Cheesy Ground Beef Taco Quesadillas
Crispy tortillas filled with seasoned beef and melted cheese, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
For the beef filling
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons beef stock or broth
- 12 ounces shredded cheese blend divided
For the quesadillas
- 6 pieces flour tortillas seven to eight inches each
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
To serve
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
Instructions
Preparation
- Warm your pan over medium heat and add the olive oil.
- Add the ground beef and all the spices, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks.
- Cook until the beef is fully browned.
- Stir in the tomato paste and broth, then let cook for a minute or two.
- Remove from the pan and drain any extra grease.
Assembly and Cooking
- Lay out tortillas and spread most of the cheese on one half of each one.
- Add the warm beef on top and finish with the remaining cheese, then fold the tortillas into half-moon shapes.
- Heat vegetable oil in the same pan over medium-low heat.
- Cook two quesadillas at a time for about two minutes each side until golden.
- Keep finished quesadillas warm in a low oven while cooking the rest.
Notes
Let the cheese melt slowly over medium-low heat for best results. You can switch the cheese blend for different flavors like pepper jack or sharp cheddar. Use leftover taco beef for an easier option.