Griddle Ham, Egg and Green Chile Breakfast Quesadillas
Heat a camp griddle over a two-burner stove on medium-low. Scramble 8 eggs with diced ham and green chiles until firm (160°F), then pile the mix and cheese into four flour tortillas. Fold, griddle 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden, and slice. Total time is about 30 minutes.
These are folded tortillas stuffed with scrambled eggs, ham, mild green chiles and a lot of melted cheese. The wide griddle top lets you cook the eggs first, then crisp two quesadillas at a time. It's a good way to feed a hungry group fast.
The filling can be prepped at home, so camp work is mostly scrambling, folding and flipping. Keep the heat medium-low. The tortillas brown slowly, and the cheese has time to melt before the outside burns.
Griddle Ham, Egg and Green Chile Breakfast Quesadillas
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- Medium-low flame (about 350°F griddle surface)
- Pack weight
- 4 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler required
- Two burners
- Low water
- A few dishes
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
Gear you'll need
- Flat-top or cast-iron griddle sized for a two-burner stove
- Camp stove with fuel and lighter
- Large mixing bowl and fork
- Wide metal spatula
- Instant-read thermometer
- Cutting board and knife
- Foil or a lid to keep the eggs warm
- Paper towels
Steps
-
Prep the fillings
Dice the ham, slice the green onions and drain the chiles. Crack the eggs into a bowl, add the water, a pinch of salt and pepper, and whisk with a fork until no streaks remain.
-
Heat the griddle
Set the griddle over medium-low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and spread it with a spatula.
-
Scramble the eggs
Pour the eggs onto one side of the griddle and scatter the ham and chiles over them. Stir and fold for 3 to 4 minutes, until the eggs are firm with no runny liquid. Check that they read 160°F on a thermometer.
-
Clear the griddle
Scoop the egg mix onto a clean plate and cover it with a lid or foil to keep it hot. Scrape the griddle and wipe it with a paper towel.
-
Build the quesadillas
Oil the griddle lightly with some of the remaining oil and lay two tortillas flat. Cover half of each with cheese, a quarter of the egg mix and some green onion, then add more cheese. Fold the empty half over.
-
Crisp and flip
Cook 2 to 3 minutes, press down gently with the spatula, then flip. Cook another 2 to 3 minutes until both sides are golden and the cheese is melted.
-
Repeat and slice
Move the first two to a plate and make the second batch with the remaining oil, tortillas and filling. Let each rest 1 minute, then cut into thirds.
-
Serve hot
Serve right off the griddle with salsa. Eat within an hour of cooking, and don't leave leftovers sitting out.
Trail Notes
At home, dice the ham, shred the cheese and slice the onions into separate zip bags. Crack the eggs into a leakproof bottle or jar, chill it, and use it within 2 days.
Keep eggs, ham and cheese at 40°F or below in a cooler with plenty of ice. Wash your hands and any utensils after touching raw egg, and don't reuse the egg bowl for serving.
No ham? Use a can of drained black beans and an extra handful of cheese for a vegetarian version. Cooked bacon crumbles also work if kept cold until cooking.
Scrape crumbs and cheese bits into a trash bag and pack them out. Carry dishwater at least 200 feet from water sources and scatter it after straining out food scraps.
Campers ask
Can I cook breakfast quesadillas on a griddle over a campfire?
Yes. Set a sturdy cast-iron griddle on a grate over a bed of medium coals, not open flame. Rotate it often, since coals heat unevenly.
How do I keep the tortillas from burning before the cheese melts?
Use medium-low heat and a thin layer of oil. If the outside browns too fast, slide the quesadilla to a cooler edge of the griddle and cover it with a lid or foil for a minute.
What temperature should scrambled eggs reach when camping?
Cook eggs until they reach 160°F and are firm with no runny parts. Keep cooked eggs hot until you build the quesadillas, and eat them within an hour.
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