This recipe for delicious and Easy Quesadillas With Leftover Pulled Pork Carnitas will help you turn your leftover pulled pork carnitas into a fantastic, mouthwatering meal that'll make you forget you're eating leftovers.
In this easy recipe, I will provide all the steps you need to know to create Quesadillas in just 30 minutes while incorporating staple ingredients. Let's dive in!
We've all been there. You made a batch of yummy crispy pork carnitas (like this EASY PORK CARNITAS recipe) made with our modern twist to the traditional Mexican dish. Now you've got leftovers waiting in the fridge. What are the best ways to use leftover pulled pork carnitas? Pulled Pork quesadillas!
This tasty recipe is about to become your FAVORITE way to use that leftover pulled pork. It's the perfect easy meal solution for busy weeknights, and it comes together in a flash with fresh toppings and that leftover pork roast you just don't know what to do with. Consider this your next-day dinner hero.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love These Quesadillas with Leftover Pulled Pork Carnitas
- Looking for other Easy recipes using leftover pulled pork carnitas?
- Equipment or Kitchen tools you'll need
- My Top 3 Tips for the Best Quesadillas
- Carnitas Quesadillas Ingredients & Substitutions
- How to Make Pork Carnitas Quesadillas
- How to Store Leftover Quesadillas
- Quesadillas Frequently Asked Questions
- ⭐Leave a review!
- Other Main Dishes and Dinner Recipes
- Latin Inspired Desserts you may like
- 📖 GET THE RECIPE! 🍽️
Why You Will Love These Quesadillas with Leftover Pulled Pork Carnitas
There's a reason we're calling this recipe EASY. Here's why you'll be singing its praises:
- QUICK AND EASY: When you've got leftover pork on hand, there's minimal prep involved, and these quesadillas are ready in no time! With simple ingredients like canned beans, corn, and chopped veggies, you can whip this up faster than deciding what to watch on Netflix! ?. Other quick meal ideas with leftover pulled pork carnitas include these PORK FAJITAS and these PORK SANDWHICHES (CUBAN Style!)
- MAKE-AHEAD FRIEND: Planning ahead? No problem. You can prepare these quesadillas and refrigerate or freeze them for a quick meal anytime. (See reheating instructions below!) Your future self will thank you.?
- VERSATILE: The beauty of this recipe is that it's easily customizable with your favorite toppings. Don't like corn? Leave it out! Prefer a spicier kick? Add some chopped jalapeños! Change up the cheese or add avocado. You'll never get bored with this one! ?
These Mexican pork quesadillas are the perfect solution for using leftover shredded pork! And we hope this recipe becomes your new family favorite. Don't be surprised if you make extra carnitas next time just to have leftovers! ?
Looking for other Easy recipes using leftover pulled pork carnitas?
Equipment or Kitchen tools you'll need
No need for fancy equipment to make this easy recipe. Here's what to grab:
- Frying pan or large skillet
- Spatula (for flipping the quesadillas)
- Cutting board and knife (for chopping the veggies).
My Top 3 Tips for the Best Quesadillas
- Use One Tortilla to Make Half-Moon Quesadillas: Put the filling on one side only, then fold the tortilla over. This makes filling, cooking, and turning a breeze.
- Avoid Overstuffing: Keep it simple — Too much filling can make quesadillas soggy and difficult to flip. Keep it light and melty!
- Use Medium Heat: This ensures the filling heats through, the cheese melts nicely, and the quesadilla gets nice and crispy without burning.
Carnitas Quesadillas Ingredients & Substitutions
Our Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Recipe is the base of this quesadillas Recipe.
The flavor behind these quesadillas starts with one of our favorite pork recipes, our Mexican Pulled Pork made from slow-cooked pork butt or pork shoulder roast. This recipe keeps on giving — juicy pork, crispy edges, with Mexican spices like chili powder and citrus like orange and lime juice that take this dish to the next level. You know what’s even better? You’ve got lots of leftovers to make quesadillas.
At our home, we make a batch of carnitas and pack it into freezer bags for later use. Always!
Additional ingredients you’ll need to make this Carnitas Quesadillas Recipe
Ingredients for the Caramelized Onions
- BUTTER - Gives a richer flavor, but olive oil works too.
- RED ONION – We prefer red onions, but any onion will do in a pinch.
- BALSAMIC VINEGAR - Adds an extra zing and touch of sweetness.
- SALT and BLACK PEPPER.
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.
Quesadillas Filling Ingredients
- LEFTOVER PORK CARNITAS - the delicious base for these quesadillas.
- SHREDDED CHEESE - Quesadilla, cheddar, Monterey Jack. Any cheese that will melt and pair nicely with the other Latin flavors in this recipe.
- FLOUR TORTILLAS (large size) - Corn tortillas are not recommended as they are a little too delicate to use for quesadillas.
- CORN KERNELS - Frozen or canned.
- BLACK BEANS - Canned is fine, just drain them.
- RED BELL PEPPERS - Any color you like. For extra heat, you can add some finely chopped green chiles.
- MELTED BUTTER - For greasing the pan.
- FRESH CILANTRO - Optional but recommended.
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How to Make Pork Carnitas Quesadillas
Step 1 - Prepare the Caramelized Onions
- Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped red onion, salt, and black pepper.
Cook until the onions are soft and caramelized with a golden color—about 10 minutes.
- Add the balsamic vinegar and cook for another 2 minutes.
Step 2 - Prepare the Remaining Quesadilla Filling Ingredients
- Mix the pulled pork, black beans, corn, red peppers, and caramelized onions in a bowl.
- Toss everything together until evenly distributed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3 - Build the Quesadillas
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a bit of melted butter to coat the pan. Spread a couple of spoonsful of the meat mixture onto half a tortilla. Be careful to fill your quesadillas sparingly, as they may be challenging to flip and cook evenly.
- Add a handful of shredded cheese on top and fold the tortilla over.
Repeat the process with a second tortilla to cook two quesadillas at once.
Step 4 - Cook the Quesadillas
Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is golden brown and crispy.
Step 5 - Serve and Enjoy
Slice the quesadilla into wedges and serve immediately with your fresh toppings like guacamole or avocado, or fresh cilantro, salsa, sour cream, or dipped in this delicious Garlic Cilantro Sauce —anything you enjoy with quesadillas. Dig into the delicious flavors!
How to Store Leftover Quesadillas
Got extras? Don’t let food waste get the best of you! Store leftover quesadillas in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, simply place them in a skillet over low heat until warmed through.
How to freeze leftover pulled pork carnitas for later
Place one cup of leftover carnitas in a freezer safe bag, remove the excess air, seal and flatten the bag. Flattening the bag makes thawing quicker.
With this Easy Quesadillas With Leftover Pulled Pork Carnitas recipe, you can turn leftover meat into a satisfying and delicious meal that we hope becomes one of our favorite weeknight dinners!
Bookmark this recipe for pork quesadillas, and next time you’re staring at that container of carnitas, you’ll know exactly what to do. Enjoy this delightful dish and be sure to share it with friends!
Quesadillas Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, place the quesadillas in a skillet over low heat until warmed through or in the oven at 300 degrees Farengheit for 8-10 minutes.
Quesadillas are a versatile dish that pairs well with many different sauces. The best part is you can customize them! Some popular choices include salsa, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, and salsa verde. Try our Smoky Salsa Verde recipe made with Tomatillos and Chipotles, Garlic Cilantro Sauce, or this Green Sauce with avocado, yogurt, cilantro, and spices. Delicious! Tortilla Chips, Refried Beans, or Rice are great on the side.
Sure, but nothing beats homemade! If you’re short on time, store-bought will make this recipe even easier.
These quesadillas are just the beginning. Other creative dishes with leftover pulled pork carnitas are Leftover Pulled Pork Tacos, (aka our favorite Carnitas Tacos!), our Pork Sandwich, and this Carnitas Fajitas recipe. Other creative ways for using leftover pulled pork include burritos, burrito bowls, pork enchiladas, pork nachos, and chili. You can create so many delicious recipes with carnitas!
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Other Main Dishes and Dinner Recipes
Latin Inspired Desserts you may like
📖 GET THE RECIPE! 🍽️
Easy Quesadillas with Leftover Pulled Pork Carnitas
Equipment
- Frying pan or large skilletSpatula (for flipping the quesadillas)Cutting board and knife (for chopping the veggies).
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Caramelized Onions
- 2 tablespoons Butter Extra Virgin Olive oil is a suitable substitute.
- 1 Red Onion medium, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar key ingredient to add a zing and sweetness.
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
Ingredients for the Quesadillas
- 2 Cups LEFTOVER PULLED PORK CARNITAS.
- 1 1/2 Cups Shredded cheese Any cheese that will melt and pair nicely with the other Latin flavors in this recipe.
- 6 Flour Tortillas large size (corn tortillas are not recommended)
- 1/2 Cup Corn Kernels frozen or canned
- 1/2 Cup Black Beans drained
- 1/2 Cup Red Bell Peppers any color you like
- 1 tablespoon Butter melted
- Cilantro Fresh, optional but recommended.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Caramelized Onions
- Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped red onion, salt, and black pepper.
- Cook until the onions are soft and caramelized with a golden color — about 10 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar and cook for another 2 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the Remaining Quesadilla Filling Ingredients
- Mix the pulled pork, black beans, corn, red peppers, and caramelized onions in a bowl.
- Toss everything together until evenly distributed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3 - Build the Quesadillas
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a bit of melted butter to coat the pan. Spread a couple of spoonsful of the meat mixture onto half a tortilla. Be careful to fill your quesadillas sparingly, as they may be challenging to flip and cook evenly.
- Add a handful of shredded cheese on top and fold the tortilla over.
- Repeat the process with a second tortilla to cook two quesadillas at once
Step 4 – Cook the Quesadillas
- Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is golden brown and crispy.
Step 5 - Serve and Enjoy
- Slice the quesadilla into wedges and serve immediately with your fresh toppings like guacamole or avocado, or fresh cilantro, salsa, or sour cream—anything you enjoy with quesadillas. Dig into the delicious flavors!
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this recipe post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Notes
- Recommended sauces that go well with these Pork Quesadillas
Smoky Salsa Verde recipe with Chipotles or this Green Sauce with avocado, yogurt, cilantro, and spices. - Toppings and sides to pair ideas for these quesadillas: The best toppings for quesadillas are the ones you love! But some popular choices include salsa, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, salsa verde, cheese, and fresh cilantro. Pair with rice and beans, or chips (like these homemade Plantain Chips).
- Other recipe ideas for using leftover Carnitas:
Leftover Pulled Pork Tacos, (aka our favorite Carnitas Tacos!). Pork Sandwich, and this Carnitas Fajitas recipe.
Alex says
This pulled pork carnitas quesadillas is delicious I have made it few times my family enjoyed it.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Made it a few times? That’s the ultimate compliment.? Sounds like your quesadillas have earned a permanent spot on the family menu.?
Thank you for sharing your comment, Alex!
Paula says
These quesadillas were absolutely heavenly!! The filling for this was so delicious. I'm in love!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Yay! So happy you loved them — cheese and carnitas are a match made in quesadilla heaven!?
Linda says
Delicious! One of the best dinners we had in weeks! So filling, so quick and so many ways to adjust to everyone's taste!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
So glad you loved it! It’s the kind of dinner that saves the day — fast, flavorful, and everyone’s happy! ?
Elizabeth says
These were delicious!!!! I liked them as much as our carnitas. Best leftover recipe ever!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That’s the ultimate compliment — when the leftovers rival the original! ?? So glad you loved them!
Sierra says
These Quesadillas are an absolute game-changer! Packed with flavor. Honestly, you’d never guess they started as leftovers. Definitely a new favorite for our busy weeknights!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That makes me so happy! Who knew leftovers could taste this good?
Joann says
Fantastic! The combination was perfect. Thanks for sharing this delicious and simple recipe!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
So glad you enjoyed it, Joann! Sometimes simple really is the secret to fantastic flavor!
Laura says
I love such easy recipes and interestingly using the leftovers. I loved this quesadilla.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Gotta love when leftovers turn into something this tasty and effortless, right!? Thanks for trying our recipe. 🙂
Julia says
I'm a huge quesadilla fan. They are my go-to on those evenings when I just don't have the energy to cook. Your version with Carnitas just added the much needed protein to my lazy evening dinner! I think I'll just batch cook a huge portion of Carnitas and freeze them in portions, to have them on hand for this recipe.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Love that plan! Sounds like you may be a planner like me.?
Carnitas are the ultimate freezer-friendly hero. Thanks for your great review!
Heather says
An absolute flavor bomb! Crispy, melty on the inside, and packed with flavor. Honestly hard to believe they started as leftovers. Thanks!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Right?! Leftovers have never looked (or tasted) this good! ? So glad you loved them.
Krystle says
So many yummy flavors and texture! The carnitas reheated beautifully and I love the corn and black beans.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed all the flavors. Thanks for your comment!
Katie says
This is wonderful idea of using pulled pork carnitas in quesadillas My family enjoyed it. I am going to make it more often from now on.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That’s awesome! Definitely a repeat-worthy move! 🙂
Mary Anne says
These quesadillas were so delicious, and the kids ate them in no time! I'll do it again soon.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That’s the best kind of review — when the kids devour dinner without a single complaint! ?? So glad everyone loved it.
Thank you!
catherine says
The whole family loved this easy quesadillas recipe! Finally a fun way to use our pulled pork leftovers!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Totally! Easy dinner win. Right? Thanks for trying it and leaving a review! ❤️
JC says
The perfect use of left over carnitas... absolutely delicious!!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Thank you! So glad you liked them. Thanks for your comment!
Lisa says
Easy quesadillas with pulled pork carnitas I loved it, I have made it. My family enjoyed it.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Family-win! Love it. Thanks!!
Criss says
Just made this with some leftover pulled pork, and it was so good! Super quick, crispy, and packed with flavor—definitely a new go-to for easy meals!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Yay! Glad it made your recipe list for next time. Thanks for trying it! And for leaving a review. ❤️?
Seema says
Certainly quick and easy, these quesadillias are so crispy on the outside and great filling.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Agreed! So glad you liked them. Thansk for trying them, and for leaving your comment. ❤️?
Crystal says
These are the best pork quesadillas! The caramelized onions take them over the top!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
They do! The caramelization adds tons of flavor and makes them sweet. Happy you liked them!
Jess says
Such delicious flavor! Will make again 🙂
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Thanks, Jess! Glad you liked them. 🙂
Melissa says
THIS is how you use leftovers! I love how cheesy these are, and the pulled pork really made them so tasty.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Yes! And so easy too, right? Thanks for the love. ❤️?
Liz says
This was a fabulous way to use up our leftover pork!! The quesadillas were delicious!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Glad it was a tasty way to use leftovers! Goal achieved! ?? Thanks!