Sometimes when making soft tacos, burritos, and similar meals that use tortilla shells, I find that I have a few leftover. It is often never enough to cover a completely different meal, so I find I need to find other ways to use them. I have found that there are many ways to use up those last tortilla shells instead of letting them go to waste.
The first recipe is one of my favorites. Cinnamon Tortilla Chips are a delicious snack and a great way to use up those leftover tortilla shells. To make these tasty tortilla treats simply butter one side of a tortilla shell and sprinkle with a mixture of 3 parts Brown Sugar to 1 part Cinnamon. Next cut the tortilla shells into wedges, using a pizza cutter for easy cutting. Place the wedges on a baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven until the edges have browned. An alternative of the Cinnamon Tortilla Chips are the Cinnamon Tortilla Roll Ups. To make the tortilla roll ups you would roll the tortillas rather than cutting them into wedges. To heat the tortilla roll ups you will place them in the microwave for approximately 10 seconds or until warm.
Another tasty way to use up those leftover tortilla shells is to make Cheese Quesadillas. Cheese Quesadillas are extremely easy to make and take very little time. The Quesadillas can be served as a quick lunch dish, a side dish, or even an appetizer. To make the Cheese Quesadillas you will need your leftover tortillas shells and shredded cheddar cheese. To make, place one tortilla shell into a frying pan coated with non stick cooking spray and lightly brown. Flip the tortilla and cover with the shredded cheese, leaving a border around the cheese filling. Next, place another tortilla shell on top of the cheese and fry until the bottom tortilla has become browned. Flip the Quesadilla and cook until browned on the other side. To serve your Cheese Quesadillas cut it into four equal wedges and serve with salsa, if desired. If you have leftover chicken meat you can add it in to make a more filling Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla. You can either use chunks of chicken or shred the chicken, adding it along with the cheese filling. Cream of Cheddar Cheese soup can also be used in place of the shredded cheddar for your Quesadillas, if desired.
Some people love a thin crust when it comes to pizza. Leftover tortilla shells can be easily transformed into a pizza crust to create a Personal Thin Crust Pizza. To make your personal pizza you will need to first brown your tortilla in the oven. Once the tortilla has become browned you can layer tomato sauce, cheese, and your toppings and bake again until the cheese has melted. Alternatively you could make a Calzone using your leftover tortilla shells. Layer all of the toppings on your tortilla shell leaving a border for sealing. Brush the edge with water and fold the empty half of your tortilla shell over the filling and sealing shut. Heat the tortilla calzone in the microwave for approximately 30-45 seconds, depending upon your microwave, and enjoy.
My family loves to eat Chips and Dip so we always have a bag of tortilla chips sitting in our pantry. However you don’t have to use bagged tortilla chips you could use your own homemade tortilla chips you’ve made using leftover tortilla shells. To transform your tortilla shells into tortilla chips first brush each side with oil and then slice the shells using a pizza cutter to make equal sized wedges. Place the wedges on a baking pan and place under the broiler. Once they become lightly browned, flip the tortilla wedges over and brown the other side. Remove from oven and sprinkle lightly with salt while they are still warm. Homemade tortilla chips can also be flavored using parmesan, garlic powder, powdered cheese flavoring, etc. You could even sprinkle them with the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture from the Cinnamon Tortilla Chips recipe to make a sweet treat.
Using leftover tortilla shells in place of bread can make some fun and interesting Sandwich Wraps. When it comes to making sandwich wraps using tortilla shells the options are almost unlimited. Many vegetables, meats, and cheeses would make great fillers for your tortilla sandwich wraps. Instead of sandwich wraps you can make Tortilla Pinwheels to serve as an appetizer for dinner or as a light lunch. Fill with items such as sandwich meat, cheese, mayonnaise, and lettuce and slice into one inch pinwheels. If you have trouble keeping your tortilla pinwheels rolled up you can use a toothpick to secure them.
Leftover tortilla shells can be a great thing allowing you to create one of the delicious recipes above. The best thing about these tortilla recipes is that they can easily be modified to suit your own personal tastes. So why not try one of these delicious recipes the next time you find yourself with an extra tortilla shell or two?
