These Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas are tasty and simple to make! With the crazy chaotic world that we live in nowadays, it’s so nice to have a reliable recipe that you know is going to knock it out of the park, every single time!
The best part about this recipe is that the family actually likes to hop in and help. Anytime I can get them cooking with me in the kitchen, it’s always a good sign.
The way I see it, when they take interest in a recipe, it means that they’re also going to eat that recipe without issues as well. That means fewer leftovers and wasted food to have to deal with and I’ll be keeping my “gold metal status” as head chef in the house, too!
Are these cheesy ground beef quesadillas spicy?
They can be! We add jalapenos to this recipe but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I just like the added heat but you can totally make them milder if you want (or if you really want to kick up the heat, you can add in ghost pepper instead).
The other safe way to make this is to leave the spiciness out of the recipe completely and just have them set aside for toppings. That way, each person eating them can decide if they want to make theirs spicy or not.
How do you fry tortillas without burning them?
This is just something that you’ll have to practice and get used to. I will tell you a little hint though…Don’t get sidetracked when you’re frying them. Don’t multi-task and try to cut up onions or anything else during this time. Just hold the spatula in your hand, and gently lift up the edges to check it every couple of seconds. This is the only fool-proof way to make certain that you aren’t burning your tortilla on the stove.
Can you use corn tortillas for this recipe?
You can, but the texture of the flour tortillas seem to go over a bit better. Corn tortillas are great for a smaller portion size but they tend to be a bit more fragile than flour tortillas.
They also won’t fry up quite the same way either, so you’re going to find that if you do use them for this recipe, you’re going to get quite a different look and texture than if you were to use flour tortillas. Why not experiment with both types and see which ones your family prefers?
What are some great topping ideas to put on top of quesadillas?
The toppings are half the fun! We like to set up a big “toppings bar” and let everyone have their pick! Some easy topping options to prepare and have on hand can be:
- Sour Cream
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Fresh Jalapenos
- Avocado
- Guacamole
- Salsa
See how many toppings there can be? You can even add some fresh lettuce on top to give your body some extra veggies, too!
How do you store leftover cheesy ground beef quesadillas?
If you’re lucky enough to have any leftover, you need to add them to a storage container with a lid. Make certain that they’re cooled completely before during so or they’re going to become soggy very fast.
If you feel that you can’t eat the leftovers in enough time, you can put them in a freezer-safe container or bag and store them for later as well. Then, when you’re ready to eat them again, just unthaw and reheat them in the microwave or oven.
Ingredients Needed To Make Ground Beef Quesadillas
- Lean ground beef
- Onions, garlic
- Cumin, pepper, salt
- Red pepper flakes
- Rotel®
- Diced jalapenos
- Black beans
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Flour tortillas
- Butter
(Actual measurements are in the recipe card below)
How To Make Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
- In a large frying pan or skillet, over medium low heat, cook ground beef with onions until there it is no longer pink and onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook for another minute or two.
- Drain grease, return to pan.
- Add cumin, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and jalapenos, half a can of Rotel® and black beans into meat mixture, stir.
- Continue cooking over medium heat for a few minutes until heated through.
- Using a large frying pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat.
- Place one tortilla in pan, add Monterey Jack cheese, then 3-4 tablespoons of meat mixture, followed by cheddar cheese on one half of tortilla.
- Fold in half and cook over medium heat until golden brown, then flip and cook the other side until cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining tortillas until all quesadillas are cooked.
- Cut each quesadilla in half or thirds, garnish with sour cream, sliced green onions, cilantro and avocado slices, optional.
Try These Delicious Ground Beef Quesadillas Today
Here are a few more delicious recipes that you can find on the blog:
- Cheesy Ground Beef Empanadas
- Chile Relleno Casserole
- Crock Pot Spicy Charro Beans
- Taco Pie Casserole
Have fun making this super simple and easy quesadilla recipe! It’s certain to become a weeknight favorite dinner!
Ground Beef Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup onions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 10 oz can Rotel®, drained (I used about ½ of can)
- 2 tbsp diced jalapenos
- 15 oz can black beans, drained, rinsed
- 3 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 flour tortillas, burrito size (about 8 inch)
- 2 tbsp butter, divided
- Optional: sour cream, green onions, cilantro, avocado
Instructions
- In a large frying pan or skillet, cook ground beef with onions over medium heat until there is no pink and onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook for another minute or two.
- Drain grease, return to pan.
- Add cumin, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and jalapenos, half a can of Rotel® and black beans into meat mixture, stir.
- Continue cooking over medium heat until heated through.
- Using a large frying pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat.
- Place one tortilla in pan, add Monterey Jack cheese, then 3-4 tablespoons of meat mixture, followed by cheddar cheese on one half of tortilla.
- Fold in half and cook over medium heat until browned, then flip and brown the other side. Repeat with the remaining ingredients until all quesadillas are cooked.
- Cut each quesadilla in half or thirds, garnish with sour cream, sliced green onions, cilantro and avocado slices, optional.
Here are a few pics that are the perfect size for pinning to Pinterest.
Enjoy, Terri
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When are the black beans added ?
Thanks Clare, I fixed it. :)