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Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

Enjoy a sweet and spicy lunch that’s ready in less than 30 minutes!



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recipe for Hawaiian BBQ chicken quesadillas

Your baby is developing all kinds of crazy amazing things during the second trimester. One of them is taste buds! This happens during week 14 of pregnancy, right in the early stages of your second trimester.


Did you know a mother’s diet can impact their baby’s food preferences while they are still in the womb?! My husband and I love spicy food, and I have always been a big fan of different flavors-Thai, Indian, Moroccan- you name it. While I fully anticipate a dinosaur chicken nuggets stage at some point in my child’s life, I do hope they end up being adventurous eaters. There are just so many incredible flavors to experience and I would hate for them to miss out!


These quesadillas are a great option for a lunch that comes together quickly and is full of bold flavors to wake up those little baby taste buds. You also get a nice dose of lean protein, calcium, and vitamin C!


cooking hawaiian bbq chicken quesadillas


What ingredients do I need for bruschetta chicken pasta salad?

  • Chicken breasts

  • BBQ sauce- Use your favorite homemade or store-bought variety

  • Pineapple- This can be fresh or canned, as long as it's chopped into small chunks.

  • Jalapeño

  • Red Onion

  • Tortillas- I used white flour, but you can absolutely swap those for whole wheat to incorporate some extra fiber.

  • Cheese- I recommend mozzarella, provolone, or pepper jack. Make sure whatever cheese you use is Pasteurized. Unpasteurized foods can lead to food-borne illness, which is especially serious when pregnant.


Helpful products for making this recipe:




What is the difference between a dice and a mince?


A mince is basically a very tiny dice. I like to use this with spicy or strong-flavored ingredients so you don’t get too big of a mouthful. For example, in this recipe, I recommend mincing the jalapeño and red onion because both are bold flavors.



Diced and minced red onions


Can I prep this recipe in advance?


Yes! You can cook and dice or shred your chicken the day before, and chop all of your pineapple and veggies. If you’re making BBQ sauce from scratch, you can prepare that beforehand as well.



What variations of this recipe can I do?


You can omit or increase the amount of jalapeño depending on your spice tolerance. Leftover shredded pork is a great alternative to chicken, and you can use either homemade BBQ sauce or your favorite store brand.


cooking hawaiian bbq chicken quesadillas


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Ingredients:

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

  • 1 tsp salt

  • ½ tsp black pepper

  • 4 tsp jalapeno, minced

  • ½ cup red onion, minced

  • 1 cup fresh or canned pineapple, diced

  • 1 cup prepared BBQ sauce (homemade or store-bought)

  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella, provolone, or pepper jack cheese

  • 4 large or burrito-sized tortillas


Directions:

  1. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper

  2. Heat 1 Tbsp of canola or vegetable oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium-low heat (or heat without oil if you’re using a nonstick skillet)

  3. Add the chicken and let it cook for about four minutes on each side, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees

  4. While the chicken is cooking, mince the red onion and jalapeño, and dice your pineapple into small chunks

  5. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and dice or shred once it's cool

  6. Turn the skillet up to medium heat and add the jalapeño, red onion, pineapple, chicken, and BBQ sauce. Stir everything together until combined

  7. Let the mixture cook until it's warmed through, about four minutes

  8. Heat a separate skillet that’s large enough to fit your tortillas over medium heat

  9. Heat 1 Tbsp of canola or vegetable oil in the skillet (omit if you’re using a nonstick skillet)

  10. Add one tortilla and spread one cup of the chicken mixture even across it

  11. Sprinkle one cup of shredded cheese evenly over the mixture

  12. Top with another tortilla and let it cook for about three minutes

  13. Flip and cook another three minutes or until the cheese is melted and there is a nice golden color on the bottom of the tortilla

  14. Remove the quesadilla and set it aside on a plate

  15. Repeat with the remaining ingredients

  16. Cut each quesadilla into fourths and serve




Sources:

  1. ​​Delahunt, A., Conway, M. C., Callaghan, S. L., et al. (2022). Maternal Dietary Quality During Pregnancy and Child Appetitive Traits At 5-Years-Old: Findings from The ROLO Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study. Appetite. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2022.106291.

  2. Howland, G. (2017). The Mama Natural Week-By-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth. Gallery Books.

  3. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, January 22). Do you know which foods to avoid when you're pregnant? Mayo Clinic. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-nutrition/art-20043844


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