Description
Savor the ultimate comfort food with The Best Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas—crispy tortillas packed with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and fresh veggies. This easy, customizable recipe is perfect for family dinners, quick lunches, or even game-day snacks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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.
Notes
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Freshly grated cheese melts better than pre-shredded cheese, which often contains anti-caking agents.
- Cook in Batches: Don’t overcrowd the skillet to ensure even browning and melting.
- Control the Heat: Medium heat is key—too high, and the tortillas may burn before the cheese melts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired