Cheesy Beef Quesadillas
Cheesy Beef Quesadillas
Ingredients
For the Beef Filling
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic, cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup water
For the Quesadillas
- 8 flour tortillas, 8-inch
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, or cooking spray, as needed
For Serving (Optional)
- 1/2 cup salsa, for serving
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, plain, for serving
- 1 avocado, sliced, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the beef and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
⏱️ 4 min - 3
Stir in the tomato paste and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly. Remove the beef filling from the skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Wipe the skillet clean. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil (or spray with cooking spray) over medium heat. Place one flour tortilla in the skillet.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese and 2 tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese over half of the tortilla. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the beef filling over the cheese.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Fold the other half of the tortilla over the filling to create a half-moon shape. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Remove the cooked quesadilla from the skillet and repeat with the remaining tortillas, beef filling, and cheese, adding more olive oil or cooking spray as needed.
⏱️ 10 min
- 8
Cut each quesadilla into 2-3 wedges and serve immediately with salsa, Greek yogurt, and sliced avocado, if desired.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cheesy Beef Quesadillas
Ingredients
For the Beef Filling
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic, cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup water
For the Quesadillas
- 8 flour tortillas, 8-inch
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, or cooking spray, as needed
For Serving (Optional)
- 1/2 cup salsa, for serving
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, plain, for serving
- 1 avocado, sliced, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the beef and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
⏱️ 4 min - 3
Stir in the tomato paste and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly. Remove the beef filling from the skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Wipe the skillet clean. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil (or spray with cooking spray) over medium heat. Place one flour tortilla in the skillet.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese and 2 tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese over half of the tortilla. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the beef filling over the cheese.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Fold the other half of the tortilla over the filling to create a half-moon shape. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Remove the cooked quesadilla from the skillet and repeat with the remaining tortillas, beef filling, and cheese, adding more olive oil or cooking spray as needed.
⏱️ 10 min - 8
Cut each quesadilla into 2-3 wedges and serve immediately with salsa, Greek yogurt, and sliced avocado, if desired.
⏱️ 2 min