Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
These Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas are filled with juicy, seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar and mozzarella cheese, all tucked inside crispy, golden flour tortillas. They're easy to make in a skillet and ready in about 30 minutes, making them perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, a satisfying lunch, or a casual family meal.
If you love cheesy quesadillas, you'll also enjoy these Easy Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas and these crispy Cream Cheese Chicken Flautas, both perfect for an easy lunch or dinner.
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Why You'll Love These Quesadillas
Easy to customize: Serve them with salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or your favorite toppings for a meal everyone can enjoy.
Quick and easy to make: These beef quesadillas come together in about 30 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights.
Extra cheesy and delicious: A combination of cheddar and mozzarella creates a gooey, melty cheese filling in every bite.
Packed with flavor: Seasoned ground beef and a simple blend of spices make these quesadillas hearty and satisfying.
Crispy on the outside: Cooking the flour tortillas in a skillet gives them a golden, crispy exterior while keeping the filling warm and cheesy.
Key Ingredients
Fresh cilantro: A little chopped cilantro adds a fresh, herby finish to the beef filling.
Ground beef: Use 1 pound of ground beef as the hearty, flavorful base for these quesadillas. Lean ground beef works well because it keeps the filling from becoming too greasy.
Flour tortillas: Six 8-inch flour tortillas are perfect for holding the seasoned beef and melted cheese. They become golden and crispy when cooked in a lightly greased skillet. If you enjoy easy tortilla recipes, try these Taco Tortilla Roll Ups.
Tomato sauce: This adds moisture and flavor to the ground beef filling, helping the spices come together without making the mixture too dry.
Mozzarella and cheddar cheese: A combination of shredded mozzarella and cheddar gives these quesadillas the best of both worlds: stretchy, melty cheese and a rich, sharp cheddar flavor. If you're a fan of cheesy appetizers, you'll also love these Jalapeño Poppers.
Seasonings: Salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, and dried oregano give the ground beef a delicious Tex-Mex-inspired flavor without making the recipe complicated.
How to Make Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
Step 1: Cook the ground beef.
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula, until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess grease if needed.
Step 2: Season the beef.
Add the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, and dried oregano. Stir well to coat the beef evenly with the seasonings.
Step 3: Add the tomato sauce.
Stir in the tomato sauce and cook for a few minutes, allowing the flavors to combine and the excess liquid to evaporate. The filling should be moist but not watery. Stir in the chopped cilantro, then remove the skillet from the heat.
Step 4: Assemble the quesadillas.
Place a flour tortilla on a clean surface. Spread some shredded mozzarella and cheddar over one half of the tortilla, add a portion of the seasoned ground beef, and top with a little more cheese. Fold the tortilla in half to enclose the filling. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
Step 5: Cook until golden and crispy.
Lightly grease a clean skillet with oil and heat it over medium to medium-low heat. Place a folded quesadilla in the skillet and cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until the tortilla is golden brown and crispy and the cheese has melted. Adjust the heat as needed to prevent the tortilla from browning too quickly. Repeat with the remaining quesadillas, adding a little more oil if necessary.
Step 6: Slice and serve.
Transfer the cooked quesadillas to a cutting board and let them rest for a minute. Cut each one into wedges and serve warm with your favorite toppings, such as salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
Tips for Making the Best Beef Quesadillas
- Drain excess grease from the beef: If your ground beef releases a lot of fat, drain the excess before adding the seasonings and tomato sauce. This helps prevent greasy quesadillas and keeps the tortillas from becoming soggy.
- Let the filling thicken: After adding the tomato sauce, cook the beef mixture until most of the excess liquid has evaporated. The filling should be moist and flavorful, but not watery, so the tortillas stay crispy.
- Shred the cheese yourself: Freshly shredded mozzarella and cheddar melt more smoothly than many pre-shredded varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents. If you love cheddar cheese, try this creamy No Bake Cheddar Bacon Dip for an easy appetizer.
- Don't overfill the tortillas: Spread the beef and cheese evenly over one half of each tortilla, leaving a little space around the edges. Too much filling makes the quesadillas harder to fold and flip without spilling.
- Cook over medium to medium-low heat: A skillet that's too hot can brown the tortillas before the cheese melts. Moderate heat gives the cheese time to melt while the tortillas turn golden and crispy.
- Flip carefully: Once the bottom is golden and crisp, use a wide spatula to flip the quesadilla. Press it gently with the spatula to help the filling hold together, but don't squeeze out the cheese.
- Let them rest before slicing: Transfer the cooked quesadillas to a cutting board and let them rest for a minute or two before cutting into wedges. This helps the melted cheese settle and keeps the filling from spilling out.
- Serve immediately for the best texture: Quesadillas are crispiest straight from the skillet. If you're cooking several batches, place the finished ones on a wire rack instead of stacking them, so steam doesn't soften the tortillas.
What to Serve with Ground Beef Quesadillas
What to Serve with Ground Beef Quesadillas
Serve these cheesy ground beef quesadillas hot with salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or your favorite toppings. For a fun Mexican-inspired meal, pair them with this flavorful Hot Mexican Street Corn Dip.
If you're planning a game-day spread or a casual get-together, this creamy Baked Spicy BLT Dip is another delicious option to share with family and friends.
Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas FAQs
Yes! You can prepare the seasoned ground beef filling up to 3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you're ready to eat, assemble the quesadillas with the cheese and tortillas, then cook them in a skillet until golden and crispy. For the best texture, cook the quesadillas just before serving.
Let the leftover quesadillas cool, then place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, place them in a skillet over medium-low heat for a few minutes on each side until heated through and crispy again. You can also reheat them in an air fryer. Avoid the microwave if you want to keep the tortillas crisp.
Yes! Let the cooked quesadillas cool completely, then wrap them individually and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 2 months for the best quality. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in a skillet or air fryer until hot and crispy.
Cheddar and mozzarella are a great combination for these beef quesadillas. Cheddar adds a rich, savory flavor, while mozzarella melts beautifully and creates a stretchy, cheesy filling. Monterey Jack or a Mexican cheese blend are also good alternatives.
Drain excess grease from the ground beef and let the tomato sauce cook down until the filling is moist but not watery. Avoid overfilling the tortillas, and cook the quesadillas in a lightly greased skillet over medium to medium-low heat. Once cooked, place them on
a wire rack instead of stacking them to help keep the tortillas crispy.
If you love easy tortilla appetizers, try these Mexican Tortilla Roll Ups, flavorful Crack Chicken Tortilla Roll Ups, and tangy Dill Pickle Tortilla Roll Ups for more delicious bites perfect for parties, game days, and family gatherings.
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Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 6 flour tortillas – 8 inch size
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- ½ tbsp. cilantro chopped
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- oil to grease pan
Instructions
- Start by cooking ground beef, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, dried oregano in a larger pan, at a medium temperature, for about 10 minutes, or until beef turns brown.
- Then, add tomato sauce and chopped fresh cilantro and continue cooking for 5-7 minutes and then remove from heat.
- Next, spread shredded cheddar cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese over a ½ of a tortilla, then put ground beef filling over it, finishing with one more mozzarella and cheddar cheese layer.
- After that, fold tortilla in half and cook it in the non stick skillet. Two tortillas can be cooked at the same time, for about 2 minutes at each side.
- Quesadillas are done when both sides turn golden brown and cheese melts.
- Keep quesadillas in heated oven to keep them warm and serve with guacamole sauce, salsa or sour cream.
Notes
- They can be kept in a fridge, in a hermetically sealed container, for 2-3 days.
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Made these for dinner and they were a hit! The beef was full of flavor, and the melted cheese made them so good. I love how crispy the tortillas get in the skillet. Definitely making these again!