Carnitas Quesadilla

With a buttery, crispy flour tortilla, this Carnitas Quesadilla is loaded with melty Pepper Jack cheese and unimaginable pork carnitas. I end mine with a sprinkle of contemporary cilantro, and it’s one of the best lunch I’ve had all week. For those who’re making carnitas, add this one to your dinner plan. You may thank me later.

Pals, this recipe for carnitas quesadillas is precisely what occurs at my home within the days after I make a batch of my slow cooker pork carnitas or pork carnitas in the oven. Leftover carnitas are completely divine for including to salads, rice bowls, and extra.

However, that is the quesadilla that makes me actively joyful about leftovers.

Crisp buttery edges. A gooey tangle of cheese and shredded pork within the center. Somewhat cilantro, as a result of it wants that contemporary inexperienced pop. That’s the entire thing. And, for the reason that meat freezes like a dream, when you begin making carnitas, you’ll at all times have it available.

There are solely a handful of meals I might genuinely eat each single week, and carnitas are darn close to the highest of that record. A batch often goes fairly quick round right here, however each time there’s a cup or two lingering in my fridge and I’m feeling like treating myself, relaxation assured that I’m going to make use of it on this carnitas quesadilla recipe.

And, whereas I like tacky quesadillas, I don’t truly like my quesadillas overloaded with cheese. I do know, I do know. Scorching take. However, it simply makes me really feel so torpid. So, I err on the aspect of utilizing simply sufficient cheese to carry the whole lot in place. However, if YOU wish to add extra? I’m on board. Comply with your coronary heart.

Carnitas meat has been added to the cheese and cooked in a flour tortilla to create these quesadillas.

Substances and Substitutions

Tortilla – Until you’re employed up an urge for food like my husband (and, I’m not judging), you most likely already know that it’s one tortilla per quesadilla. I take advantage of flour as a result of I want the style and texture.

Butter – I am going straightforward on the butter. However, don’t skip it. You simply want a good super-thin coating to assist the tortilla crisp within the pan. Butter is magical right here.

Cheese – My go-to decisions are shredded Pepper Jack or Monterey Jack. I’ve one other sizzling tackle freshly shredded versus bagged varieties. However, you’ll should go to the ideas part for that.

Carnitas – A handful of cooked pork carnitas, roughly chopped. You possibly can swap for an additional cooked, shredded pork like this slow cooker Mexican pulled pork, in a pinch.

Cilantro – Contemporary cilantro lifts the entire thing. If you’re one of many cilantro-tastes-like-soap folks (that was me till a number of years in the past), some sliced inexperienced onion can get the job achieved, too.

Notes on Gear

Giant non-stick skillet. I’ve been via a ridiculous variety of skillets. However, this one has been my on a regular basis champ for the previous few years, via I don’t even know what number of quesadillas. Nothing sticks and it heats evenly.
Butter knife or small spatula
Large spatula (for flipping)
Sharp knife
Chopping board
A cheese grater – This cheap rotary grater has saved me a ton of time on the counter, since getting it final yr. It chews via cheeses, greens, and nuts with ease.

A stack of carnitas quesadilla wedges on a ceramic plate, sprinkled with cilantro.

Learn how to Make a Carnitas Quesadilla

Preheating: I set a big non-stick skillet over medium-high warmth and provides it a minute or two to return as much as temperature earlier than anything goes in. You need it to sizzle whenever you put the butter tortilla within the pan.

Buttering the Tortilla: Evenly butter one aspect of the tortilla with a couple of teaspoon of butter, unfold edge to edge. Then, simply slap it down (rigorously) into the recent pan.

Constructing the Layers: I sprinkle about half of the cheese over one aspect of the tortilla. Then, I unfold out the chopped carnitas over the cheese and end with the remainder of the cheese. That cheese-meat-cheese sandwich is what seals the whole lot collectively when it melts.

Including Cilantro: I wish to scatter the cilantro throughout the highest layer of cheese proper earlier than folding it over.

Folding It Over: Utilizing a large spatula, you’ll must elevate up the uncovered aspect of the tortilla and fold it over the loaded half. Gently press down to assist it set.

Cooking: Let the folded quesadilla prepare dinner for two to three minutes on the primary aspect. I’m checking and searching for the cheese to start out melting and the underside tortilla to show golden.

Flipping the Quesadilla: As soon as that backside is browning and the cheese has began to soften, you’ll flip the entire folded quesadilla over and let it prepare dinner on the opposite aspect till the cheese is totally melted and the either side are crisp.

Serving: Switch the quesadilla to a reducing board. Then, I simply reduce it into wedges whereas it’s nonetheless sizzling, and serve straight away. Simply rinse and repeat, in case you’re making a couple of.

Knowledgeable Tip

Right here’s the one piece of recommendation that issues greater than anything for this recipe: that dial in your range for controlling the warmth? You may (and may) alter it. Is the tortilla crisping too rapidly? Don’t be afraid to scale back warmth to offer the cheese extra time to soften. Not getting the crispy edges you need? Ratchet the warmth up a notch. Temperature management is essential for leveling up your abilities as a prepare dinner.

Scorching Take: Shredded Cheese – Pre-shredded cheeses are coated in starches to assist them keep away from clumping. And, there are a lot of recipes that may profit from utilizing your individual freshly shredded cheese. However, some don’t. And, that is one in all them. I truly suggest a mixture of half storebought and half freshly shredded cheese. Somewhat starch helps yield one of the best outcomes for quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Heat the Carnitas – Chilly pork from the fridge could make it tougher to soften the cheese. Give it a fast 30 seconds within the microwave to convey up the temperature and also you’ll have a neater time.

Don’t Overstuff – The whole thickness of the quesadilla must be not more than an inch thick when folded over. An excessive amount of meat slows the melting of the cheese. It can also trigger the elements to spill out when flipping it.

Serving Options

A carnitas quesadilla like that is loads for me for a fast lunch. However, after I wish to flip this recipe into a correct dinner, I’ll add a bowl of chips and a few simple Mexican salsa for dipping. Or perhaps a pan of Spanish rice on the aspect.

And, there’s nothing higher (for my part) than a heat batch of elote dip to raise the meal. It makes the entire unfold really feel like a little bit fiesta.

A black and white tea towel is visible in the background, behind a tall stack of quesadilla wedges.

Make Forward & Storage

Make Forward: The carnitas themselves maintain superbly within the fridge for a number of days or within the freezer for a number of months, so having them prepped upfront makes recipes like this a breeze. However, prepare dinner your quesadillas to order.

Learn how to Retailer: You probably have a leftover quesadilla, simply retailer it in an hermetic container within the fridge. It retains for as much as 3 days.

Learn how to Reheat: A dry skillet over medium warmth will convey again a number of the crispness whereas reheating the cheese. And the air fryer is superior for reheating leftover quesadillas. However, skip the microwave until you need it mushy.

Extra Carnita-Impressed Recipes

Incessantly Requested Questions

Can I take advantage of a unique cheese?

Certain. You simply must be sure that it’s an excellent melting cheese. Gentle cheddar or a a Mexican mix from the grocery retailer will each work nicely.

Do I really want to butter the tortilla?

Sure. It doesn’t take that a lot butter to provide the golden, crisp exterior. A dry skillet will toast the tortilla however you received’t get the identical crunch, and also you’ll miss the buttery taste.

May I take advantage of rooster?

You may, although it received’t technically be a carnitas quesadilla at that time. Any seasoned cooked meat you may have available will work on this similar format. Simply chop it small and heat it earlier than it goes in.

Can I take advantage of oil as an alternative of butter?

In brief, sure. However butter is the not-so-secret ingredient that makes my quesadillas style like I bought them at a very good mom-and-pop Mexican restaurant.

Why are my tortillas getting burnt?

Chances are high good your warmth is ready too excessive. Attempt reducing the warmth in order that the tortilla crisps extra slowly. That may give the cheese extra time to soften.

Preheat a big non-stick skillet to medium-high warmth. Evenly butter a single aspect of 1 tortilla with a couple of teaspoon of butter and place it within the sizzling pan.
Sprinkle 3 tablespoons cheese over one half of the tortilla, then prime with the carnitas, one other 3 tablespoons cheese, and the cilantro. Fold the tortilla over and prepare dinner for 2-3 minutes.
When the cheese has begun to soften and the underside half of the tortilla is browning barely, flip the folded quesadilla over to prepare dinner the opposite aspect. Proceed to prepare dinner till all of the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crisp across the edges.
Utilizing a spatula, switch the quesadilla again to a reducing board and reduce into wedges whereas it’s sizzling and serve heat. Repeat as desired.