Beef Quesadillas with Guacamole and Salsa (Printer-friendly)
Crispy tortillas filled with seasoned beef and melted cheese, paired with creamy guacamole and fresh salsa for an easy Mexican-inspired meal.
# What You Need:
→ Beef Quesadillas
01 - 14 oz ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1.5 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese blend
12 - 8 medium flour tortillas
→ Guacamole
13 - 2 ripe avocados
14 - 1 small tomato, diced
15 - 1/4 small red onion, finely chopped
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
17 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
18 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Salsa
19 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
20 - 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
21 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
22 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
23 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
24 - Salt and pepper to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - In a mixing bowl, combine diced tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
02 - In a separate bowl, mash avocados until desired consistency, then fold in tomato, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until fragrant, approximately 2 minutes. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 5-6 minutes.
04 - Add diced red bell pepper, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to the beef. Cook for 3-4 minutes until peppers are tender. Remove from heat.
05 - Place a tortilla on a flat work surface. Spread a portion of beef mixture over half the tortilla, sprinkle with cheese, and fold in half. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
06 - Heat a clean skillet over medium heat. Cook each quesadilla 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and cheese is fully melted. Cut into wedges.
07 - Arrange quesadilla wedges on serving plates and serve immediately with guacamole and salsa on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The tortillas crisp up perfectly while the beef stays juicy, creating that irresistible texture contrast that makes you close your eyes with each bite.
- Everything comes together in less than an hour, making this my go-to recipe for those evenings when the kids are hangry and patience is wearing thin.
02 -
- Letting the filled quesadillas rest for about a minute before cooking allows the cheese to adhere to the filling, preventing everything from sliding out when you flip them.
- The order of layering matters tremendously cheese first against the tortilla creates a moisture barrier that keeps the tortilla crisp even with juicy fillings.
03 -
- Warm your tortillas for 10 seconds in the microwave between damp paper towels before filling them this makes them more pliable and less likely to crack when folded.
- Reserve a small handful of cheese to sprinkle directly on the hot pan before placing the quesadilla on top for an Instagram-worthy cheese crisp edge that adds incredible texture.