Description
This Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas recipe features a flavorful blend of seasoned ground beef, sautéed onions, and melted cheddar cheese, all wrapped in warm flour tortillas and crisped to golden perfection. Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal, these quesadillas are packed with savory spices and a touch of sweetness from corn and salsa, providing a delicious Tex-Mex experience that’s easy to make in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Filling
- ½ teaspoon olive oil (or other cooking oil)
- ¼ onion, diced
- 1 pound ground beef (90/10 lean or 80/20)
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ cup salsa
- 1 cup frozen corn
Quesadillas
- 8-inch flour tortillas
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Brown Beef and Sauté Onions: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and sauté until softened and lightly browned. Then add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Make Filling: Reduce heat to low. Stir in taco seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, tomato paste, salsa, and frozen corn to the skillet. Increase heat back to medium-high and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the corn is heated through, stirring occasionally.
- Assemble Quesadillas: Lay one tortilla flat on a cutting board. Sprinkle a layer of shredded cheese evenly across half of the tortilla. Top the cheese with a generous portion of the beef mixture, then add another layer of cheese on top. Fold the tortilla in half over the filling to create a half-moon shape. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
- Cook Quesadillas: Heat a clean skillet over medium-high heat and lightly grease it with cooking spray or a small amount of oil. Place each folded quesadilla in the skillet and cook until golden brown and crispy on both sides, flipping carefully to avoid spilling the filling. This should take about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Serve: Remove quesadillas from the skillet. Slice each into halves or quarters and serve hot, optionally with sour cream, guacamole, or extra salsa on the side.
Notes
- Use lean beef (90/10) for less grease, or 80/20 for a juicier filling.
- Substitute corn with black beans for a different texture and added protein.
- You can customize the level of cheese based on personal taste or dietary preferences.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free tortillas.
- Cook quesadillas on medium heat to avoid burning the tortillas before the cheese melts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
