Description
These Best Beef Quesadillas are a delicious and easy-to-make Mexican main course featuring seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, all enveloped in warm flour tortillas. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, they can be served with classic toppings like sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and fresh cilantro.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 4 large flour tortillas
- Cooking spray or 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Cook the Beef and Onions: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef and finely chopped onion. Cook together until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, about 5 to 7 minutes, breaking up the meat as it cooks.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant to allow the spices to bloom.
- Simmer with Tomato Sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and cook the mixture for another 2 minutes to combine flavors. Remove the skillet from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the Quesadilla Base: Heat a clean skillet over medium heat and lightly coat it with cooking spray or vegetable oil. Place one flour tortilla in the skillet as the base.
- Add Cheese and Beef Mixture: Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses evenly over the tortilla, then spread half of the cooked beef mixture on top. Add a little more cheese over the beef to help the tortillas stick together.
- Top and Cook: Place a second tortilla on top to form the quesadilla. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until the tortillas are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Cool and Slice: Remove the quesadilla from the skillet and let it cool for 1 minute before slicing it into wedges.
- Repeat and Serve: Repeat the cooking process with the remaining tortillas, cheese, and beef mixture to make the second quesadilla. Serve warm with optional toppings such as sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and chopped cilantro.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add chopped bell peppers or jalapeños to the beef mixture when cooking.
- Using a combination of cheeses like cheddar and Monterey Jack enhances the flavor and meltability.
- For a hands-off method, quesadillas can be baked in the oven at 375°F for 10 minutes until golden and melted.
- To make this gluten-free, substitute the flour tortillas with gluten-free tortillas.
