Ground Beef Quesadillas

These Ground Beef Quesadillas are a fast and flavorful meal perfect for any busy weeknight. Juicy, seasoned ground beef is nestled between golden, crispy flour tortillas and lots of melty cheese. With just a handful of spices—chili powder, cumin, oregano—and a touch of tomato paste and broth, the filling is rich and savory without fuss. The quesadillas come together in about 30 minutes and make a satisfying, crowd-pleasing dish that’s easy to customize. Serve with favorite dips like sour cream, guacamole, or salsa to round out the meal.

Ingredients (Serves 4–6) 

• 1 lb ground beef (lean or extra‑lean)

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp chili powder

• ½ tsp ground cumin

• ½ tsp dried oregano

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp onion powder

• ½ tsp salt

• ¼ tsp ground cayenne (optional, for heat)

• 1 tbsp tomato paste

• 2 tbsp beef broth or water

• 12 oz (about 3 cups) shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend)

• 6 medium flour tortillas (7–8″)

• 2 tbsp vegetable or butter for cooking

• Optional for serving: salsa, sour cream, guacamole
  
  

Directions

1. Cook the beef: Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and break apart until browned, about 8–10 minutes.

2. Season: Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and cayenne. Cook 1–2 minutes more.

3. Finish filling: Mix in tomato paste and beef broth, simmer until absorbed; remove from heat.

4. Assemble quesadillas: Wipe skillet clean and reduce heat to medium-low. Lightly grease with butter or oil. Lay a tortilla flat, sprinkle cheese over half, top with beef mixture, then more cheese. Fold tortilla over.

5. Cook: Cook each quesadilla 2–3 minutes per side until golden and cheese has melted. Press gently and flip carefully.

6. Serve: Slice into wedges and serve warm with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
   
   

Nutritional Information (per serving, approx. 1 quesadilla if serving 6)

Calories: 514 kcal
Total Fat: 38 g (includes ~14 g saturated fat)
Cholesterol: 90 mg
Sodium: 965 mg
Total Carbohydrates: 18 g
Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Sugars: 3 g
Protein: 25 g