eat!
In this house (of two people) when I’m making mac and cheese I make enough for 8. Granted we eat half of it, but the rest goes straight in the fridge. This recipe is a great way to spruce up mac and cheese for lunch the next day. It’s also great if you’re making up a big batch for Thanksgiving or big cook outs/potluck. Heck, you can even make mac and cheese fresh for this recipe!
Mini Quesadillas
Besides the fact these are cute as hell, they also make the perfect finger food. Because when is carbs squashed between carbs not the perfect finger food? 🤣
What you’ll need..
You’ll want to use large flour tortillas and slice them into mini tortillas. Flour tortillas are preferable over corn tortillas as they’re more pliable, which is important as they’re going to be mini. I usually grab a small pot and cut around that to make the mini tortillas, but a cookie cutter works just as well. Alongside this you’ll just need some melted butter (can sub olive oil).
Can I make regular sized quesadillas?
If you want a mac and cheese quesadilla and you want it all up in your face as quick as possible, yes you can skip this step and make regular size quesadillas 😛
Process shots: lay tortilla on chopping board (photo 1), slice around small pot (photo 2), remove excess tortilla (photo 3), brush one side of each tortilla with butter (photo 4).
Mac and Cheese Quesadillas
What’s the best mac and cheese to use?
As obvious as it sounds, make sure it’s macaroni that’s used (or another small short-cut pasta). Larger shapes won’t fit well in the quesadillas. You preferably want a mac and cheese that was made with mozzarella in it. This will help keep the filling compact in the tortillas. In all cases though make sure you bring the mac and cheese to room temp, just so the quesadillas cook through evenly.
Can I make mac and cheese fresh for this recipe?
Absolutely! Here’s some inspo if you needed it:
- Spicy Jalapeño Mac and Cheese
- Roasted Garlic Mac and Cheese
- Smoky Chipotle Mac and Cheese
- Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
- Brie Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese quesadilla fillings
To spruce up these quesadillas I love adding in an extra layer on the mac and cheese. Here’s what I used this time around:
- Crispy Bacon
- Caramelized Onions
- Buffalo Sauce, Blue Cheese & Chives
Process shots: lay tortillas butter side down in pan (photo 1), add mac and cheese (photo 2), add fillings (photo 3), fold and fry fry (photo 4).
From there, depending on how dry the macaroni was I like to serve with a dip. Completely optional though 🙂
Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for these leftover mac and cheese quesadillas shall we?!
How to make Mac and Cheese Quesadillas (Full Recipe & Video)
Mini Leftover Mac and Cheese Quesadillas
Equipment
- 4.5"/12cm Cookie Cutter (or small bowl)
- Large Frying Pan & Spatula/Turner
- Small Pot & Brush (for melted butter)
- Toothpicks/Cocktail Sticks
- Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
Ingredients
- 2 cups Leftover Mac and Cheese, at room temp (see notes)
- 4x 12" Flour Tortilla Wraps
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter (can sub olive oil)
- Fillings of choice (see notes for inspo)
Instructions
- Use a 4.5"/12cm cookie cutter or cut around a similar sized pot, glass or bowl to create 3 mini tortilla circles from your 4 large tortillas (12 mini in total). Brush one side of each of those circles with butter.
- Place 3-4 tortillas butter-side-down in a large pan with the heat OFF. Add 1 tbsp mac and cheese to one side of each tortilla, sprinkle with any fillings then firmly fold over the other side.
- Secure with toothpicks if needed, then turn heat to medium. Fry both sides until light golden and crispy. Prep remaining quesadillas to one side as you go, working in batches to fry.
- Remove toothpicks then serve up with any dip you fancy!
Video
Notes
- Spicy Jalapeño Mac and Cheese
- Roasted Garlic Mac and Cheese
- Smoky Chipotle Mac and Cheese
- Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
- Brie Mac and Cheese
- Caramelized Onions
- Bacon (make sure it's finely diced or the quesadillas won't close properly)
- Buffalo Sauce, Blue Cheese and Chives
Your Private Notes:
Nutrition
Looking for more?
You’ll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook ‘Comfy’
For more similar recipes check out these beauties:
Easy Quesadilla Recipes
- Ground Beef Quesadillas
- Chicken Quesadillas
- Sweet Potatoes Quesadillas
- Refried Bean Quesadillas
- Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas
OMGosh. I’m legit drooling over these quesadillas. I’ll take mac & cheese any way I can get it. These are divine!
This is inspired! My kids are gonna go crazy for these mac and cheese quesadillas! Thanks for the inspiration!
This is such a fun idea! Not that I ever manage to have leftover mac n cheese… but maybe I’ll need to make a double batch next time just for this!
Whoah! Sending this one to my son. He loves all things mac and cheese AND quesadillas!
This is so innovative. Thanks for sharing your views. Best when kids are around.