Description
A comforting and easy recipe for crispy quesadillas filled with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef (80/20 or 90/10 blend)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/4 cup beef broth (or water)
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
- 4 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
- 1.5 cups bright orange cheddar cheese (freshly grated)
- 1.5 cups white Monterey Jack cheese (freshly grated)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (or butter)
- 2 tbsp fresh green cilantro (finely chopped, for garnish)
- 1/2 cup smooth white sour cream (for dipping)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook until browned and crumbly, about 5-7 minutes, then drain any excess fat.
- Stir in the tomato paste, taco seasoning, and beef broth. Let this simmer for 2-3 minutes until well combined and fragrant.
- Layer on one half of each tortilla with the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. Top with a scoop of the beef mixture and add a bit more cheese on top.
- Fold each tortilla into half-moon shapes and toast them in the same skillet with heated vegetable oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side until they’re golden brown and the cheese melts.
- Allow the quesadillas to cool slightly before slicing into wedges. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with sour cream for dipping.
Notes
Feel free to customize with additional ingredients like jalapeños or bell peppers. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for easy slicing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesadilla
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg