Football Food on a Budget: Tomato and Bacon Quesadillas

Football Food on a Budget: Tomato and Bacon Quesadillas

The beginning of fall means one thing: football season is officially back in full swing.  With football games come football tailgates and parties, which come with the best part of all: football food.  From pizza to spicy hot wings and hot dogs on the grill to home-cooked chili recipes, football foods are known for being easy to eat, hearty and definitely crave-worthy.

The only problem with football food is that if you’re feeding a crowd, ordering dozens of pizzas and hot wings can get expensive, which is why keeping a collection of easy tailgate recipes on hand is the most budget-friendly approach to football-watching.  There’s no need to spend lots of money on food to get the complete football experience; instead, use what you already have in your cupboard to make your own tasty appetizers.

Try this easy recipe for tomato and bacon quesadillas; they can be made in just 20 minutes so you won’t miss a minute of the game and they are perfect for feeding a crowd.  These quesadillas are cheesy, crispy, full of bacon and tomato goodness, and best of all, they are made to be grabbed and dipped.  It’s easy to double or triple the recipe, too, depending on how many people you’ll be feeding.  Try them out next Sunday—you’ll never feel the need to spend an arm and a leg on tailgating snacks again!

 Tomato and Bacon Quesadillas

Prep Time: 20 min – Total Time: 20 min – Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 2 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese blend (2 cups = 8 oz)
  • 8 8-inch flour tortillas
  • 1 14.5 oz can Hunt’s® Petite Diced Tomatoes, drained
  • 8 slices fully cooked bacon, heated and chopped
  • 1/2 cup loosely-packed fresh basil leaves, optional
  • PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
  • Sour Cream and salsa, optional

Directions

Place the following on one half of each tortilla: 1/4 cup cheese, 2 tablespoons tomatoes, 1 tablespoon bacon and 1 tablespoon basil, if desired.  Fold each tortilla in half to form a half circle.

Coat a large skillet with cooking spray.  Cook each quesadilla over medium-low heat until cheese is melted and tortilla is lightly browned, about 1 ½ minutes on each side.

Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges.   Pile them on a serving dish alongside bowls of sour cream and salsa for dipping; you’ll be guaranteed to have a house full of extremely happy football fans.

Guest Post ~ Author Bio: Meredith K. writes on behalf of Hunt’s®.  For other easy football appetizers, as well as easy chili recipes and slow-cooker recipes that are perfect for fall, visit www.Hunts.com.