Description
These Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas are a delicious and easy-to-make Mexican-inspired main course featuring seasoned ground beef and melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses folded inside warm flour tortillas. Perfect for a quick dinner, they are served hot with optional toppings like sour cream, salsa, or guacamole for added flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
Cheese and Tortillas
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 2 tablespoons butter or oil for cooking
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Guacamole
Instructions
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon to ensure even cooking.
- Add Onion and Garlic: Stir in the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking for 2-3 minutes until they soften and become fragrant.
- Season the Meat Mixture: Sprinkle the chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper over the beef mixture. Stir well to combine all the flavors.
- Add Tomato Sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and cook for another 2 minutes, letting the mixture thicken slightly. Remove the skillet from heat once done.
- Prepare the Quesadillas: Heat a separate skillet over medium heat and melt a small amount of butter or oil. Place one flour tortilla in the skillet and evenly sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over one side.
- Add Beef Mixture and Fold: Spoon half of the prepared beef mixture on top of the cheese-covered side of the tortilla. Fold the tortilla in half carefully to enclose the filling.
- Cook Until Golden and Melted: Cook the folded quesadilla for 2-3 minutes on each side until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese inside is fully melted. Repeat this process with the remaining tortillas, cheese, and beef mixture.
- Serve: Serve the quesadillas hot, garnished with your choice of optional toppings like sour cream, salsa, or guacamole for extra flavor.
Notes
- For extra flavor and texture, add diced bell peppers or jalapeños to the beef mixture during cooking.
- Use a non-stick skillet to prevent the quesadillas from sticking while cooking.
- If preferred, quesadillas can be baked in a preheated oven at 400°F (205°C) for 8-10 minutes as an alternative to stovetop cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
