Pumpkin Quesadillas
I’m in love with pumpkin, but so many items I see at the market and on menus are frosted, fluffed, and fancifully sugar-filled. I’m all for a great pumpkin bread recipe along with many others, but what I’m really in love with are savory pumpkin recipes. And while many pumpkin recipes, sweet and savory, are time-consuming, these pumpkin quesadillas are easy and the perfect fall dinner!
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Pumpkin Quesadillas
I was in a debate about using canned or fresh pumpkin for this recipe, but the ease of canned pumpkin won out.
The canned pumpkin mixes quickly with the black beans, seasonings, and fresh cilantro to make your filling. Add the cheese and you have the makings for this great fall dinner.
You could add an easy salad for some more veggies and call it good. I’d even be tempted to serve these pumpkin quesadillas to friend and family over at our place for dinner too!
Savory Pumpkin Recipes
When you go to buy canned pumpkin, you want to make sure it’s just pureed pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling.
The two are usually right next to one another and quite easy to find.
You can actually find the canned pumpkin year round in many stores – you’ll just have to look on the bottom shelf or somewhere out of the way.
Or you can whip up your own homemade pumpkin puree quite easily!
With just the pureed pumpkin, sweet and savory pumpkin recipes are both very easy. Pumpkin is a fairly neutral flavor, so it’s easy to make it taste just how you like.
These pumpkin quesadillas get their savory, Mexican flavor from chili powder, cumin, paprika, and some cayenne if you’re feeling the heat – I say go for it!
Fresh thyme, rosemary, and chives would also be great addition to anything pumpkin.
Pumpkin Puree Recipes
In addition to this tasty recipe for pumpkin puree, you should absolutely try this pumpkin toast (savory with adobo chiles) as well as making your own homemade pumpkin butter (it’s DIVINE)!
The last thing to note on savory pumpkin recipes is that you can combine a sweeter pumpkin flavor to a savory recipe. Once you have the pumpkin butter, layer it on these prosciutto toasts with gouda cheese or in this pumpkin butter grilled cheese!
Want more quesadilla ideas? Try these zucchini quesadillas with corn salsa and these chorizo quesadillas! I mean, and a carne asada quesadilla. I must be hungry…
Love simple but scrumptious salads? Try this kale farro salad, swiss chard with ginger (a great side dish), and Avocado Chickpea salad.
More fall flavors? You’ll want to try this fall snack mix (perfect for Halloween and beyond)!
PUMPKIN QUESADILLAS FOR DINNER
Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon mild chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne optional
- 8 8-9″ flour tortillas
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 ounces white cheddar cheese shredded
- guacamole, salsa, and cilantro for serving
Instructions
- Add the pumpkin and black beans to large bowl. Stir well. Next, stir in the cilantro, chili powder, cumin, salt, paprika, and cayenne, if using. Divide the filling into 4 portions.
- Lay 4 tortillas on a flat surface. Top each with a portion of the filling and spread to cover the tortilla. Top each with ¼ of the shredded cheese. Place the remaining tortillas over the filling to make 4 quesadillas.
- For each quesadilla, melt a ½ tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the quesadilla and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until the tortilla is golden brown and the filling is warm.
- Cut and serve alongside guacamole, salsa, and cilantro for toppings.
These are simple and delicious! I’ve made them a few times just as the recipe is written. Tonight I didn’t have any pumpkin, so I used some of the spice blend on sweet potatoes I had roasted in the air fryer. It was also really good!
I haven’t had that combo, but I’m going to have to try it soon! We love roasted potatoes with our tacos! Such a yummy combo.
I like all of the ingredients but if I was to make it again I would cut the spices back by half or more. The spices are so dominating, I can’t even taste the pumpkin at all. It all just tastes like refried beans to me. I’m slightly disappointed but thankful for the recipe at the same time. I’m sure everyone’s preferences of spices is different.
Hi Ashley! I’m so sorry you found the spices overwhelming. Spice is certainly a personal preference, but I will add a note that others might want to cut back! Thank you for your review.
My daughter opened up a can of pumpkin to make cookies, so of course there was leftover pumpkin. I didn’t want to make another sweet item, so I looked up savory dishes with pumpkin.
I found this recipe and I’m not sure what we were expecting, but we thought these were delicious!! I used colby jack. Will definitely make again and again. Thank you.
I’m so glad you liked the recipe. I only did sweet pumpkin recipes for a while and now I’m a little over them but completely in love with savory takes on it like this!! xo Luci
These turned out amazing! We had leftovers and they were just as good the next day. Thanks for sharing!!
It’s never too early for pumpkin in my house! This came out delicious! It really had such great flavor. I will be adding this into my dinner rotation!
I love anything pumpkin! Such a great idea to give quesadillas an autumn twist.
Now this is a new found flavor for quesadillas..I’ve never thought of using pumpkins so I’m curious and excited to try this!
These turned out to be so hearty and delicious!! Perfect for fall!
OMG these were amazing, perfect with the weather getting cooler and even the kids cleared their plates.