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Home / Recipes

Caramelized Pineapple Chicken Quesadillas with Strawberry Salsa

35 minutes
5 from 1 vote
9 Comments
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by: Joanna Cismaru
06.10.14

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Caramelized Pineapple Chicken Quesadillas with Strawberry Salsa – perfect summertime eats! These quesadillas are loaded with flavors and make for a super simple meal!

Top shot of Caramelized Pineapple Chicken Quesadillas with Strawberry Salsa

Think about this combination for a second. Caramelized pineapple, chicken, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers and onions. All in a quesadilla! Coconut oil and cinnamon. Whaaat?

Strawberries and tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno peppers and lemon juice. This last combo in a spicy salsa. This may not be your typical quesadilla recipe, but it’s one that must go on your menu for this summer.

I honestly can’t think of a better recipe for summer, but I may be a bit biased here, I love quesadillas. I’d say about 80% of the time when I go to a restaurant I always tend to gravitate towards the quesadillas.

Caramelized Pineapple Chicken Quesadillas with Strawberry Salsa

But let’s talk a bit about caramelized pineapple. Ever tried it before? I can’t even begin to tell you how delicious it is. I caramelized the pineapple in coconut oil with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled over. You have to cook it for a few minutes until you get a nice brown color on it and it will get a bit sticky from the sugar it releases. But it’s just to die for. If you don’t want to make these quesadillas I really really urge you to try the pineapple. I can just imagine this pineapple over some good vanilla ice cream.

Now you might look at these quesadillas and think that they look a bit messy. But messy is good! Messy is yummy! Messy should make you go to your kitchen right now to makes these quesadillas. They’re cheesy and a bit spicy from the jalapeno, with a bit of BBQ flavor in there.

And that strawberry salsa. I dream about that salsa. If you’ve got preconceived notions about not liking fruit in your quesadillas or sandwiches or whatever, I think you might need to rethink that a bit. Cause this right here will make your tummy happy.

Caramelized Pineapple Chicken Quesadillas with Strawberry Salsa photo collage

If you guys love this recipe, and most importantly make it yourselves, please let us know. Leave a comment below and rate this recipe or take a picture and tag it #jocooks on Instagram so we can see it. I always love to see what you guys come up with!

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caramelized pineapple chicken quesadillas on a cutting board

Caramelized Pineapple Chicken Quesadillas with Strawberry Salsa

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 35 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 4
Print Pin Rate
Caramelized Pineapple Chicken Quesadillas with Strawberry Salsa - perfect summertime eats! These quesadillas are loaded with flavors and make for a super simple meal!

Ingredients

Quesadillas

  • 3 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 cups pineapple chunks cut into squares
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 onion sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper julienned
  • 1/2 small jalapeno pepper seeded and diced
  • 2 chicken breast boneless and skinless, I used rotisserie chicken, which I shredded
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese white, freshly grated
  • 1/2 cup cilantro fresh
  • 4 large tortillas I used corn and flour tortillas

Strawberry Salsa

  • 1 medium tomato chopped
  • 3/4 cup strawberries chopped
  • 1/2 onion finely diced
  • 1/2 jalapeno seeded and diced
  • 1/3 cup cilantro fresh
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp pepper or to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of the coconut oil. Add pineapple and toss with salt and cinnamon, cooking until caramelized and golden, flipping occasionally – about 6-8 minutes.
  • Place pineapple in a bowl and set aside; add another 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil, tossing in onions and peppers with a pinch of salt. Stir and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add chicken to skillet and cook until heated through. Remove chicken mixture from skillet and add to the bowl with pineapple.
  • Reduce the heat in the skillet to low and add another 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil. Place a tortilla down and sprinkle with a quarter cup of the cheese, chicken, the pineapple, onions and peppers, and cilantro, then add another 1/4 cup of cheese. Cook until tortilla is golden, then gently flip, keeping the ingredients inside, and cook until other side is golden. Repeat with remaining quesadilla, and serve with strawberry salsa.
  • For salsa, combine all ingredients together in a bowl and mix thoroughly.

Recipe Notes

Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1quesadillaCalories: 477kcal (24%)Carbohydrates: 53g (18%)Protein: 21g (42%)Fat: 21g (32%)Saturated Fat: 15g (94%)Cholesterol: 65mg (22%)Sodium: 473mg (21%)Potassium: 780mg (22%)Fiber: 5g (21%)Sugar: 45g (50%)Vitamin A: 1680IU (34%)Vitamin C: 89.7mg (109%)Calcium: 266mg (27%)Iron: 1.5mg (8%)
Course:Lunch
Cuisine:American, Mexican
Keyword:Pineapple Chicken Quesadillas
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!
Nutrition Facts
Caramelized Pineapple Chicken Quesadillas with Strawberry Salsa
Amount Per Serving (1 quesadilla)
Calories 477 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 15g94%
Cholesterol 65mg22%
Sodium 473mg21%
Potassium 780mg22%
Carbohydrates 53g18%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 45g50%
Protein 21g42%
Vitamin A 1680IU34%
Vitamin C 89.7mg109%
Calcium 266mg27%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Inspired from How Sweet It Is

More Delicious Quesadillas From My Kitchen

Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

Grilled Vegetable Quesadillas

Grilled Vegetable Quesadillas

Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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Comments

  1. Dew says

    October 18, 2016 at 8:54 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this and it was great..If you haven’t tried it you’re depriving your taste buds

    Reply
    • Fenne Kieken says

      October 19, 2016 at 9:05 am

      Love your comment. Thanks for commenting and trying the recipe and being a part of Jo Cooks

      Reply
  2. cheryl says

    February 2, 2016 at 5:43 pm

    Silly question but do you place a second tortilla on top of the mixture or just fold in half? Thanks

    Reply
    • jo says

      February 2, 2016 at 5:44 pm

      Either way works Cheryl, but here I just placed a second tortilla on top.

      Reply
  3. Simone says

    June 9, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    I made this recipe tonight and we loved it!! Will definitely make again.

    Reply
  4. Ami@NaiveCookCooks says

    June 13, 2014 at 5:03 pm

    This looks mouth watering delicious!

    Reply
  5. Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says

    June 10, 2014 at 6:39 pm

    I love this unique recipe! Mmmm caramelized pineapple….mmmm. Pinned! I definitely have to try these out! What a great combination!

    Reply
  6. Suné Moolman says

    June 10, 2014 at 6:30 am

    This looks beyond amazing.
    I’m salivating behind my computer – I cannot wait to try this!
    Thank you so much, it really does look delicious.

    Reply
    • jo says

      June 10, 2014 at 3:42 pm

      Thanks Sune 🙂

      Reply

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I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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