Description
A fun and juicy twist on burgers and quesadillas, featuring browned ground beef and melted cheese in a crispy tortilla.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 for best flavor and juiciness)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or American cheese (or a mix)
- Optional: 8–12 pickle slices
- Optional: 1/4 cup diced onions (raw or lightly sautéed)
- Optional: Burger sauce for serving (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Start by seasoning your ground beef. Place the beef in a mixing bowl and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix lightly with your hands or a spoon just until the seasonings are distributed.
- Warm up your skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
- Divide the seasoned beef into four small handfuls. Each portion will become the smashed patty inside a single tortilla.
- Lay a tortilla flat on your work surface. Take one small handful of seasoned beef and press it directly onto one half of the tortilla.
- Place the filled tortilla on the hot skillet, beef side down. Press gently with a spatula to encourage contact and browning.
- Cook the beef side down for 2–3 minutes, until well browned around the edges.
- Flip the tortilla so the meat side faces up. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup shredded cheese over the cooked meat.
- Add pickles or diced onions now if using.
- Fold the tortilla in half to cover the meat and cheese, forming a half-moon shape.
- Grill the folded quesadilla on both sides until golden and crispy and the cheese melts, about 1–2 minutes per side.
- Remove the quesadillas from the skillet and let them rest for a minute. Slice each into wedges and serve hot with burger sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
For best results, use ground beef with some fat (80/20) to keep the filling juicy. Adjust heat to avoid burning the tortillas before the cheese melts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: quesadillas, smashburger, comfort food, easy dinner, beef recipe