So I think I may have been a bit overzealous with my new “feel your fears” mentality. I was feeling all amped to step out of my comfort zone and try new things that I didn’t account for the fact that sometimes a little research can actually be beneficial. You see, these Sweet Potato and Pesto Chicken Quesadillas were actually supposed to be pulled pork enchiladas….I’ll explain.
I have an irrational fear of pork. I love the taste of pulled pork, but truth be told I didn’t try it until a few years ago. My best guess would be that growing up in a home where we didn’t eat pork or ham and only turkey bacon caused me to develop negative associations with these meats. And then I grew up and ditched my house rules and discovered that when done well, pork tastes great. So I decided to dream big and throw some pork in the slow-cooker for my first attempt at pulled pork.
When I woke up the next morning to check on my loins, I was displeased to discovered they were burnt to a crisp. So I had to wing it for dinner and these came out so great that I did the fastest photo-shoot of all time (can you tell?) before running out the door to a Kewaza demo. I looked fear in the face and failed, but clearly I failed for a reason otherwise I may never have made these beauties!
Sweet Potato Pesto Chicken Quesadillas
Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Keywords: cook entree gluten-free sweet potatoes chicken
Ingredients (Serves: 3)
- 6 gluten-free tortillas (I used Udi’s)
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup pesto (I used store-bought)
- 1 sweet potato, chopped and diced
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheese (about 3-4 oz pre-grated)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Add diced sweet potato to a parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet and spray with coconut or olive oil.
3. Bake for 25 mins.
4. While sweet potato is baking, add chicken breasts to a large pot and fill with water until chicken is covered with 1 inch of water.
5. Bring water to a boil and once boiling, lower heat to a simmer and partially cover with lid. Let simmer for 10 mins.
6. Remove chicken from water and shred with two forks.
7. Place chicken in a large bowl and add pesto. Stir until all chicken is coated.
8. Once sweet potato is ready, take a 1/3 of it and place on one tortilla. Using the back of a fork mash sweet potato to make a thin layer.
9. Add 1/2 cup of chicken and top with 1/2 cup of grated cheese. Cover with another tortilla.
10. Repeat to make 2 other quesadillas.
11. Place 1 tortilla at a time in a large pan and cook over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes or until cheese has begun to melt. Flip and cook for another 2 mins.
12. Repeat for two other quesadillas.
13. Serve warm or store in refrigerator for several days.
Do you have a recent failure turned success? Any irrational food fears?
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52 Comments
Luv What You Do
February 23, 2014 at 6:53 pmI never thought to pair sweet potato and pesto. What a great idea!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 26, 2014 at 10:08 pmThank you!!!
Chelsea @ Chelsea's Healthy Kitchen
February 23, 2014 at 6:37 pmMy failures never turn into successes… they just end up with the food in the garbage and me making a tuna sandwich for dinner hahaha. These look fantastic though! I love pesto and I love sweet potatoes, but I’ve never thought to combine the two.
Kaitlyn @ Live Run Coffee
February 23, 2014 at 5:30 pmI CAN’T WAIT to try these. All of my favorites, sweet potatoes, pesto and cheese… rolled into one?! Um, I’m sold. Great blog by the way!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 26, 2014 at 10:07 pmThanks Kaitlyn!!! So sweet of you to say 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves
February 23, 2014 at 5:20 pmI’d say the risk yielded a delicious-looking reward! I am really digging the sweet potato + pesto combo.
Kat
February 23, 2014 at 4:42 pmI would eat these over pork ANY DAY!! Im not a big fan of pork either, but I have had some tenderloin before that was pretty good. These however, are totally rocking my world.
Alexis @ Hummusapien
February 23, 2014 at 3:28 pmBurnt loins?? What a travesty! I used to love me some pulled pork sammies back in the day. I freaking love quesadillas and I really don’t know why I never make them. Such a quick and easy din!
Becky @ Olives n Wine
February 23, 2014 at 1:10 pmBlech, I’ve never been a huge fan of pork myself. I just don’t really like the flavor! The only thing I like is a pork chop recipe that my mom makes 🙂 As for irrational food fears, I used to hate/be fearful of mushrooms but I honestly am not super picky in the realm of food so I don’t think I have anything to contribute to that question 😉
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 26, 2014 at 10:06 pmBut mushrooms are soooooo good! But I get it cause of the whole fungus thing!
Emily @smilemilegirl
February 23, 2014 at 11:36 amOh I’m drooling. These look so easy and delicious!! Yum!! Bookmarked. (:
Heather @ Run Like a G!
February 23, 2014 at 11:26 amEverything happens for a reason and this was for a great reason 🙂
Cassie
February 23, 2014 at 10:40 amLet’s not start with me and irrational food fears, because it’s most foods. I get anxiety if there aren’t vegetables. I have a deep fear of scurvy. I had the best pork of my life last night… omg. And I have to make these when I get home – I’ve done pumpkin in a quesadilla but never sweet potato. And never sweet potato + pesto. Why are you such a genius?
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 26, 2014 at 10:03 pmwhy do we have the same irrational fears?? I legit would call C everyday to ask him if he ate vegetables because I didn’t want him to develop scurvy.
Brittany
February 23, 2014 at 10:30 amI actually really freaking love when a recipe goes WAYY different than planned, but turns out just as epic. It’s like a mystery. These look good, and while I don’t eat meat at all..I would definitely go for the chicken over the pork. What..WHAT am I saying!? They look tasty…end of story.
Alex @ Kenzie Life
February 23, 2014 at 9:54 amI’d totally make a pesto quesadilla! It’s not even 8 am here but that sounds SO GOOD!!!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 26, 2014 at 10:01 pmIf I’m up before 10 on a Sunday it means bad things…;)
Alex @ Kenzie Life
February 26, 2014 at 10:13 pmI chuckled out loud at that one! I’ll explain in my next email! Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you!