Description
Golden melty quesadillas are the ultimate easy dinner or quick lunch idea. These crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside treats are stuffed with seasoned beef, sautéed veggies, and plenty of melted cheese. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly dinner, a quick party snack, or weeknight food ideas, this easy recipe delivers flavor and comfort in every bite. Perfect for busy nights and endlessly customizable, these quesadillas are bound to become a favorite in your go-to recipe rotation.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp taco seasoning
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp water
2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
4 large flour tortillas
1 tbsp olive oil or butter (for toasting)
Instructions
1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper; sauté 3–4 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
2. Push vegetables aside in the pan, add ground beef, and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess fat.
3. Stir in taco seasoning, tomato paste, and water. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until the mixture is thick and flavorful. Remove from heat.
4. On one half of each tortilla, sprinkle some cheese, then add a scoop of beef mixture. Top with more cheese and fold over.
5. Heat a clean skillet or griddle. Add a little oil or butter and toast each quesadilla 2–3 minutes per side until golden and the cheese is melted.
6. Let rest for 1 minute, then slice into wedges. Serve warm with salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.
Notes
Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting than pre-packaged.
Let the beef mixture cool slightly before assembling to avoid soggy tortillas.
For extra crispy quesadillas, press them down gently with a spatula while cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesadilla
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: easy dinner, quick lunch, family meal, food ideas, quesadilla recipe