Ground Beef Quesadilla (One Pan)
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Quick and easy ground beef quesadilla recipe, homemade with simple ingredients in one pan over stovetop in 20 minutes. Loaded with Mexican beef and cheese!
These are the perfect go-to meal for lunch or dinner. They are crispy on the outside, ooey gooey on the inside, and full of juicy tender ground beef taco meat. Serve them at your next taco night, along with these Chicken Quesadillas (One Pan), the Best Cheese Quesadilla (One Pan), and Vegetarian Quesadilla (One Pan).
How to make beef quesadillas?
- Heat butter– Until it’s fully melted.
- Pan fry tortilla- Place one tortilla on top of the melted butter and pan-fry only one side until golden brown. Remove and keep aside.
- Pan fry second tortilla– Heat more butter and place second tortilla over all that butter.
- Add cheese– Sprinkle it evenly on top of the tortilla.
- Add ground beef– Spread meat on top of the cheese.
- Add more cheese– Sprinkle more cheese on top of all that meat.
- Cover– Place the pan-fried tortilla you prepared earlier on top of the cheese (brown side up). Press gently.
- Cook– Until cheese melts.
- Slice– Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter and enjoy!
What sides to serve with ground beef quesadilla recipe?
These are delicious on their own, but can be served with dips and salsas for some added flavor. Try one of these:
- Salsa Verde (Blender)
- Easy Guacamole Recipe (One Bowl)
- Mango Salsa (One Bowl)
- Corn Salsa (One Bowl)
- Pineapple Salsa (One Bowl)
- Pico De Gallo (One Bowl)
- Sour Cream
- Guacamole
- Cheese Sauce
- Queso Dip
Serve them alongside soups to make a more filling meal such as:
Vegetable sides are a lighter, healthier option such as:
- Mexican Corn Salad Recipe (One Bowl)
- Tomato Avocado Salad (One Bowl)
- Mexican Corn On The Cobb (One Pan)
- Grilled Corn On The Cobb
What toppings do you put inside a quesadilla?
There are endless possibilities to get as creative as you like. Use one of these topping ideas or multiple toppings
Vegetables– Such as frozen veggies or try these Vegetable Fajitas (One Pot).
Avocado– Should be ripe and diced. Some people prefer avocado sauce.
Rice– Try Cilantro Lime Rice or Pineapple Rice (One Pot).
Corn– Can be steamed or boiled.
Olives– Black olives taste the best.
Tomatoes- Make sure they are ripe and finely chopped.
Onions– Should be finely chopped.
Jalapenos– Can be deseeded/ deveined to minimize the spice factor.
Fresh herbs- Such as finely chopped cilantro or parsley.
Beans– Mexican refried beans or canned beans would both be great.
Variations
Try different beef fillings– Instead of ground beef, try corned beef, Steak Fajitas (One Pot) or even BBQ Shredded Beef (One Pot) or even this Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef as alternative options. They should be cooked beforehand though.
Try different cheeses- A blend of various cheeses should be used for best flavor. I highly recommend Mexican cheese blend or you can make your own blend of mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, Romano, Asiago or any other favorites.
Try other tortillas– Use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas. I like to use white tortillas, made with all-purpose flour. They are the softest!
Add veggies– Such as onions and green peppers or veggie fajitas.
Make it spicy- Add finely chopped jalapenos.
Storage
Can you freeze beef quesadillas? Yes! Prepare them, according to the directions below and let them cool down. Then, wrap them in saran wrap and freeze in an airtight container for up to 1 month. When you are ready to enjoy them, reheat.
Refrigerate them- They taste best and most crispy when served immediately. Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in the microwave or stovetop.
How to reheat quesadillas? If you are not serving immediately, you can keep them warm in the oven in a baking tray on the lowest heat setting. You can also reheat in the air fryer or stovetop to make crispy again.
Tips and Techniques
Grease pan for quesadilla– To prevent the tortilla from sticking and ripping. Either oil or butter can be used.
Watch the heat- The best quesadillas are crispy and golden brown on the outside and not burnt or scorched. Medium heat works best for my stovetop but you may need to adjust.
Use one tortilla- Instead of using two tortillas, you can also just use one tortilla and fold it in half. This is a great serving size for little kids.
Use nonstick pan– Because this prevents tortillas from burning and sticking to the pan.
Butter vs. Oil- I recommend butter because it has a rich flavor and aroma. Just make sure it’s unsalted to prevent the meal from becoming too salty.
Use freshly shredded cheese– It tastes the best and also melts the best without a chalky after-taste.
More One Pot Mexican Meals
- Ground Beef Tacos (One Pot)
- Shredded Turkey Tacos (With Thanksgiving Leftovers)
- Shredded Chicken Tacos (One Pot)
- Salsa Chicken (One Pot)
- Salsa Verde Chicken (One Pot)
One Pan Ground Beef Qauesadilla
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Butter, Unsalted
- 2 Flour tortillas, 9 inches
- 3/4 cup Mexican cheese blend, Shredded
- 3/4 cup Mexican ground beef taco meat , Leftovers
Instructions
- Heat half the butter in nonstick pan over medium heat.
- Place one tortilla on top the the melted butter and pan fry one side only.
- Remove it from pan and keep aside.
- Heat remaining butter and place the other tortilla in the pan.
- Sprinkle half the cheese on top of the tortilla.
- Top it off with Mexican ground beef.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
- Place the fried tortilla (brown side up) on top of the fillings.
- Press them together gently with a spatula.
- Continue cooking until the cheese is melted and the bottom tortilla is golden brown too. There is no need to flip it. Lower the heat, if pan starts to become too hot.
- Remove from pan and use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut slices. Enjoy!
Notes
- Read all my tips above.
- Tastes best and crispy when served immediately. Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in the microwave or stovetop.
Nutrition
Happy cooking everyone!
