A Build Your Own Quesadilla Bar helps everyone choose what their preferences are, all while having the family get involved with making dinner.
I was inspired to create this Build Your Own Quesadilla Bar post for two reasons: 1. Joey asks for quesadillas every night for dinner. You know, the microwave cheese on a tortilla kind of quesadilla [M2MN hack and dirty little secret LOL]. Oh and 2. March is National Nutrition Month and this year’s theme is “Personalize Your Plate.” What better way to personalize dinner than with a build your own plan!
When it comes to planning and preparing meals for my family, I not only personalize our plates based on our food preferences, but I build meal plans with our favorite protein [beef] in mind and add produce, whole grains, and low-fat dairy, from there. When it comes to quesadillas for dinner, we all agree on the beef.
Attitudes toward food and eating patterns develop throughout our lifespan from influences of family, friends, ethnic groups, community, nation, even our world. How we perceive ourselves and our food, what we choose to eat, why we eat what we do, and in what manner, all become integral parts of human nutrition. It is no secret I grew up with beef at the center of my plate and continue that food tradition at my family’s kitchen table. From its nutrition package to a variety of cut choices, oh and let’s not forget about taste, you’ll find beef as the star of this quesadilla bar [even more important than the tortillas] every single time I make dinner this way.
I already know what you are thinking, “your kids eating broccoli slaw in their quesadilla?!” No way. Seriously. No way. In fact, I can tell you that all 5 of us are eating this recipe a bit differently. 2 out of my three will not touch the broccoli slaw, the other 2 will eat it in as long as it’s soaked in ranch dressing, and me? Well, I want my broccoli slaw right in the beef quesadilla. Call it short-order cooking. Call it deconstructing dinner. Call it people-pleasing. Whatever you want to call it, I am essentially personalizing my family’s dinner plate.
Most of the work is in preparation, so if you have everything ready in terms of produce prep and leftover shredded beef, making the quesadillas will take just minutes. Once you have everything ready, guests and family members can choose their own combos, or you can create your own combos for them to try.
More Build Your Own Bar Recipes
- Must-Haves: Flour or Corn Tortillas, Cooked Ground Beef, Leftover Shredded Beef
- Add-Ins: corn, refried beans, red bell pepper, chopped green chiles, broccoli slaw, tomatoes, onion, shredded cheese
- Toppings: Sour Cream, Avocado Slices, Salsa, Guacamole, Hot Sauce, Limes, Fresh Cilantro, Black Olives
- Unique Options: Broccoli slaw, shredded cabbage, Greek Yogurt, Roasted Vegetables
- Cook and chop all the ingredient your family wants for their quesadillas
- Put quesadillas together and cook in the microwave, stove-top, or oven!
Leave a Reply