Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
If you’re craving a hearty and satisfying meal that’s both quick and easy and bursting with flavor, these homemade ground beef quesadillas are the dinner you’re looking for. Savory ground beef is perfectly seasoned with taco spices and layered with gooey, melted cheese, and is surrounded by a perfectly crisp tortilla.
Both the kids and adults will love this meal. 🔥
It’s fast, totally customizable, and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand. (Love when that happens!)
Our whole family loves this meal. And there’s a lot to love. This quesadilla recipe is comforting and delicious, easy, and ready in 20 minutes. Made with simple ingredients, these family-friendly quesadillas are a weeknight winner. They’re…
😋 Seriously delicious: Crispy edges, melty cheese, and seasoned beef – this is major comfort food that is satisfying and always delicious.
🛒 Made with simple ingredients: This meal comes together with some pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients.
🔥 Golden and cheesy: The perfect skillet crisp, this quesadilla has layers of cheese and taco meat.
🥩 Protein-packed: Hearty enough for growing kids and hungry adults!
⏱️ 30-minute meal: Ideal for weeknights when you need something quick and easy.
🧑🍳 Customizable: Easy to add beans, veggies, swap cheeses, or use corn tortillas for a gluten-free option.
🥑 Taco night twist: Everyone’s favorite night, this is a fun twist.
Serve up the quesadillas with plenty of fresh toppings, creamy jalapeño sauce, and a simple and nutritious side like refried black beans or elote in a cup for a colorful, filling, and easy meal that the whole family will love.
This has turned into a regular meal at our house, we love it! –Kaye
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need some fresh ingredients and pantry staples to bring these tasty quesadillas to the table: ground beef, tomato paste, seasonings and spices, cheese, tortillas, and fresh toppings as desired.
- Cheese: Use pre-shredded cheese as a shortcut or shred your own for the BEST quesadilla. After a trip to Mexico, I started using queso asadero or queso Oaxacán in all of my quesadillas and nachos, but you can also use a Mexican cheese blend, cheddar cheese, or Monterey jack. The most important factor is that you pick a cheese that melts well.
Emily’s Tips & Tricks
- Pro tip: I like to double up the cheese layers, which will also help the ground beef stay tucked into the tortilla as well. So layer of cheese, ground beef, and another layer of cheese – cook until toasty.
- Shortcuts: Use your favorite taco seasoning to save a few minutes!
- Variations: You could make these with any ground meat. Ground turkey or chicken would also be delicious.
- Additions: Want to add some extras to your quesadilla? Veggies like onions or bell peppers would be delicious additions, as well as black beans or corn.
Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Tex Mex
Description
This easy ground beef quesadilla has layers of perfectly seasoned beef, melty cheese, and crispy tortillas. Quick and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 16 oz. shredded cheese
- 4 large tortillas (burrito size)
- Fresh toppings: lettuce, cilantro, salsa/tomato, sour cream, etc.
Instructions
- Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook 3-4 minutes, breaking up with a spoon.
- Add tomato paste, sea salt, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder to skillet and mix everything well. (Depending on fat content, add a splash of water if it’s dry.)
- Turn the heat down to low and cook for 3-4 more minutes, stirring frequently, until ground beef is cooked through. Set aside.
- Assemble quesadillas. In a large skillet over medium heat, layer 1/3 cup shredded cheese on one half of the tortilla. Top with 1/2 cup ground beef mixture and another 1/3 cup shredded cheese.
- Fold over top and cook for about 2-3 minutes, and when the cheese starts to melt, carefully flip over with large flipper and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Repeat with remaining 3 quesadillas.
- Cut into wedges and serve with toppings. (See topping ideas in post or below)
Notes
- You may not need all of the cheese, but I like to err on the side of having more than enough for a super cheesy quesadilla.
- Storage: These beef quesadillas are best served fresh. If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. For best results, reheat in a hot skillet until heated through. You can also microwave them, but the tortillas won’t be crispy.
- Ingredient notes: Use whatever type of ground beef you prefer. If you use a higher fat content, drain off some of the grease if necessary, after browning, before seasoning. You can also use ground turkey, ground chicken, or your favorite plant-based ground beef. Use large, burrito-sized flour tortillas (white or whole wheat). You can also use corn tortillas if you prefer the flavor. If you can find uncooked tortillas that need a quick sear before using, I highly recommend them!
- Prep ahead: You can make the taco meat a day in advance and then simply assemble quesadillas and cook!
- Serve with: Elote in a cup, refried black beans, summer corn and tomato salad.
Topping Ideas for Quesadillas
One of my favorite ways to elevate the simple quesadilla is by putting out a spread of fresh toppings. It’s a delicious and nutritious way to add flavor, color, crunch, and spice to this basic meal.
- Corn Salsa (Chipotle Copycat)
- Quesadilla Sauce (Taco Bell Copycat)
- Thinly sliced lettuce
- Sliced grape tomatoes
- Chopped red onion
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Pickled jalapeño peppers
- Favorite salsa
- Pico de gallo
- Sour cream
- Diced avocado
- Guacamole
- Lime juice
More Quesadilla Recipes
We are quesadilla-obsessed, and I have the recipes to prove it! You can take just about any protein and turn it into quesadillas, and we’ve done a lot of them here. Here are a few favorites:
About the Author
Emily Dingmann is a recipe developer, nutrition expert, and founder of My Everyday Table. She specializes in creating easy, healthy recipes that help busy parents feed their families well every single day, without the stress. With a degree in Nutrition and over 20 years of experience, Emily shares family-friendly meals that are practical, nourishing, and full of flavor. Learn more about Emily’s approach to everyday cooking and nutrition here.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
This post may contain affiliate links. They do not add any charge to you, but I will make a very small commission from them. I only link to products I use and recommend. Thank you for your support!
Wonderful recipe
Thank you!
Very Nice post
This has turned into a regular meal at our house, we love it!