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Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas

These Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas are made with tender carnitas, crispy parmesan on a soft tortilla, and loads of gooey cheese.

Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas

I have another amazingly simple Instant Pot recipe for you today! We got back from our spring break vacation in Virginia beach yesterday (had a great time!) and the last thing I felt like doing was cooking. Then I remembered I still had a Boneless Pork Shoulder Seasoned Carnitas in the fridge.

Delicious 100% pork, already slow-marinated and perfectly seasoned? Ready to be slow-cooked or pressure-cooked with ZERO prep? YES!!

I chose to slow-cook my roast this time but I’ve also pressure-cooked it in my Instant Pot and both work wonderfully. I’ve included instructions for both, so choose whichever fits your evening plans best. Both methods turn out meat that just falls apart with a fork – no knife necessary.

Why You’ll Love Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas

Effortless Cooking: The Instant Pot makes cooking the pork shoulder effortless, resulting in tender, flavorful carnitas without the need for constant monitoring.

Quick Prep: With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep work, you can assemble these quesadillas in no time, perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.

Texture Contrast: The crispy Parmesan crust adds a delightful crunch to the quesadillas, complementing the softness of the carnitas and melted cheese.

Family Favorite: These quesadillas are sure to be a hit with the whole family. They’re comforting, satisfying, and packed with savory goodness.

Perfect for Entertaining: Whether it’s game day or a casual get-together, Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas make for an impressive and crowd-pleasing appetizer or main course.

Leftover Magic: If you have leftover carnitas, these quesadillas offer a delicious way to repurpose them, reducing food waste and ensuring every bite is enjoyed.

Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas Ingredients Notes

  • Pork Shoulder: If available, choose a packaged boneless pork shoulder that is seasoned for carnitas. If you choose a plain pork shoulder, you can season it yourself with salt and pepper, cumin, paprika, oregano, and onion and garlic powder.
  • Chicken Broth: You can use broth or stock. If you don’t have any on hand, water is fine as a replacement, but you might miss that extra touch of flavor the broth adds.
  • Peppers & Onions: Use a yellow or white onion, a red bell pepper, and a poblano pepper to make a perfectly balanced combination of spicy and sweet fajita style veggies to add to your quesadillas.
  • Cheese: I use the Mexican blend, but you can use cheddar, jack, pepper jack, or whatever your preference is.
  • Parmesan: A sprinkling of grated parmesan adds a crispiness to the tortilla and a smokiness to the flavor profile.
  • Tortillas: I use flour tortillas for carnitas quesadillas, but you’re welcome to use corn if that is your preference.
  • Cilantro: Fresh cilantro leaves add a fresh herbaceousness to the flavor and a pop of color.
  • Butter: Spread this on the tortillas before cooking in the skillet. It will hold on to the parmesan while keeping the tortillas from sticking, and well, everything is better with butter.

Find the complete Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas ingredients list with measurements in the recipe card below.

Instant Pot Carnitas

How To Make Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas

  1. Cook the pork: Add pork shoulder and broth to the instant pot or slow cooker and cook for the suggested time on package (about 25 minutes in the IP or 4-5 hours on high for the slow cooker). When cooked through and fork tender, move to a cutting board or large platter and shred.
  2. Sauté: Drain liquid from pot and add peppers and onions. Cook in IP on sauté setting for 5-7 minutes until soft. If you don’t have a sauté setting, you can cook the peppers and onions in a skillet on the stovetop.
  3. Assemble: Spread butter on one side of each tortilla and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Place tortilla in skillet parmesan side down and add cheese, pork, peppers and onions, and a bit of cilantro. Add the top tortilla.
  4. Cook: Heat the quesadillas until the bottom tortilla is nicely browned and a bit crispy and the cheese is melty. Flip and cook on the other side until browned.
  5. Cut & Serve: Slice parmesan-crusted carnitas quesadillas into quarters and serve!
Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas Recipe

Variations, Substitutions, & Cooking Tips

Make it a meal – You could eat the pork as-is once it’s finished cooking with a side of rice or mashed potatoes and a vegetable for a full meal.

Leftover versatility – Use the leftover pork to make tacos, stir into soup, add to salads…the options are virtually endless.

Veggie medley – Get creative with the vegetable fillings. Try mushrooms, spinach, or caramelized onions alongside or in place of the peppers and onions.

Spice it up – Add a kick of heat with sliced jalapeños, chipotle peppers, or a drizzle of hot sauce for those who enjoy spicier fare.

Sauce options – Serve with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, or your favorite dipping sauce on the side for added flavor and moisture.

Tortilla varieties – Swap flour tortillas for corn tortillas or whole wheat tortillas for a different texture or flavor profile.

Butter substitute – Use olive oil or cooking spray instead of butter for a lighter option or to accommodate dietary restrictions.

Parmesan alternatives – If you’re out of Parmesan cheese, try using Pecorino Romano, Asiago, or a blend of grated cheeses for the crust.

Herb substitution – Not a fan of cilantro? Try using chopped parsley, green onions, or fresh basil for a different herbal accent.

Slicing tip – Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to slice the quesadillas into wedges for easy serving.

Serve hot – Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas are best served hot and fresh, so enjoy them immediately for the ultimate flavor and texture experience.

Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas

Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas

Yield: 4 Quesadillas
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Pressure Cook: 25 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

These Instant Pot Parmesan-Crusted Carnitas Quesadillas are made with tender carnitas, crispy parmesan on a soft tortilla and loads of gooey cheese.

Ingredients

  • 1 2 lb Boneless Pork Shoulder Seasoned Carnitas
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 large onion, sliced
  • 1 poblano pepper, sliced
  • 1/2 large red bell pepper, sliced
  • 3 cups shredded mexican-blend cheese
  • 8 6-inch flour tortillas
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, very soft
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

Instructions

  1. Place the chicken broth and pork shoulder into your Instant Pot. Slow cook for the suggested time on package or set timer for high pressure, 25 minutes.
  2. When pork is finished cooking, remove pork and place on cutting board. Shred with two forks. Discard liquid from pot.
  3. Set Instant Pot on Saute and put peppers and onions into pot. Saute for 5-7 minutes or until starting to soften.
  4. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. 
  5. Spread butter onto one side of each tortilla, then sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Place tortilla, parmesan side down, into skillet. Add some cheese, then pork, pepper mixture and a little cilantro to the tortilla. Top with another parmesan-coated tortilla.
  6. Flip when bottom side is nicely browned and cook until the other side is also browned. Cut into four squares and serve immediately.

Notes

Toss a pre-marinated roast in your Instant Pot and use it to make the best quesadillas!

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1540Total Fat: 101gSaturated Fat: 45gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 47gCholesterol: 350mgSodium: 1465mgCarbohydrates: 62gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 92g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.

Try these delicious south of the border recipes next!

Kristy Bernardo
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