Cheesy Beef Quesadillas (Print)
Golden tortillas filled with spiced ground beef and melted cheddar for a quick Tex-Mex delight.
# What You Need:
→ Filling
01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 pound ground beef
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce
→ Quesadillas
11 - 8 medium flour tortillas
12 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
13 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
→ To Serve (optional)
15 - Sour cream
16 - Salsa
17 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
18 - Lime wedges
# How to Make:
01 - Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened.
02 - Incorporate minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, for 5 to 6 minutes until evenly browned.
04 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to release flavors.
05 - Add tomato sauce, stir thoroughly, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
06 - Wipe skillet clean and return to medium heat.
07 - Place one tortilla on a flat surface. Sprinkle a mixture of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over half the tortilla. Spoon approximately one quarter of the beef filling atop the cheese, then add additional cheese before folding the tortilla in half.
08 - Melt a small amount of butter in the skillet. Cook the folded tortilla for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and cheese is melted inside.
09 - Continue with remaining tortillas and beef mixture, cooking each until crisp and thoroughly heated.
10 - Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve immediately topped with optional sour cream, salsa, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It’s the kind of dish that feels like a warm secret you can’t wait to share.
- Melty cheese and savory beef wrapped in crisp tortillas make it an instant favorite any night of the week.
02 -
- Don’t rush folding the quesadilla or you’ll lose precious filling juices as they cook.
- Using a mix of cheeses transformed the texture so that gooeyness is always guaranteed.
03 -
- Let the cheese melt fully on one side before flipping to get that perfect golden crust without tearing.
- Adding a touch of butter to the skillet edges keeps tortillas crispy without burning.