Better-for-You Baked Ranch Quesadillas

Yep, I used the phrase “better-for-you” and “ranch” together.  And I mean it, y’all!  I recently had an opportunity to create a recipe as part of the blogger program by Naturally Fresh® and The Motherhood, who compensated me for my time and the development of this recipe.   However, all opinions, experiences, photos share here, and bad puns are all my own.

So how on earth can I make “better-for-you” baked RANCH quesadillas?  It’s simple: with Naturally Fresh® Lite Ranch, which is made with Naturally Fresh®’s own nonfat buttermilk cuts the calories in half, and it’s made with real, wholesome ingredients.  You’ve got to look in the refrigerated section at Publix or Kroger to find Naturally Fresh® products – and you can also utilize the Naturally Fresh® App to find products near you.

With a little thing called The Super Bowl coming up in a few days, I thought baked ranch quesadillas – with my own twist – would be a great snack for any party.  Wouldn’t these be the perfect appetizer to serve?  More importantly, with a few tweaks, I created a better-for-you appetizer (or meal!) and gave it some healthier updates.

Better-for-You Baked Ranch Quesadillas

You’ll need:

• ½ cup Naturally Fresh® Lite Ranch Dressing
• 1/2 – 1 cup finely chopped spinach (can chop by hand, or toss in the Vitamix)
• 2 generous cups shredded cheese (we used a four cheese Mexican blend)
• (6) tortillas

Preheat oven to 350. Combine ranch and chopped spinach in bowl. Spoon mixture evenly between three tortillas; then sprinkle cheese over mixture.  Place a second tortilla on top of each to seal it all in. Place quesadillas on baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes, then flip over each quesadilla.  Bake 7-8 minutes more.  Once removed from oven, sprinkle cheese over warmed griddle (low-to-medium heat), and plop a quesadilla down – rotating it lightly, to coat the cheese as it crisps on the tortilla for 2-3 minutes.  Remove the tortilla, sprinkle cheese again, then crisp and rotate the other side.  Repeat with each tortilla.  If you dare, pair with a salsa to kick it up a notch.

Or, if you’re a ranch-head like yours truly, dip the quesadillas right back in to the jar of Naturally Fresh® Ranch Dressing – it’s like double-dipping, without being a complete social faux paux.  😉

**Would you like to a chance to win one of five coupons for a FREE jar of Naturally Fresh®?  What’s your favorite way to eat or prepare a dish with Naturally Fresh® Ranch Dressing?  Comment below  for your chance to win! :)** 

Giveaway ends 2/10/15 – five winners randomly selected using random.org.  Winners will be notified via email, and given 24 hours to respond with mailing address.  Giveaway open to residents of the US.