Description
These ground beef quesadillas are crispy on the outside, cheesy on the inside, and packed with savory, seasoned beef. They’re quick to make and perfect for weeknight dinners, lunches, or an easy crowd-pleasing meal.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 1½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
Optional Add-ins
- Diced onion
- Bell peppers
- Jalapeños
Optional Toppings
- Salsa
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat to prepare for cooking the beef.
- Cook the beef: Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through.
- Season the beef: Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 1–2 minutes to let the spices meld. Remove from heat.
- Prepare the skillet: Heat a clean skillet over medium heat to get ready for assembling the quesadillas.
- Assemble quesadilla: Place one tortilla in the skillet, sprinkle half of it with shredded cheese, then add a layer of the seasoned ground beef, and top with more cheese.
- Cook the quesadilla: Fold the tortilla in half and cook for 2–3 minutes per side until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is melted inside.
- Repeat: Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas and filling.
- Serve: Slice the quesadillas into wedges and serve warm with optional toppings like salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
Notes
- Drain excess grease from the beef for crispier quesadillas.
- Don’t overfill the quesadilla to make flipping easier.
- Great recipe for using leftover taco meat.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet for best texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
