These Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas are the perfect combination of flavorful, seasoned ground beef, gooey melted cheese, and fresh veggies all packed between crispy flour tortillas. With a balance of spinach or kale, melted cheddar and Havarti, and a touch of spice, this dish makes a delicious and easy weeknight meal. Serve it with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa for a complete, crowd-pleasing meal that’s sure to satisfy both kids and adults alike.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- Adjust the flavor with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper according to your liking.
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup roughly chopped spinach (or baby kale)
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro (optional)
- 4 teaspoons unsalted butter (divided)
- 8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Havarti cheese
- Guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and lime wedges (for serving)
Instructions:
Cook the Ground Beef:
- In a spacious skillet, warm 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and fully cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste, chopped spinach (or kale), minced garlic, and chili powder. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the spinach has wilted and the flavors are well combined.
- If using, stir in the fresh cilantro for added flavor. Remove from heat and set aside.
Assemble the Quesadillas:
- Lay out 4 of the flour tortillas on a flat surface. Sprinkle each tortilla with a mix of shredded cheddar and Havarti cheese (about ¼ cup of each cheese per tortilla).
- Divide the cooked ground beef mixture evenly over the cheese, then top with the remaining tortillas.
Cook the Quesadillas:
- In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of butter over medium heat. Place one quesadilla in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted. Add more butter to the skillet as needed between cooking each quesadilla.
- Repeat the process with the remaining quesadillas.
Serve:
- Slice the quesadillas into quarters and serve hot with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and lime wedges on the side for dipping.
Conclusion:
These Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas are crispy, cheesy, and bursting with flavor. The seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar and Havarti cheeses, and a hint of spinach or kale make for a nutritious yet indulgent dish. They’re perfect for a quick and satisfying meal that’s sure to be a hit with the whole family.
Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
A delicious, easy-to-make quesadilla packed withseasoned ground beef, cheddar, and Havarti cheeses, perfect for a satisfyingmeal with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream on the side.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- Adjust the flavor with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper according to your liking.
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup roughly chopped spinach or baby kale
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro optional
- 4 teaspoons unsalted butter divided
- 8 8-inch flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Havarti cheese
- Guacamole sour cream, salsa, and lime wedges (for serving)
Instructions
Cook the Ground Beef:
- In a spacious skillet, warm 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and fully cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste, chopped spinach (or kale), minced garlic, and chili powder. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the spinach has wilted and the flavors are well combined.
- If using, stir in the fresh cilantro for added flavor. Remove from heat and set aside.
Assemble the Quesadillas:
- Lay out 4 of the flour tortillas on a flat surface. Sprinkle each tortilla with a mix of shredded cheddar and Havarti cheese (about ¼ cup of each cheese per tortilla).
- Divide the cooked ground beef mixture evenly over the cheese, then top with the remaining tortillas.
Cook the Quesadillas:
- In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of butter over medium heat. Place one quesadilla in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted. Add more butter to the skillet as needed between cooking each quesadilla.
- Repeat the process with the remaining quesadillas.
Serve:
- Slice the quesadillas into quarters and serve hot with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and lime wedges on the side for dipping.