Easy Ground Beef Quesadillas: Quick Weeknight Meal (Print Version)
Easy Ground Beef Quesadillas are your quick weeknight hero! Get warm, cheesy, and satisfying quesadillas with our simple recipe & personal tips.
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Dietary: Contains Dairy, Gluten
# Ingredients:
→ Hearty Base
01 -
1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 preferred)
02 -
8 large (burrito-size) flour tortillas
03 -
2 cups (225g) shredded cheese (Cheddar & Monterey Jack blend)
→ Flavor Powerhouses
04 -
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
05 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
06 -
2 tbsp taco seasoning
07 -
1 tbsp tomato paste
→ Fresh Fixings
08 -
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (plus more for garnish)
09 -
2 limes, cut into wedges
→ Optional Yum
10 -
Sour cream, for serving
11 -
Salsa, for serving
12 -
Avocado or guacamole, for serving
# Instructions:
01 -
Okay, first things first: grab a large skillet, something with a bit of space. Heat it over medium-high heat. Toss in your ground beef and break it up with a spoon. You want it to brown nicely, no pink left, you know? This is where your kitchen starts to smell amazing, honestly. Drain any excess grease once it's cooked through – I usually just tilt the pan and scoop it out with a spoon, or use paper towels, oops, sometimes I forget and it gets a bit greasy, but it's fine!
02 -
Now, reduce the heat to medium. Toss in your finely diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté them with the cooked beef for about 3-5 minutes, until the onion softens and gets translucent, and that garlic smells absolutely divine. This step is where the base of your incredible Easy Ground Beef Quesadillas really develops, so don't rush it. I've totally burned the garlic before by having the heat too high – learn from my mistakes, keep it gentle!
03 -
Sprinkle in your taco seasoning and stir in that little bit of tomato paste. Give it a good stir, making sure everything is evenly coated. Let it cook for another minute or two, letting those spices bloom. Oh, the aroma! It’s incredible. You might need a splash of water if it looks too dry, just a tablespoon or two to help it come together. This is where the magic really happens for your Easy Ground Beef Quesadillas, honestly, it's a flavor explosion!
04 -
Wipe out your skillet or grab a clean one. Lightly spray or brush one side of a tortilla with a little oil. Place it oil-side down in the skillet over medium heat. Now, here's my personal trick: sprinkle a thin layer of cheese over one half of the tortilla first. This creates a barrier so your beef doesn't make the tortilla soggy. Then, spoon a generous amount of your seasoned ground beef mixture over that same cheesy half. Top with more cheese, because, why not? I always overfill mine, oops, but it just means more goodness!
05 -
Once the cheese on the bottom has started to melt and the tortilla is lightly golden (peek underneath!), carefully fold the empty half of the tortilla over the filling. Press down gently with a spatula. Let it cook for another 2-3 minutes per side, until both sides are golden brown and the cheese is gloriously, completely melted. Sometimes I get impatient and flip too early, resulting in a slightly less golden tortilla, but it still tastes amazing!
06 -
Carefully transfer your perfectly golden, cheesy Easy Ground Beef Quesadillas to a cutting board. Let it rest for a minute (if you can resist!) before slicing into wedges. Garnish with fresh cilantro and those lime wedges. Honestly, seeing that melted cheese pull as you cut into it? Pure satisfaction. Serve them immediately while they're warm and gooey. This is the moment you realize all that kitchen "chaos" was totally worth it!
# Notes:
01 -
Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking the quesadillas; cook them one at a time for best results, I learned this the hard way!
02 -
Reheat quesadillas in a dry skillet, toaster oven, or air fryer for crispiness; microwaving makes them rubbery, I've made that mistake!
03 -
For an extra crispy tortilla, brush a tiny bit of butter on the outside before cooking – it's a game-changer!
04 -
If you're out of taco seasoning, a blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, and oregano works surprisingly well, I've tried it!
# Equipment Needed:
01 -
Large skillet
02 -
spatula
03 -
cutting board
# Nutrition (Per Serving):
Calories: 450-550
Total Fat: 25-35g
Total Carbohydrate: 30-40g
Protein: 25-30g