Recipe

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Cheddar and apple quesadillas are the perfect balance of sweet and savory with tart apples and melted cheese between two grilled tortillas.

These school lunchbox quesadillas are the perfect balance of sweet and savory. I’ve found this to be the perfect bite-size lunch for younger kids who like to chat with their friends all through lunch.

apple and cheddar quesadilla wedges in a lunch container with grapes and crackers

Apple Cheddar Lunchbox Quesadilla

We all know that grilled sandwiches and quesadillas are delicious. I attribute much of the yum-factor to the melted cheese and crispy golden tortilla edges.

Today’s recipe for Cheddar apple quesadillas isn’t your typical recipe but one that your family is sure to love. The sweet and savory combination of tart apples and Cheddar cheese is on another level when grilled between flour tortillas. Let’s pack one for school lunch, shall we?

What You Need

Simple ingredients yield delicious quesadillas that kids will devour! What do you need? Check out the list:

Mayonnaise: to spread over each tortilla.
Tortillas: I prefer large flour tortillas or gluten-free tortillas.
Apple: sliced thinly for the filling.
Shredded Cheddar cheese: holds the ingredients and adds a cheesy flavor we all love. Mexican blend, Jack, or dairy-free cheese also works.
Butter or cooking spray: for grilling.

Making Apple Quesadillas

Nothing fancy is needed to make this easy school lunch idea. Grab the stack of flour tortillas, an apple, and your favorite kind of cheese. The process is simple:

Assemble the Quesadilla
Spread a small amount of mayonnaise over each tortilla. Top one tortilla with the sliced apples, shredded Cheddar cheese, or your choice, and the remaining tortilla.
Heat the Pan
Lightly grease a large, non-stick skillet with butter or cooking spray and heat over medium heat.
Grill and Serve
Add the tortilla and grill for 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Flip and grill the other side for an additional minute. Remove from heat, slice, and serve.

If you want to make this for a school or office lunch, allow the quesadilla to cool down slightly before packing it into a thermos or lunch container.

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How to Keep Quesadillas Warm

I'm often asked how to keep items like grilled sandwiches and quesadillas warm inside a lunchbox. I’ve found the best way to do that is to pack it in a thermos container.

The double insulation helps to keep the contents warm for several hours compared to regular lunch containers.

Is a Quesadilla a Sandwich

A quesadilla is like a sandwich, but instead of bread, you layer the ingredients between two tortillas and grill it until the cheese melts. It’s a delicious lunch idea that you can make with leftover tortillas or whenever you want to pack something other than a sandwich for lunch.

Keep quesadillas fresh until school lunch

Follow these tips for packing tasty quesadillas that remain fresh and appealing until lunchtime:

Choose the right container
These epic quesadillas don’t deserve to be flattened in the lunch bag! Instead of a zip bag, pack them in a hard lunchbox to prevent that from happening.

Separate wet from dry
Pack fruit and veggies in a separated compartment of the lunchbox to keep the quesadilla from absorbing moisture from produce.

Allow it to cool down
Whether you want to enjoy this lunch at room temperature or warm in a thermos, allow it to cool down after grilling so the steam doesn’t make the tortilla soggy.

More quesadilla recipes for school lunches

If your kids love quesadillas, try this black bean quesadilla lunch and this chicken salad quesadilla next. Another epic recipe? Cheesy Buffalo chicken quesadilla! A perfect packed lunch for teens and everyone who loves all things Buffalo!

Cheddar & Apple Quesadillas

Servings: 2 servings

Prep Time: 2

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 7

Cheddar and apple quesadillas are the perfect balance of sweet and savory with tart apples and melted cheese between two grilled tortillas.

5 from 16 votes

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon mayonnaise
2 8-inch flour tortillas
1 small apple, thinly sliced
½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Butter or cooking spray, for grilling

Instructions

Make the quesadillas:

Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise over each tortilla. Top 1 tortilla with the sliced apples, cheese, and remaining tortilla.

Grill it:

Lightly grease a medium, non-stick skillet with butter or cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the quesadilla and grill for 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Flip and grill for another minute or until the bottom is golden brown. Remove the quesadilla from heat, slice, and serve.

Pack for school:

Wait 5 minutes until the quesadilla has cooled down to room temperature before packing it.
To enjoy at room temperature, refrigerate the lunch until you're ready to pack it inside an insulated lunch bag and include an ice pack if necessary.
To eat warm, heat the quesadillas in the microwave for 1 minute, stopping the microwave halfway through to flip them over. Immediately transfer them inside a thermos container and close the lid.
Finish packing this lunch by adding fruit, veggies, and any other sides inside a bento box. Pack everything inside a lunch bag.