Description
This Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas recipe brings together seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar cheese, and warm flour tortillas for a delicious and satisfying Mexican-American main course. Perfect for an easy dinner, these quesadillas are crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and served with classic sides like sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup salsa
For the Quesadillas
- 2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 8 medium flour tortillas
- 2 tablespoons butter or oil for cooking
- Sour cream, guacamole, and extra salsa for serving
Instructions
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks to ensure even cooking.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the onion is softened and fragrant.
- Season the Beef Mixture: Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Then add the salsa and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until everything is well combined and heated through. Remove from heat.
- Prepare the Quesadillas: Heat a separate skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly grease it with butter or oil. Place one flour tortilla on the skillet.
- Assemble: Sprinkle a layer of shredded cheese on the tortilla, add a portion of the beef mixture on top, then add another layer of cheese and cover it with a second tortilla.
- Cook until Golden and Melty: Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the bottom tortilla turns golden brown. Carefully flip the quesadilla and cook another 2 to 3 minutes until the second side is golden and the cheese inside melts completely.
- Repeat: Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas and filling.
- Serve: Slice quesadillas into wedges and serve warm with sour cream, guacamole, and extra salsa on the side.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting quality and texture.
- Avoid overfilling the quesadillas to make flipping easier and prevent tearing.
- Optional: Add sautéed bell peppers or jalapeños to the beef mixture for extra flavor and heat.
