Pulled Pork and Sauteed Onion Quesadillas

After making my easy pulled pork enchiladas the other night I still had some leftover pork and decided to make quesadillas for lunch.  I combined the pulled pork with a little chili powder and sauteed onions and stuffed it into the folded tortillas with lots of shredded cheese. Yum!

Quesadillas Can Be Gourmet and Easy

Quesadillas are often a quick, simple and easy lunch or dinner and typically only have cheese and maybe some diced chicken or steak. I love those quesadillas. Quesadillas can also be made a little fancier with extra flavor and ingredients and be a really impressive meal.  I think this pulled pork and sauteed onion quesadilla recipe is a little bit of both.  They are easy and quick to make but also have a lot of flavor and will definitely impress whoever you make them for.  

Pulled Pork (Carnitas) Quesadilla Ingredients

I would say that most of the quesadillas I make use only two ingredients: tortillas and cheese.  When I made this recipe using 6 ingredients I thought these were going to seem much more complicated than a typical quesadilla.  The truth is they were easy to make and since I already had the pulled pork all the other ingredients were ones I usually have on hand.

Pulled Pork or Pork Carnitas – I used pulled pork because I had some leftover but you can also make pork carnitas (Mexican style pulled pork) for a more authentic version.  If you want to make Pork Carnitas check out this carnitas recipe from My Kitchen Escapades.  Both will taste great as the rich pork really adds a lot of flavor and makes the quesadillas into a center of the plate dish.

Sauteed Sweet Onions – the sauteed sweet onions add a really nice flavor to the quesadillas, especially when combined with the pork and cheese.  You can use any white or yellow onion for this recipe but I prefer a sweet onion such as Vidalia because they saute and caramelize so nicely.

Chili Powder – I add a little chili powder to give the onions and pork some extra flavor.  Because I made this recipe with pulled pork and not carnitas you really want to add the chili powder as pulled pork is not seasoned as heavily as carnitas.  If using carnitas the chili powder will still add extra flavor and wont become overpowering, however, you can leave it out if you like.

Apple Cider Vinegar – adding a little bit of apple cider vinegar helps to deglaze the pan and get all those tasty brown onion bits and also helps add a little acidity to brighten up all the flavor from the pork and onion.

Shredded Cheese – you cannot have quesadillas without lots of cheese.  I like to use shredded cheddar but you can use a cheese blend of jack, mozzarella, and cheddar or any shredded cheese you like.

Flour Tortillas – I almost always use flour tortillas for my quesadillas because I love how they get nice and crispy on the outside but stay tender inside.  I also find flour tortillas easier to use because you can fold them in half.  More on that later…

How to make quesadillas with pulled pork and sauteed onion in three steps

I might be over simplifying but I think you can make this quesadilla recipe in only 3 steps.  The recipe is not that complicated and I assume most of us have made quesadillas several times before.  I broke out the instructions into more detailed steps in the full recipe below.  I also recommend you read my tips and tricks on how to make perfect quesadillas everytime in the section below.

1. Make the sauteed onion and pork filling.  In a medium pan saute the sliced onion with a little olive oil over medium heat until golden brown.  Add the chili powder and saute for another minute.  Add the pulled pork or pork carnitas and sautee with the onions for 2 minutes.  Add cider vinegar and deglaze the pan.  The filling is now complete and can be transferred to a bowl to cool.
2. Build the quesadillas.  To build the quesadillas you want to start by placing cheese on half the tortilla, adding the pork and onions on top and then topping with more cheese.  Then fold the tortilla in half to make a “sandwich”.
3. Cook the quesadillas.  Heat your medium fry pan or skillet over medium heat and add a little butter, olive oil or pan spray.  Place two of your quesadillas in the pan with the fold in the center.  Cook for about 2 minutes to melt the cheese and crisp the tortilla.  Flip the quesadillas and cook for two more minutes on the other side.

How to Make Perfect Quesadillas Everytime

Quesadillas are pretty straightforward and easy to make but here are a few simple tips and tricks to ensure you make perfect quesadillas everytime.

• Tortillas
  • Use flour tortillas instead of corn since they are easier to fold and less likely to tear.
  • Heat your tortillas for 10-20 seconds in the microwave to make them easier to fold.
  • Use a 6” tortilla as they are easier to flip in the pan and allow you to cook two at the same time.
• The Filling and Building
  • Make sure your filling is warm.  This allows for the cheese melt more quickly and you do not need to cook or heat the filling in the quesadillas.  The result is a faster cook time and less likely that you will burn the outside of the tortilla.  
  • Add cheese first and last with the other fillings in the middle.  This creates a layer of cheese both sides so the quesadilla stays together.
  • Fold your tortillas, do not stack them.  When you make your quesadillas I always recommend folding the tortilla in half instead of stacking two on top of each other.
• Cooking
  • Use a little bit of butter or oil on the bottom of the pan.  I think of quesadillas as grilled cheese and you want that little bit so the tortillas do not burn or stick to the pan.
  • Flip towards the fold.  Always flip your quesadillas towards the fold so the ingredients do not fall out.
  • Give them a little press.  I always give my quesadillas a little press when I first put them in the pan, right before flipping and right after flipping to help ensure everything stays together nicely.
  • Let the quesadillas rest for 2 minutes before cutting to allow the cheese to firm up a little.  This prevents all the cheese from oozing out of the quesadilla when cut.

Pulled Pork (Carnitas) Quesadilla Video Recipe

Check out the pulled pork quesadillas video recipe, with easy step-by-step instructions, tips, and ticks. This video recipe will help you make the perfect quesadilla every time.

As you can see, this recipe video is all you need to be able to make these pork quesadillas for a quick and delicious weeknight dinner.

Pulled Pork and Sauteed Onion Quesadillas

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These quesadillas with pulled pork (or carnitas), sautéed onions and cheddar cheese are an amazing weeknight dinner or game day snack.

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

Ingredients

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

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Instructions

This recipe is really simple but I broke it out into a lot of steps to make it easier to read and follow along.

1. Make the sauteed onion and pork filling.  
   1. Thinly slice the onion.
   2. In a medium pan over medium heat saute the sliced onion with a teaspoon of oil until golden brown.  
   3. Add 1 tablespoon of chili powder and a pinch of salt to the onions and saute for another minute.  
   4. Add 1 cup of pulled pork and saute with the onions for 2 minutes.  
   5. Add 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar and deglaze the pan scraping up an brown bits on the bottom.
   6. Transfer the filling to a bowl to cool.
2. Build the quesadillas.  
   1. Place a tortilla on a plate or cutting board and add a layer of shredded cheese to half
   2. Add a littler under ¼ cup of the warm pork and onions on top of the cheese
   3. Sprinkle a little more cheese on top of the pork
   4. Fold the tortilla in half to make a “sandwich”
   5. Continue with the remaining 5 tortillas
3. Cook the quesadillas.  
   1. Heat a frying pan or skillet over medium heat and add a little butter, olive oil or pan spray.  Just enough to lightly coat the pan.
   2. Place two of your quesadillas in the pan with the fold in the center.  Press down lightly on the quesadillas to help the stick together.
   3. Cook for about 2 minutes to melt the cheese and crisp the tortilla.  Press down lightly on the quesadillas to help the stick together.
   4. Flip the quesadillas towards the seem.  Press down lightly on the quesadillas to help the stick together.  Cook for two more minutes on the other side until brown.
   5. Let rest for 2 minutes, cut and enjoy.  

Notes

Sauce recommendations to serve with quesadillas

• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Enchilada Sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Mexican Crema

• Author: anthony
• Prep Time: 1
• Cook Time: 10
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stove
• Cuisine: Mexican

The best ways to enjoy quesadillas – they are not just for kids

A lot of people think of quesadillas as a kids meal or snack.  I think they can be so much more.  By making quesadillas with fun, interesting and delicious ingredients, like sauteed pork and onions, you can server them for so many different occasions.  I love having these quesadillas as an appetizer served with my easy enchilada sauce and cilantro lime dip for dipping.  I will be sure to serve them when watching football with friends.  The best part is you can easily make multiple different types of quesadillas at the same time so you have something for everyone from the pickiest kid to the biggest foodie.

Quesadillas and cocktails

Looking for a drink to enjoy alongside your pulled pork and sauteed onion quesadillas?  Try this cilantro margarita.