09/28/2010
Grub for Guys Home / Food & Drink Channel / Bullz-Eye Home
Quesadillas are versatile, easy to make and can be filling man-food. Here, we give you a breakfast version, a spicy chicken quesadilla and a cheeseburger version that will remind you of those trips to McDonald's as a kid (or now, if you're like many guys). Each recipe makes one quesadilla (one tortilla with filling, so two wedges), so multiply as you see fit – if you're hungry as hell, or if you are feeding a bunch of your buddies. Oh, and use a good quality tortilla, preferably one of those authentic Mexican brands.
A safety note: Usually, you should only spray a cold skillet with cooking spray and then heat it as needed. But for these recipes, you need to apply spray during the cooking process. Now remember that you are expelling oil from a spray can – think of a flamethrower from your favorite video game. Just watch the direction of the spray and keep it away from the burner. Also, when you wipe out the pan, remember to use a large enough towel to cover your hand and insulate it from the heat. Cloth is probably better than paper, but with either one, be careful to not fling hot grease out of the pan and onto you.
Basic Breakfast Quesadilla
After a night of drinking, or even if you're craving some good protein in the morning and don't want it with a side of grease, this egg-based quesadilla is just what you need. Serve it with salsa for dipping or just pour some salsa all over the top.
1 large flour tortilla
Cooking spray
1 large egg
A few slices bell pepper -- can be green but preferably red or yellow
2 to 3 Tbsp. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper
Salsa
DIRECTIONS
Spray a medium, nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Crack the egg in a small dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and then pour into skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until set and firm, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Remove to bowl and keep warm. Spray skillet again and add pepper slices. Stir fry until crisp-tender, about 2 to 3 minutes. Then wipe out the skillet (carefully, you bonehead!), and return it to the heat. Quickly assemble by placing egg, pepper slices and cheese in tortilla. Fold over and place in sprayed skillet. Spray top of quesadilla with cooking spray. Cook for about 2 minutes or until tortilla is brown, then flip over and continue cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes or until tortilla is brown and cheese has melted. Serve with salsa or hot sauce.
Spicy Chicken, Corn & Jalapeno Quesadilla
This is a good summer quesadilla with the abundance of corn, or even into September or October. Most guys like spice, too, so you can't go wrong with this one.
1 large flour tortilla
Cooking spray
1/2 chicken breast half, lightly pounded into ¼-inch thickness
Salt and pepper
1/2 ear corn, cooked and cut from cob
1 jalapeno pepper
2 to 3 Tbsp. shredded Mexican blend cheese
Salsa
Sour cream
DIRECTIONS
Spray a medium nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Sprinkle chicken breast with salt and pepper and cook, turning once, until browned and cooked through (no longer pink in middle). Cut into pieces and set aside. Slice jalapeno pepper, spray skillet with cooking spray again and cook pepper slices for 3 to 4 minutes. Wipe out skillet, and assemble quesadillas by placing chicken pieces, jalapeno, corn and cheese in tortilla. Fold over and place in skillet. Spray top of quesadilla with cooking spray. Cook for about 2 minutes or until tortilla is brown, then flip over and continue cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes or until tortilla is brown and cheese has melted. Serve with salsa or salsa and sour cream.
Cheeseburger Quesadilla
Seriously, this one was a home run when we tried it. It tastes like a fast food cheeseburger, but much healthier because, well, you made it yourself.
1 large flour tortilla
Cooking spray
1/4 lb. Ground beef
Salt and pepper
2 Tbsp. chopped onion
4 dill pickle slices
2 to 3 Tbsp. shredded American cheese
1 or 2 squirts of ketchup
DIRECTIONS
Heat medium nonstick skillet over medium heat and place beef and onion in skillet. Brown beef and onion, sprinkling with salt and pepper, about 5 minutes or until no longer pink, and then remove to a bowl to keep warm. Wipe out skillet, and assemble quesadillas by placing beef and onion mixture in the tortilla. Add pickle slices, cheese and the ketchup. Fold over and place in sprayed skillet. Spray top of quesadilla with cooking spray. Cook for about 2 minutes or until tortilla is brown, then flip over and continue cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes or until tortilla is brown and cheese has melted. Serve with extra ketchup for dipping.
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