Shamrock Spinach Cheddar Quesadillas (Printable Version)

Shamrock-shaped tortillas filled with vibrant spinach and melted cheddar for a festive, tasty snack.

# Ingredient List:

→ Quesadillas

01 - 8 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
02 - 2 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped
03 - 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
05 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Optional Garnishes

06 - Sour cream for serving
07 - Salsa or pico de gallo for serving

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
02 - Using a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter or sharp knife, cut shamrock shapes from the tortillas, yielding 2 to 3 shapes per tortilla depending on cutter size.
03 - Lay half of the shamrock-shaped tortillas on a clean work surface. Sprinkle each with chopped spinach and grated cheddar cheese. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
04 - Place another shamrock-shaped tortilla on top of each filled piece, pressing down gently to seal the quesadilla.
05 - Brush the tops lightly with olive oil or melted butter.
06 - Cook the quesadillas in the preheated skillet for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and cheese is melted. Work in batches as necessary.
07 - Remove from skillet and let cool slightly before serving with sour cream and salsa if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're shaped like shamrocks, which means even the pickiest eaters suddenly become interested in what's for dinner.
  • Spinach and sharp cheddar taste incredible together, and nobody has to know how good this is for them.
  • Fifteen minutes of prep means you can pull these off on a weeknight without stress.
02 -
  • Don't skip the oil or butter on top—I learned this the hard way when my first batch stuck to the pan and tore apart, and now I always brush them.
  • Fresh spinach releases water as it cooks, so don't use a huge pile or your quesadilla becomes soggy; chopped baby spinach is lighter and dries out less than packed handfuls of regular spinach.
03 -
  • Buy a small shamrock cookie cutter just for the kitchen—it becomes handy for all sorts of other dishes, and it takes the guesswork out of getting uniform shapes.
  • If you don't have a cookie cutter, a sharp paring knife and a steady hand work just fine; trace a shamrock shape with your finger first if it helps you visualize it.
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