The Best Ground Beef Quesadillas Recipe
One evening, I needed to make something quick that my family would actually eat without complaints. I had some ground beef in the fridge, tortillas in the pantry, and plenty of cheese. Instead of making tacos or burgers, I decided to try quesadillas.That first batch disappeared in minutes. The crispy tortillas, melted cheese, and seasoned beef were the perfect combination. Now, these ground beef quesadillas are one of my go-to meals for busy nights. They’re easy, filling, and always a hit.
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Cutting board and knife
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Griddle or second skillet for cooking quesadillas
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (85% lean)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 flour tortillas (8-inch size)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking)
- Optional toppings: Sour cream, salsa, guacamole, chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks (about 5–6 minutes).
- Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add the diced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Remove the beef mixture from heat and set aside.
- Lay a tortilla flat on a clean surface.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup of shredded cheese over half of the tortilla.
- Spoon a few tablespoons of the beef mixture on top of the cheese.
- Sprinkle a little more cheese over the beef, then fold the tortilla in half.
- Heat a small amount of olive oil in a clean skillet over medium heat.
- Place the folded quesadilla in the skillet and cook for 2–3 minutes until golden brown.
- Flip and cook for another 2 minutes until crispy and the cheese is melted.
- Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
- Slice each quesadilla into wedges.
- Serve warm with sour cream, salsa, or guacamole.