Crispy Carnitas and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas

Here is another quick, easy and delicious recipe to use carnitas in.  These crispy carnitas and onion quesadillas are perfect for a weeknight dinner or weekend lunch.  The combination of rich pork carnitas, melted cheese and sweet caramelized onions make these quesadillas a guaranteed hit.

Quesadillas Are Perfect for Kids and Adults

Most kids love quesadillas and they are the perfect quick dinner for them.  Most adults love quesadillas too, but I think we often feel they are not an adult dinner entree.  To be honest I started to feel the same way and fell into the habit of making simple cheese quesadillas for my two girls dinner but then would feel I needed to make other dishes to round out my own dinner.  Everything changed with this recipe.

These carnitas (or pulled pork) quesadillas are a very adult quesadilla!  They have so much flavor and are really filling with all that yummy pork.  Trust me you can make these pork quesadillas for your friends and they will be impressed and forever change the way they think of quesadillas.

Should you Use Corn or Flour Tortillas for Quesadillas?

For quesadillas I always choose flour tortillas.  The reason for this is the flour tortillas are softer, more flexible and get a little crispy when cooked in the pan.  I love the flavor of corn tortillas but the physical characteristics of flour tortillas make a better quesadilla.  I find corn tortillas tend to tear when folded and do not get the nice crispy exterior texture I love on a quesadilla. 

Carnitas Quesadilla Ingredients

This recipe is easy and only requires a few ingredients if you already have the carnitas or some leftover pulled pork.  Each of the ingredients in this pork quesadilla recipe adds a lot of flavor and keeps the recipe simple and straightforward.

Pork Carnitas is the key ingredient for these elevated adult quesadillas. If you do not have carnitas you can always use pulled pork or another shredded meat.  The pork adds a lot of flavor to the quesadillas but you can use pulled chicken breast or shredded beef if you prefer.  No matter which meat you use these quesadillas will come out really well. If you are making carnitas, check out my stovetop Carnitas Recipe and Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe.

Caramelized Onions will add extra flavor and some subtle sweetness to the dish.  I recommend using Vidalia onions because of their mild flavor but you can use white, yellow or even red onions.  You want to make sure you saute the onions really well so you get some nice color and caramelization.

Shredded Cheese is added in two layers to these quesadillas so that you have that nice gooey and cheesy texture and ensure the carnitas and onions are sandwiched in the middle.  I like to use shredded cheddar but you can use a shredded Mexican cheese blend or a combination of shredded cheddar, jack and mozzarella cheeses.

Flour Tortillas are what I use for all my quesadillas.  As you learned above they tend to work better than corn for most quesadilla recipes.  I use a 6 inch flour tortilla because two can fit nicely in a pan together when folded in half.

Chili Powder is added to the caramelized onions to give the filling more flavor.  The combination of paprika, ground chilis, garlic and oregano which makes up most chili powders works so well with the onions, and pork carnitas.

Apple Cider Vinegar is used to add some nice acidity to the pork and onion filling.  The vinegar also helps to deglaze the frying pan and loosen up all those yummy bits of onion and meat that have stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Quesadilla Making Tips and Tricks

Here are some helpful tips and tricks to ensure your quesadillas come out perfectly.  These simple pointers will work for almost any quesadilla recipe and are sure to make things easier.

1. Fold your tortillas instead of stacking them.  When I first made quesadillas I would place a tortilla on the cutting board, load it with cheese and add another on top before transferring to the pan.  This always resulted in spilled cheese and made flipping the quesadilla a nightmare.  If you take your tortilla and place cheese on half and then fold it over to make a half moon it makes transporting it to the pan and flipping much easier.
2. Add cheese to the top and bottom and sandwich the filling inside.  I always build my quesadillas in three layers: cheese, filling, cheese.  This allows for the cheese to stick to both sides of the tortilla and surround the filling.  This makes the quesadilla easier to flip and cut and ensures every bite is sufficiently cheesy.
3. Use a little butter, oil or pan spray on your frying pan.  This helps crisp up the tortillas and prevent burning and sticking.  I use a little even when using a non-stick pan.
4. Flip towards the fold.  When it comes time to flip your quesadilla, always flip towards the fold to ensure the yumming filling and cheese does not fall out as not all the cheese will be fully melted.

Pork Carnitas Quesadilla Video Recipe

Here is a short video that clearly outlines all the steps and ingredients needed to ensure you can make this recipe without any issues or stress the first time around.

I hope you found the quesadilla video recipe helpful and are comfortable trying this recipe the next time you are craving quesadillas or need a way to use up that yummy carnitas.

The Best Dips and Sauces to Serve with Quesadillas

Quesadillas are designed for dipping into sauces or to have sauces drizzled on top and this recipe is no exception.  Here are some of my favorites that I think really enhance this dish.

• Mexican Crema or Mexican style sour cream, is a rich, smooth, slightly sweet and pourable condiment that works great as an alternative to regular sour cream.  You can find it at many grocery stores or you can make your own with this Easy Homemade Crema Mexicana Recipe from Weary Chef.  Mexican Crema is great drizzled on top of a quesadilla.
• Sour Cream is always a classic accompaniment for quesadillas.
• Enchilada Sauce can be drizzled on top or used as a warm sauce for dipping.  It always pairs well and I think works better as a topping than most chunky store bought salsas.
• Salsa or Pico de Gallo are another classic pairing to serve with quesadillas.  I like using a fresh salsa or pico de gallo.
• BBQ Sauce is a less typical option but it just works so well with the carnitas or pulled pork.  I like using a sweet and tangy bbq sauce.
• Cane’s Sauce or other mayonnaise based sauces can be a nice option especially for kids or if you are serving these quesadillas as a snack during a football game.
• Ranch is another favorite.  I like to take regular ranch salad dressing and add 1 tablespoon of hot sauce for every half cup of ranch.  You can also try this Tomatillo and Avocado Ranch Dressing Recipe. Both of these are great drizzled on top or for dipping.

Crispy Carnitas and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas

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The combination of rich pork carnitas, melted cheese and sweet caramelized onions make these quesadillas a guaranteed hit.

• Total Time: 11 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

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• ½ sweet onion thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 cup of pork carnitas
• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil or butter
• 6 flour tortillas (6 inch)
• 1.5 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

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Instructions

1. Prepare the filling
2. 1. Thinly slice the onion and saute over medium heat with a teaspoon of oil or butter.
   2. Once the onions are golden brown, about 3 minutes, add the chili powder and continue to saute for another minute.
   3. Add the pork carnitas and cook with the onions for 2 minutes, mixing every 30 seconds to ensure the meat is warm and nicely pulled or shredded.
   4. Add the apple cider vinegar and scrap up any brown bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan.
   5. Remove the pork and onions from the pan and place in a bowl to cool.
3. Assemble the quesadillas.  
   1. Place a tortilla on a plate and add a layer of shredded cheddar cheese to half the tortilla
   2. Add a littler under ¼ cup of the warm pork carnitas and onion filling on top of the shredded cheese
   3. Add a little more shredded cheese to the top of the pork and onions
   4. Fold the tortilla in half to complete the quesadilla
   5. Continue with the remaining tortillas
4. Cook 
   1. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and coat the pan with a thin layer of butter, olive oil or pan spray.  
   2. Place two of your folded quesadillas in the pan with the folds towards the center.  Press down lightly on the quesadillas to help the filling combine.
   3. Cook for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese and crisp the bottom of the flour tortilla.  Be sure to press down lightly on top of the quesadilla a few times to help ensure everything is sticking together. 
   4. Flip the quesadillas.  Be sure you flip the quesadilla towards the fold.  Press down lightly and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and the other side is brown.
   5. Let the quesadilla rest for 2 minutes before cutting and serving.

• Author: anthony
• Prep Time: 1
• Cook Time: 10