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Carnitas Quesadilla Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 66 reviews

This Carnitas Quesadilla recipe combines tender, crispy pork carnitas with melty Colby Jack cheese, black beans, and warm flour tortillas for a flavorful and satisfying meal. Served with classic toppings like sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, and corn salsa, these quesadillas offer a perfect balance of textures and tastes. Easy to prepare on the stovetop, they make a quick and delicious lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1⅓ cups pork carnitas
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 2 large flour tortillas (burrito size)
  • 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
  • ½ cup black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Toppings

  • Sour cream
  • Guacamole
  • Pico de gallo
  • Shredded lettuce
  • Corn salsa

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil and crisp the carnitas: Place a large non-stick skillet over high heat and add the vegetable oil. Once hot, add the pork carnitas and cook without stirring for 2-3 minutes until the bottom becomes crisped. The meat does not need to be heated fully through at this stage, as it will warm further when cooking the quesadilla.
  2. Prepare the skillet for quesadilla: Remove the carnitas from the skillet and lower the heat to medium. Add half of the butter and let it melt, swirling to coat the skillet evenly. Once melted, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the shredded cheese over the buttered surface to start melting.
  3. Assemble and cook the quesadilla: Place one tortilla on top of the melted cheese and butter. Evenly distribute half of the remaining cheese, black beans, and crisped carnitas over the tortilla. Cook for 5-6 minutes until the cheese melts and the bottom of the tortilla turns golden brown. Fold the quesadilla in half carefully, then remove from skillet and repeat the process with the second tortilla.
  4. Slice and serve: Cut each cooked quesadilla in half using a sharp knife. Serve warm with optional sides of sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, and corn salsa for dipping and added texture.

Notes

  • To ensure the quesadilla doesn’t stick, make sure the butter is evenly spread and fully melted before adding the tortilla.
  • Folding the quesadilla half-way through adds stability and helps evenly distribute the filling.
  • You can customize the toppings based on preference, adding jalapeños or salsa verde for extra spice.
  • Use a non-stick skillet or well-seasoned cast iron for best results and easier flipping.
  • Leftover quesadillas make great next-day lunch and reheat well in a skillet or air fryer.

Keywords: Carnitas quesadilla, pork quesadilla, Mexican quesadilla recipes, easy quesadilla, pork carnitas recipe

Find it online: https://thehungrymason.com/carnitas-quesadilla-recipe/