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Home Recipes Appetizer Recipes

Crispy Delicata Squash Quesadillas {Gluten Free!}

Published: Oct 7, 2018 · Modified: Sep 30, 2020 by Sandi Gaertner · 14 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

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If you love winter squash and all things fall snacking, wait until you try these crispy Gluten Free Quesadillas. This easy gluten free quesadillas recipe is a combination of cheesy, sweet flavors, with a hint of spice. 

A stack of cut delicata squash quesadillas on a white plate. The quesadillas are garnished with sour cream and scallions.
Jump to:
  • Why you need to make this:
  • What you need to make this recipe:
  • What kind of cheese is best?
  • Quesadillas filling ideas:
  • How to cook delicata squash:
  • How to make this quesadillas recipe:
  • Substitution ideas:
  • More delicious gluten free appetizer recipes:
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Fearless Dining
  • 💬 Comments

(*This post was sponsored by California Real Milk. All opinions are my own.)

Snack lovers rejoice because I am sharing my son's new favorite recipe with you. He has been going crazy over making quesadillas for an after-school snack. This new gluten free quesadilla recipe combines Real California Milk Cheese and pepperoni in one flavorful hand-held snack.

This stovetop quesadilla recipe is super easy to make. I find that cooking quesadillas on the stovetop so much easier than baking them. Also, when you cook your gluten free quesadillas on the stove, you can flip them like pancakes so both sides get crispy!

I added in some spinach leaves to round out the nutrition...and because it is a great way to sneak some greens into my kids' snack. This easy gluten free quesadilla recipe is fully customizable, you choose your fillings!

This recipe is so easy to make in your own kitchen! There are so many winter squash recipes on this blog for you to see! If you want even more delicious appetizer recipes, give these gluten free appetizers a try!

Yop view of quesadillas on a plate. There are bowls of shredded cheese, sour cream, and scallions around the plate.

Why you need to make this:

These quesadillas make a great snack, appetizer, or after-school homework snack! (I don't know about your kids, but mine come home so hungry after school!) You can make these gluten free quesadillas in about 15 minutes. Kids love they can use the delicate squash filling or customize these with their favorite fillings!

Serve them with my easy 5-minute salsa recipe!

Pulling a slice of quesadilla from the plate. Cheese is stretching off the slice.

The next time you are at your local grocery store, look for products with the Real California Milk seal. It means you are supporting local farmers. Did you know California dairies are 99% family-owned and operated? This means a lot to me when serving healthy foods for my family.

What you need to make this recipe:

  • Gluten free flour tortillas - I love the Mission brand, just make sure the package you grab says gluten free. They come in both plain and spinach flavors.
  • Cheese
  • Fillings - use what you have on-hand or like best. Try black beans, sausage, grilled chicken or beef, spinach, etc.
  • Sour cream - low-fat or full-fat, it is great for a garnish
  • Salsa - many love topping their quesadillas with salsa and sour cream

What kind of cheese is best?

The sky is the limit when trying to decide what kind of cheese to use in this quesadilla recipe. Here are a few of our favorite cheeses:

  • Mozzarella
  • Cheddar
  • Monterey Jack
  • Pepper Jack
A hand holding a slice of quesadilla over a white plate.

Quesadillas filling ideas:

It is so fun to customize these gluten free quesadillas to include the fillings you love.

  • Meats: taco meat, shredded chicken, veggie meats
  • Vegetables: mushrooms, kale, bell peppers, onions
  • Or eat them like my daughter and just go for plain cheddar cheese!
Top view of quesadillas on plates.

How to cook delicata squash:

Although you can use any filling, we are using delicate squash because it is absolutely sweet and delicious.

The first step is to cook your squash. I love to use delicata squash in this recipe because it has a natural sweetness that works well with melted cheese.

Sliced delicata squash on a cutting board.

Step 1: Slice the delicata squash in half. Scoop out the seeds and then place each half slice down on a cutting board.

Step 2: Cut the squash into slices. It is okay to leave the outer peel on. You can either peel it off after it has softened from being cooked, or eat it as it is a very thin peel.

Cooked slices of delicata squash on a plate.

Step 3: Pan-fry the delicata squash slices with avocado oil (or another high heat tolerant oil), salt, and cumin. Dice the cooked squash slices.

Grating cheese over a bowl.

Step 4: Grab your cheese and grate it over a bowl. I used two kinds of cheese for this recipe, but you can choose your favorite type of cheese to use.

Give these Squash Blossom and Epazote Quesadillas a try too!

How to make this quesadillas recipe:

A tortilla in a cast iron pan cooking with shredded cheese on top.

Step 1: The first step to making a quesadilla on the stovetop is to heat a pan on the stove. I use a cast-iron skillet because it gets nice and hot.

Delicata squash and spinach added to a cooking quesadilla.

Step 2: Add the delicata squash and spinach to the cooking gluten free flour tortilla and cheese.

Step 3: Add another tortilla on top of the fillings. Cook for 3 minutes. Use a spatula to check the bottom. If it looks a little golden, flip the quesadilla over. Cook another 3 minutes until the cheese is melted.

Step 4: Top with sour cream and cilantro.

Substitution ideas:

Feel free to substitute other winter squash and greens. Acorn squash is my second choice because it gets soft like delicata squash. Butternut may be too hard, even cooked so if you use this, slice it thinly.

You can use other types of greens for these gluten free quesadillas too:

  • kale
  • dandelion greens
  • arugula
Cooking the quesadilla in a cast-iron skillet.

Step 3: Flip the quesadilla so the other side can get crispy.

Sliced pieces of quesadilla on a plate. A bowl of sour cream and a bowl of scallions are next to the plate.

More delicious gluten free appetizer recipes:

  • Gluten Free Delicata Squash Fritters
  • Instant Pot Gluten Free BBQ Meatballs
  • Gluten Free Stuffed Mushrooms
  • White Queso with Chorizo

📖 Recipe

Gluten Free Delicata Squash Quesadillas

Sandi Gaertner
Delicious crispy gluten free quesadillas filled with delicata squash and spinach. Topped with sour cream and scallions.
5 from 19 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Gluten Free Appetizer Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 355 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 8 gluten free flour tortillas
  • 1 ½ cup shredded cheese
  • 1 cup roasted delicata squash
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • dash pepper
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup scallions

Instructions
 

  • Heat a cast iron pan on medium heat with a little avocado oil or other high heat oil.
  • Slice a delicata squash in half. Chop the cooked delicata squash.
  • Place the squash in the cast-iron pan and cook for 10-12 minutes. Flip the squash over so both sides cook. Exact cooking time depends on how thick you cut the squash.
  • In another pan, sauté spinach in avocado oil. Add cumin, pepper, and salt. Remove from the stove and pour into a bowl.
  • Place a gluten free flour tortilla in the cast-iron skillet. Add cheese, squash, and spinach on top of the tortilla. 
  • Cover with another tortilla and cook for 3 minutes. 
  • With a spatula, check the bottom tortilla. If it has crisped, use the spatula to flip it over so that the other side can cook. (Just like if you are making a grilled cheese sandwich.)
  • Remove from the pan and slice. Serve hot with sour cream and scallions.

Notes

  1. You can customize the fillings with anything you like. My son loves adding sausage and cheddar :-). Add any meats and/or vegetables.
  2. My favorite gluten free brand of tortillas is by Mission. They make plain and spinach flour tortillas. There are a few other brands, including a Cassava brand. I haven't tried these yet in this recipe.
  3. Serve hot.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 355kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 13gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 610mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1g
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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Reader Interactions

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Angela Drake

    November 02, 2018 at 11:51 am

    5 stars
    When do you add the cumin?

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      November 02, 2018 at 5:23 pm

      Hi Angela, I am so sorry. I went back and it wasn't clear. I updated the recipe to say when. Thank you so much for letting me know.

      Reply
  2. Vicky

    October 26, 2018 at 10:07 am

    5 stars
    I love how you have added some healthy ingredients to these quesadillas. It is a wonderful way to entice my kids to try more veggies. They love quesadillas so they would probably go for these.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 28, 2018 at 9:21 am

      Thank you so much Vicky...kids like winter squash as it is sweeter and blends in with the cheese 🙂

      Reply
  3. Ellen

    October 26, 2018 at 10:00 am

    Such a simple recipe and so perfect for a vegetarian option on game day!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 28, 2018 at 9:22 am

      Thanks Ellen 🙂

      Reply
  4. Katie

    October 26, 2018 at 8:53 am

    5 stars
    This is such a great idea! I love delicata sqash, and when used this way, I think more kiddos will love it too! And they turned out so pretty!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 28, 2018 at 9:26 am

      Thank you so much Katie 🙂

      Reply
  5. Stephanie

    October 26, 2018 at 8:43 am

    5 stars
    Wow. I never thought of putting squash in a quesadilla but this looks fabulous. Love quesadillas so can't wait to try this.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 26, 2018 at 2:42 pm

      Thank you so much Stephanie 🙂

      Reply
  6. Danielle

    October 26, 2018 at 8:41 am

    5 stars
    My daughter loves quesadillas, so I am always looking for different fillings for them. These look great!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 26, 2018 at 2:41 pm

      You are so welcome Danielle. Don't tell her there are veggies hidden in these 🙂

      Reply
  7. Debra C.

    October 08, 2018 at 11:20 am

    5 stars
    I love this simple recipe, I also love it when delicata squash is in season - you've combined such delicious flavors! Thank you for another terrific recipe!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 11, 2018 at 11:41 am

      Delicata is one of my favorite squash, it is sweet and mild enough my kids like it too.

      Reply

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Welcome to my blog! I am so glad you are here. If you have Celiac Disease, are gluten intolerant, or have a wheat allergy, you've come to the right place. With years of extensive experience in recipe development, I am dedicated to assisting you on your gluten free journey. As a seasoned gluten free cookbook author and recipe developer, I specialize in creating easy, family-friendly recipes that rival their gluten-filled counterparts. Rest assured, my recipes undergo rigorous testing and refinement, ensuring foolproof results every time.

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