Broccoli, Ham and Cheese Pop Tarts prepared in 30 minutes and that make a comforting meal or snack on the go as these other 20 back to school kids lunch ideas. They are a fun alternative to back to school sandwiches.
Disclosure: These pop tarts recipe is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Cacique Inc. and Society Culinaria.
Back to school? We've got you covered! These Broccoli, Ham and Cheese Pop Tarts make the most delsh and comforting meal or snack... for both kids and adults.
And you know what? You can make them in 30 minutes and can easily transpor them anywhere, making a fun alternative to sandwiches. My kids are already hooked on them!
WHAT'S POP TARTS MADE OUT OF?
Sweet pop tarts are made out of a sweet filling sealed inside two layers of rectangular pastry crust. These are the commercial pop tarts! Savory pop tarts are homemade. It contains a savory filling sealed in between thin layers of pastry crust.
HOW TO MAKE BROCCOLI, HAM AND CHEESE POP TARTS RECIPE
They take simple ingredients: store-bought rolled pie crusts, broccoli, cubed ham, Cacique Queso Quesadilla and Cacique Oaxaca Cheese, seasonings, and herbs.
All one has to do is to roll out the pie crusts on a lightly floured surface, cut into rectangles, and fill with a mixture of broccoli, ham, cheeses, seasonings, and herbs.
Then, brush on an egg wash for an appealing, lightly golden color, and bake them for about 10-12 minutes.
Voila! -- Devoure them, either by themselves or serve with pesto, salsa, or any other sauce/condiment of your choice.
ABOUT CACIQUE PRODUCTS
Locate both Cacique cheeses used in this pop tart recipe here. Just click on the product and type in your zip code to locate their availability in stores near you.
For over 40 years Cacique has remained a family-owned company dedicated to producing the highest quality authentic products. It produces Mexican-style products using only the finest ingredients and authentic recipes.
Its Queso Quesadilla and Oaxaca cheese are part of a delish line of artisanal cheeses.
The Queso Quesadilla is nutty and buttery, making it a great melting cheese for quesadillas and other dishes.
All while the Oaxaca Cheese has a savory, mellow buttery flavor, and really shines as a great stuffing cheese for baking recipes or as a stand-alone natural snack.
They also go very well together in this Broccoli, Ham and Cheese Pop Tart Recipe. The only issue that you may have is eating too many of them! 😉
COOK'S NOTES FOR HOMEMADE POP TARTS
- Store leftover of these healthy pop tarts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- For making them gluten-free, use a gluten-free pie crust.
- You may use any melting cheese of choice in these homemade pop tarts.
- You can make variations of the filling such as bacon and cheese, cauliflower and cheese, bbq chicken, and so on.
- Use broccoli leftovers to make either this broccoli gratin or this broccoli casserole with Ritz crackers.
OTHER PIE AND TART RECIPES
- Goat Cheese Tartlets
- Best Pie Crust
- Turkey Pot Pie
- Taco Hand Pies
- Chicken Pot Pie (Empadao)
- Shrimp Mini Pot Pies (Empadinha de Camarao)
- Breakfast Hand Pies
Broccoli, Ham and Cheese Pop Tarts Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 9-inch store-bought rolled pie crusts at room temperature
- ⅓ cup Cacique® Queso Quesadilla, small cubed you may replace for Monterey Jack
- ⅓ cup Cacique® Oaxaca Cheese, small cubed you may replace for mozzarella
- ¼ cup cubed ham
- ¼ cup chopped broccoli fresh or thawed
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves
- ½ tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 large egg lightly beaten and mixed with 1 tablespoon of water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Unroll both pie crusts on a floured surface according to the directions in the package.
- Equally divide each crust into fourths. Next, trim all edges to form rectangles. Use all the trimmings to make a ball of dough, roll out on a floured surface, and cut into 2 rectangles. You will end up with a total of 10 rectangles. Reserve.In a medium bowl, mix the cheeses, ham, and broccoli together.
- Using ¼ cup as measure, scoop the mixture and place in the center of 5 of the rectangles. Make sure that there is at least a ½-inch border from the edges. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top of the mixture and also a bit of oregano and thyme.
- Brush the edges of the crust with the egg wash, then fold the empty side of the crust over the top of the filling. Pinch your fingers along the edges to seal and then use a fork to make marks all the way around.
- Transfer the pop tarts to the lined baking sheet and brush the top of the tarts with more egg wash. Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper on top. Bake for 10 minutes, then rotate the baking sheet 180˚. Bake another 1-2 minutes or until the crust is lightly golden brown.
- Let cool for 5-10 minutes on the baking pan, then remove tart with a large spatula and serve by themselves or with a sauce or condiment of your choice (e.g. pesto, salsa, ketchup, etc). If desired, shred a bit of cheese and sprinkle on top of the pop tarts 1-2 minutes before removing from the oven, and then sprinkle a bit of the fresh herbs on top.
Recipe Notes
- Store leftover of these healthy pop tarts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- For making them gluten-free, use a gluten-free pie crust.
- You may use any melting cheese of choice in these homemade pop tarts.
- You can make variations of the filling such as bacon and cheese, cauliflower and cheese, bbq chicken, and so on.
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
John/Kitchen Riffs says
Wow, so creative! And so much fun. Kids of all ages won't be able to resist these! Almost makes we want to go back to school. Almost. 🙂
Ala says
Oh MY. These look ridiculously good--we'll have to opt out from the ham, but otherwise I can't wait to make these!! They'd be so cute miniature-sized, too 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
Fast and fantastic make this a great weeknight dinner! If there are any leftover I bet they would be fabulous for lunch!
Coffee and Crumpets says
Love these pop tarts! Great idea for kids and even for grown ups! I love pastry pockets 🙂
Liz says
These are definitely not the stale pop tarts of my childhood! What a scrumptious recipe---I'd eat them any time of day!!!
Juliana says
Denise, I love this savory version of pop tart...looks delicious...thanks for the inspiration!
Hope you are having a great week 🙂
Kirsty says
Ham cheese and broccoli is such a classic flavour combination, plus making pastry parcels like these is an easy way to sneak in some veg!
Kate says
Those look amazing!! I would die to have one in my lunchbox!!
cheri says
These healthy pop tarts look perfect for school lunches and after school snacks, great combo!!
Sole Morales says
Esas pop tarts son deliciosas!
La Cocina De Sole says
Delicioso... 🙂
Robert Erman says
I love these homemade pop tarts. I took them to work.
Denise Browning says
Thank you Robert! This is easy to make and a real favorite at my household. Enjoy!
Shelley says
Hello, just wondering how it would be best to keep these warm for school lunches?
Denise Browning says
Hi Shelley! The best way to keep them warm is to wrap each individually in a double layer of parchment paper and then in heavy aluminum foil. The first will serve as a barrier to prevent the hot pockets to sweat and the dough get mushy. The second is conductor of heat and will keep them hot for longer. After you wrap them, keep these savory pop tarts in thermal insulated lunch box or container.
JH says
Loved your In-Depth Description of the cheeses you selected!