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Cheesy ground beef quesadillas are my go-to meal for busy nights. A quick and easy weeknight meal made with ground beef, taco seasoning, and shredded cheese of your choice! Made in under 20 minutes.
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If you love this recipe, you’ll also love these easy ground beef recipes: ground beef tacos, sheet pan mini meatloaves, Instant Pot bolognese, ground beef taquitos, Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs, Instant Pot meatballs and sauce, and stuffed peppers.
What you’ll love about this recipe
- FAST & EASY – My beef quesadillas recipe comes together quickly and easily. It’s perfect for a busy night when you don’t want to cook a complicated meal.
- FAMILY FAVORITE – Our family is a huge fan of quesadillas! We love spinach and cheese, bean and cheese, and fajita veggie style. This beef version is a favorite with everyone, even picky eaters.
- EASY TO CUSTOMIZE – Use different fillings other than ground beef: ground turkey, ground chicken, or refried beans. Use flour tortillas, corn tortillas, low-carb tortillas, or gluten-free tortillas.
Simple Ingredients Needed
This easy quesadilla recipe makes 4 quesadillas using pantry staple ingredients.
- 1lb ground beef (85/15 or 90/10 fat content)
- 1 package of taco seasoning or 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
- 1/3 cup water
- 4 large flour tortillas (6 or 8-inch size)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Spray cooking oil (I use avocado oil spray)
My favorite tortilla brands: Siete almond flour, Maria & Ricardo, and Vista Hermosa. Or make your own homemade tortillas.
Pro Cheese Tip: You can use pre-shredded cheese (cheddar cheese or a Mexican blend); however, I recommend buying cheese in a block and grating at home. This is not only cheaper, but also tastes better and melts perfectly. Or, use sliced cheese. You’ll need 1-2 slices per quesadilla (4-8 slices total).
Equipment
- 1 large skillet for browning the ground beef
- 1 sheet pan, baking sheet, or cookie sheet for cooking the quesadillas in the oven
Ingredient Spotlight: Ground Beef
Ground beef, my favorite “cheap cut” of meat, comes in various fat content options: 85/15, 90/10, and even leaner options. 85/15 means 85% lean, 15% fat. And 90/10 means 90% lean, 10% fat.
- Nutrition: A fantastic source of protein (about 24 grams in 3 ounces) and healthy fats, along with vitamins and minerals (B vitamins, selenium, zinc, and iron).
- How to Prep: There are many ways to prepare ground beef: burgers, tacos, ground beef taquitos, sheet pan mini meatloaves, oven meatballs, Instant Pot Salisbury steak, Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs, Instant Pot meatballs, and ground beef quesadillas.
- Storage: Use fresh ground beef within 2 days of purchasing, or freeze for up to 4 months.
- Money-Saving Tip: I stock my freezer with meat when it goes on sale. I also purchase meat in the larger family-size packs as the meat is cheaper per ounce than buying smaller packs. Then, at home, divide the meat into smaller bags and freeze. I have 12 lbs of grass-fed ground beef currently in the freezer from local farms, Costco, and grocery store sales.
Substitutions & Variations
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free tortillas. I love Siete brand almond flour tortillas.
- Dairy-Free: Use a dairy-free (vegan) shredded cheese.
- Different Meat: Instead of ground beef, use ground turkey, ground chicken, or plain ground pork. Use a higher fat content ground turkey (not super lean) to avoid a dry quesadilla filling.
- Different Cheese: Use or shredded mozzarella cheese, monterey jack cheese, or gouda cheese. Lots of options!
- Add Spinach: Saute a handful of baby spinach during the last 2 minutes of cooking the ground beef. Or, chop 1/2 a bell pepper and zucchini, and saute the veggies with the ground beef for a veggie/meat filling.
- Vegetarian: Use refried beans or mashed black or pinto beans instead of meat. Mix the mashed beans with taco seasoning for extra flavor.
- Low-Carb: Use low-carb tortillas, like Maria & Ricardo or Siete Almond Flour tortillas.
- Corn Tortillas: Corn tortillas are generally smaller, so you’ll need less filling. Think of these as mini quesadillas. Make your own corn tortillas or here’s my favorite brand.
- Cheese Quesadillas: Have a picky eater? Make a melty cheese quesadilla. Just add cheese and use the broiler to crisp up the tortilla and melt the gooey cheese.
How to Make Your Own Taco Seasoning
I use a taco seasoning packet to make this ground beef quesadilla recipe, but you can also make homemade taco seasoning. To make your own taco seasoning, mix together…
- 1tablespoonchili powder
- 1/2tablespoonground cumin
- 3/4 teaspoon paprika
- 3/4teaspoonsalt
- 1/4teaspoongarlic powder
- 1/4teaspoononion powder
- 1/4teaspoonoregano
- 1/4teaspoonblack pepper
How to Make Ground Beef Quesadillas
Turn on your oven broiler to medium heat (400F).
Step 1: Brown & Season Ground Beef
- Spritz a large skillet with cooking oil (I use avocado oil spray). Or add a drizzle of olive oil.
- Turn on the stove-top burner to medium-high heat. Add the ground beef to the hot skillet. Break up the ground beef with a wooden spoon and cook, stirring every couple of minutes, for 5 minutes.
- Once mostly cooked, with just a bit of pink left in the ground beef, drain grease/fat from the skillet.
- Evenly sprinkle the taco seasoning over the beef, then add 1/3 cup of water. Stir the seasoning and water into the ground beef until well incorporated.
- Simmer for 3-4 minutes, until the water has cooked out. Turn off the heat.
Step 2: Assemble Quesadillas
- Place the tortillas on a sheet pan.
- Sprinkle cheese (2 tablespoons) over half of each tortilla.
- Add 1/2 cup cooked ground beef mixture over the top of the cheese, followed by 2 more tablespoons of cheese over top the ground beef. Fold each tortilla half over the filling.
Step 3: Broil the Quesadillas for 3-4 Minutes on Each Side
- Spritz the top of each quesadilla with oil (just a spritz). This is how you make a crispy tortilla!
- Place the quesadillas in the oven, under the broiler.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes on one side, or until the tops of the tortillas appear golden and crisp.
- Remove from the oven and use a spatula to flip the tortillas. You shouldn’t need to spritz this side with oil.
- Place the quesadillas back under the broiler and cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and crisp and the cheese has fully melted.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy warm!
- Enjoy whole, or allow the quesadillas to cool for a few minutes (about 3-4 minutes), then use a sharp knife to cut the quesadillas into 2-4 pieces.
Topping Ideas
Enjoy the quesadillas as-is, or here are great options for toppings…
- salsa, pico de gallo, salsa verde, or fermented salsa
- sour cream
- chopped fresh cilantro (how to store cilantro so it stays fresh for weeks)
- chopped radishes (finely chop, then sprinkle with lime juice and salt)
- cilantro-lime slaw
- avocado slices
- guacamole
How to Store & Reheat
- Fridge: Store leftover quesadillas in an air-tight container for up to 2 days.
- Reheat the quesadillas in the microwave or the stove-top until warm.
- Leftover Ground Beef: If you have leftover cooked ground beef (or make a big batch of the meat by doubling the recipe), store the meat in an air-tight container for up to 4-5 days. Use the meat mixture to make taco salads, more quesadillas, tacos, or taquitos.
What to Serve With a Beef & Cheese Quesadilla
- Instant Pot Cuban Black Bean Soup
- Instant Pot Black Beans or Pinto Beans
- Instant Pot Rice (stir in chopped fresh cilantro and lime juice after cooking for a Chipotle-style rice)
- Individual Fruit or Fruit Salad
- Tortilla chips with salsa or guacamole
- Cilantro-Lime Slaw
- Kale Slaw
- Roasted Frozen Vegetables (like broccoli)
- Roasted Sweet Potato
- Green Salad with Vinaigrette Dressing
Favorite Easy Dinner Recipes
- Easy Grilled Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese
- Oven-Baked Meatballs and Sauce
- Ground Beef Taquitos
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Greek Chicken Bowls
- Egg Roll in a Bowl
I love easy meals like this recipe for busy weeknights: simple, nourishing, and a family favorite! Here are a few more recipes on my weekly rotation.
5 from 3 votes
Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
A quick and easy weeknight meal made with ground beef, taco seasoning, and shredded cheese of your choice! Made in under 20 minutes.
Kristin Marr
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 4 quesadillas
Calories 464 kcal
Cost: $10-15
Equipment
1 large skillet for browning the ground beef
1 sheet pan, baking sheet, or cookie sheet for cooking the quesadillas in the oven
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (85/15 or 90/10 fat content) 1/2 cup cooked meat per quesadilla
- 1 ounce package taco seasoning or 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
- 1/3 cup water
- 4 large flour tortillas (6 or 8 inch size)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/4 cup shredded cheese per quesadilla
- avocado oil spray or cooking oil spray of choice
Topping Ideas
- avocado slices
- salsa
- chopped radishes sprinkled with salt and lime juice
- cilantro-lime slaw
- sour cream
- guacamole
- chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
Turn on the oven broiler to medium heat (400F).
Brown the Ground Beef
Spritz a large skillet with cooking oil (I use avocado oil spray). Or add a drizzle of olive oil. Turn the stove-top burner to medium-high heat.
Add the ground beef to the hot skillet. Break up the ground beef with a wooden spoon and cook, stirring every couple of minutes, for 5 minutes.
Once mostly cooked, with just a bit of pink left in the ground beef, drain grease/fat from the skillet.
Evenly sprinkle the taco seasoning over the beef, then add the water. Stir the seasoning and water into the ground beef until well incorporated. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, until the water has cooked out. Turn off the heat.
Assemble the Quesadillas
Place 4 tortillas on a sheet pan.
Sprinkle cheese (2 tablespoons) over half of each tortilla. Add 1/2 cup cooked ground beef mixture over the top of the cheese, followed by 2 more tablespoons of cheese over top the ground beef. Fold each tortilla over the filling.
Cook the Quesadillas
Spritz the top of each quesadilla with oil (just a spritz). Place the quesadillas in the oven, under the broiler.
Cook for 3-4 minutes on one side, or until the tops of the tortillas appear golden and crisp. Remove from the oven and use a spatula to flip the tortillas. You shouldn't need to spritz this side with oil. Place the quesadillas back under the broiler and cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and crisp and the cheese has fully melted. The amount of time it takes for the quesadillas to cook will depend on your oven and broiler–keep a close eye on them. They cook fast!
Remove from the oven and enjoy warm! Enjoy whole, or allow the quesadillas to cool for a few minutes (about 3-4 minutes), then use a sharp knife to cut the quesadillas into 2-4 pieces.
Top with any toppings desired.
Notes
To make your own taco seasoning, enough for just this recipe, mix together…
- 1tablespoonchili powder
- 1/2tablespoonground cumin
- 3/4 teaspoon paprika
- 3/4teaspoonsalt
- 1/4teaspoongarlic powder
- 1/4teaspoononion powder
- 1/4teaspoonoregano
- 1/4teaspoonblack pepper
Nutritional value is based on using 85/15 ground beef, a flour tortilla, and no toppings.
Nutrition
Calories: 464kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 30gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 1053mgPotassium: 394mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 948IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 261mgIron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
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Kristin Marr
Kristin is the creator and editor-in-chief of Live Simply. Kristin is married to her high school sweetheart, Dustin, and is the mom to two kids and two free-roam (litterbox-trained) bunnies, Leo and Estela. Kristin started Live Simply in 2013 to share her passion for real food and natural living.
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I love these quesadillas. They’re on constant rotation in our home.Reply
