Ground Beef Quesadillas

Ground Beef Quesadillas

from insanelygoodrecipes.com
30 min

Crispy, cheesy, and packed with savory seasoned ground meat, these ground beef quesadillas are a quick and satisfying meal, perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced (optional)
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely diced (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup beef broth or water
  • 8 large flour tortillas (7-inch diameter)
  • 3 cups shredded cheese (Mexican blend, cheddar, or Monterey Jack)
  • Salsa, guacamole, sour cream, etc., for serving

Directions

  1. 1

    Warm 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook until the meat is browned, breaking it up with a spoon.

  2. 2

    Add the garlic, bell pepper, and jalapeño to the skillet. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to toast the spices.

  3. 3

    Stir in the tomato paste and beef broth and simmer for 3-5 minutes until the mixture thickens and most of the liquid has cooked off. Remove from the pot from the heat.

  4. 4

    Lay the tortillas flat on a clean surface. Sprinkle a layer of shredded cheese over half of each tortilla. Spread a layer of ground beef mixture evenly over the cheese. Sprinkle another layer of shredded cheese on top of the ground beef.

  5. 5

    Fold the tortillas in half to create a half-moon shape. Repeat with remaining tortillas, filling, and cheese.

  6. 6

    Wipe the skillet with a paper towel and return to medium heat. Add the remaining oil and cook two quesadillas at a time (if they fit). Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese melts and the bottom turns golden. Carefully flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

  7. 7

    If needed, keep cooked quesadillas in a warm oven (200°F) until all the tortillas are cooked.

  8. 8

    Let the quesadillas rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing and serving hot. Enjoy!