Have you ever smoked a large delicious pork shoulder and then wondered what you were going to do with the leftover meat. Try this pork quesadilla grilled up to perfection. Our favorite combination is sharp and colby cheese with grilled onions, pickled jalapeno, smoked pork, and jalapeno tomatoes.
In this post I’ll go over how to make this fantastic dish, how to prep it so that everything goes smoothly, and give you a few side ideas as well.
The Recipe
Do you love the crunch of a tortilla with gooey cheese? Then you really need to try this grilled quesadilla. The combinations are an endless variety such as grilled vegetables, jalapeno tomatoes, pickled onions, cilantro, cheese, etc.
If you just want the recipe and basic instructions here you go, have at it! If you want the details around how I did this, and some tips for making the chicken thighs — keep reading!
Smoked Pork Quesadilla
- 2 cups smoked pork
- 8 whole wheat or flour tortillas
- 2 cups cheese such as:
- sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, colby, gruyere, etc.
- It’s even better if you mix a few together.
- sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, colby, gruyere, etc.
- 1 cup toppings such as:
- grilled onions, peppers, jalapeno, pickled onions, jalapeno tomatoes, etc.
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- Setup your grill for direct heat we are looking for a grill temperature of 300° F.
- Place the cast iron pizza pan or griddle on the grill for 15 minutes to get it really hot.
- In the meantime place 1 tortillas on a sheet pan then add the following spread evenly:
- 1/4 cup cheese
- 1/2 cup smoked pork
- 1/4 cup toppings
- 1/4 cup cheese
- top with tortilla
- Place quesadilla on the cast iron and cook for covered for 3 minutes. Flip and cover for 3 minutes then remove.
- Repeat 3 more times. Serve sour cream, salsa and cilantro on the side. Enjoy!
Prepping the Ingredients
If you are cooking with charcoal then you can get the coals started before prepping the ingredients for the quesadillas. If you have a gas grill then I would suggest getting all the ingredients prepped before you start the grill. No need to waste the extra gas while prepping.
The Equipment
Preparing the Toppings
Start by gathering your ingredients from the refrigerator. I like to buy block cheese and grate it myself. I find that it melts better than the pre-shredded cheese. I like to make small piles of the ingredients on the same cutting board for easy assembly of the quesadillas. Below I have: smoked pork, pickled jalapenos, freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese and jalapeno tomatoes.
Moving out to the grill
Grab your favorite beverage, grill spatula and let the grill experience begin! Are you looking for an easier way to light your charcoal or maintain the temperature? Check out our article on how to light a charcoal grill.
Let’s Cook Quesadilla’s!
Once the grill reaches 300° F place the pizza or griddle cast iron on the grill rack for 15 minutes with the lid on then add the quesadilla.
After the pan has heated for 15 minutes place the quesadilla on the grill pan.
Cook for 3 minutes then flip.
Place the lid back on and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Plate the quesadilla and serve with sour cream, salsa and cilantro.
What to serve with Smoked Pork Quesadilla
This quesadilla recipe will work well with any of your favorite ingredients but I find it especially tasty with jalapeno tomatoes. Give them a try and I hope you love them as much as we do.
Jalapeno Tomatoes
- 28 oz whole peeled tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 12 oz jar jalapeno slices
- 2/3 cup cilantro
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- Heat a 10 ounce skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- Add the chopped tomatoes; do not add extra juice from the can
- If you prefer you can slice open the tomatoes and remove the seeds.
- Measure 1/2 cup jalapeno juice and add it to the tomatoes along with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp of pepper, and chopped cilantro.
- Simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!
These tomatoes are delicious with a hint of heat.
We hope you enjoy this recipe and look forward to adding more like this soon!