Cheeseburger Quesadilla: A Delicious Twist on Two Classics

Are you craving a cheeseburger but also dreaming of a cheesy, melty quesadilla? Why choose when you can have both? This cheeseburger quesadilla recipe combines the best of both worlds, delivering a satisfying and flavorful meal that’s perfect for a quick lunch, easy dinner, or fun party appetizer. It’s simple to make, customizable to your liking, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Let’s dive into how to create this culinary masterpiece!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

* **Quick and Easy:** This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
* **Kid-Friendly:** What kid (or adult!) doesn’t love cheeseburgers and quesadillas?
* **Customizable:** Easily adapt the recipe to your taste preferences by adding your favorite toppings and sauces.
* **Versatile:** Serve it as a main course, appetizer, or snack.
* **Delicious:** The combination of seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and crispy tortillas is simply irresistible.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Before we start cooking, let’s gather all the ingredients you’ll need. This recipe yields approximately 4 quesadillas.

* **Ground Beef:** 1 pound of ground beef (80/20 or 90/10 lean ground beef works well). Leaner ground beef may require a touch more oil.
* **Tortillas:** 8 large flour tortillas (burrito size or fajita size). The size will determine the filling amount per quesadilla.
* **Cheese:** 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese blend, such as Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or a Mexican blend). Pre-shredded or freshly shredded cheese will both work.
* **Onion:** 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped.
* **Ketchup:** 1/4 cup (for spreading inside the quesadilla).
* **Mustard:** 2 tablespoons (yellow mustard or Dijon mustard).
* **Pickles:** 1/4 cup dill pickle chips, finely chopped (optional, but highly recommended).
* **Cooking Oil:** 1 tablespoon (vegetable oil, canola oil, or olive oil).
* **Seasoning:** 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon paprika.

**Optional Toppings and Sauces:**

* Lettuce, shredded
* Tomato, diced
* Bacon, cooked and crumbled
* Avocado, sliced or mashed
* Sour cream
* Salsa
* Thousand Island dressing
* Burger sauce

Equipment You’ll Need

* Large skillet or frying pan
* Cutting board
* Knife
* Spatula
* Measuring cups and spoons
* Cheese grater (if using block cheese)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Now that we have everything prepared, let’s get cooking! Follow these simple steps to create your delicious cheeseburger quesadillas.

**Step 1: Cook the Ground Beef**

1. Heat the cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it up with a spatula. Cook until the beef is browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
5. Season the ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir well to combine the seasonings.
6. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.

**Step 2: Assemble the Quesadillas**

1. Lay one tortilla flat on a clean surface (cutting board or plate).
2. Spread a thin layer of ketchup and mustard evenly over the tortilla.
3. Sprinkle half a cup of shredded cheese over the ketchup and mustard.
4. Spoon approximately 1/4 of the cooked ground beef mixture over the cheese.
5. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of chopped pickles (if using) over the beef.
6. Top with another half cup of shredded cheese.
7. Carefully place another tortilla on top, pressing down gently to seal.
8. Repeat steps 1-7 for the remaining tortillas and filling.

**Step 3: Cook the Quesadillas**

1. Heat a clean skillet or frying pan over medium heat. You can lightly grease the skillet with cooking spray or a small amount of oil, but it’s often not necessary due to the fat content of the cheese and beef.
2. Carefully place one quesadilla in the hot skillet.
3. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey.
4. Use a spatula to carefully flip the quesadilla and cook the other side.
5. Remove the cooked quesadilla from the skillet and place it on a cutting board.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 for the remaining quesadillas.

**Step 4: Serve and Enjoy**

1. Let the quesadillas cool slightly before cutting them into wedges (usually 4 or 6 wedges per quesadilla).
2. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings and sauces, such as lettuce, tomato, sour cream, salsa, or burger sauce.
3. Enjoy your delicious cheeseburger quesadillas!

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Cheeseburger Quesadillas

* **Don’t Overfill:** Overfilling the quesadillas will make them difficult to flip and cook evenly. Stick to the recommended amounts of filling.
* **Use Medium Heat:** Cooking the quesadillas over medium heat will prevent the tortillas from burning before the cheese melts.
* **Press Down Gently:** Pressing down gently on the quesadilla while it’s cooking will help the cheese melt evenly and the tortillas stick together.
* **Cut with a Pizza Cutter:** A pizza cutter is the perfect tool for cutting the quesadillas into neat wedges.
* **Keep Warm in the Oven:** If you’re making a large batch of quesadillas, you can keep them warm in a preheated oven (200°F or 93°C) until ready to serve.
* **Make it Vegetarian:** Substitute the ground beef with plant-based ground meat alternatives for a vegetarian option. Consider using black beans and corn as a filling as well, with taco seasoning for added flavor.
* **Spice it Up:** Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the ground beef mixture for a spicy kick. Jalapenos are a great add-in too.
* **Add Bacon:** Cooked and crumbled bacon is a delicious addition to cheeseburger quesadillas.
* **Experiment with Cheese:** Try different types of cheese, such as pepper jack or provolone, to create unique flavor combinations.
* **Use Leftover Cookout Ingredients:** This is a perfect recipe to use up leftover grilled burgers. Simply crumble the burger and use it as the filling.

Variations and Customizations

The best part about this recipe is that it’s incredibly versatile. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and toppings to create your own unique version. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

* **Pizza Quesadillas:** Substitute the ground beef with pepperoni, sausage, or cooked chicken. Add pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese for a pizza-inspired quesadilla.
* **Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas:** Use shredded cooked chicken and buffalo wing sauce. Add blue cheese crumbles and ranch dressing for a classic buffalo chicken flavor.
* **BBQ Chicken Quesadillas:** Use shredded cooked chicken and barbecue sauce. Add red onion and cheddar cheese for a tangy and smoky flavor.
* **Breakfast Quesadillas:** Scramble some eggs and add cooked sausage or bacon. Add cheddar cheese and salsa for a hearty breakfast quesadilla.
* **Philly Cheesesteak Quesadillas:** Use thinly sliced steak, sautéed onions and peppers, and provolone cheese for a Philly cheesesteak-inspired quesadilla.
* **Spicy Chorizo Quesadillas:** Add spicy chorizo and pepper jack cheese for a fiery kick.

Serving Suggestions

Cheeseburger quesadillas are delicious on their own, but they’re even better when served with complementary sides and sauces. Here are a few serving suggestions:

* **Sour Cream and Salsa:** A classic combination that adds a cool and refreshing contrast to the rich and savory quesadillas.
* **Guacamole:** Creamy and flavorful guacamole is a perfect accompaniment to cheeseburger quesadillas.
* **Burger Sauce:** This adds all the burger flavors without needing to add the lettuce or tomatoes. Some Burger sauce recipes include thousand island dressing, mayonnaise, ketchup, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
* **French Fries or Onion Rings:** For a truly indulgent meal, serve your quesadillas with a side of crispy french fries or onion rings.
* **Coleslaw:** A refreshing coleslaw provides a nice contrast to the richness of the quesadillas.
* **Side Salad:** A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing is a healthy and refreshing option.
* **Corn on the Cob:** Grilled or boiled corn on the cob is a perfect summer side dish.
* **Pickled Onions or Jalapenos:** Add a tangy crunch with pickled onions or jalapenos for extra zest.

Make-Ahead Instructions

If you’re short on time, you can prepare the ground beef mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to make the quesadillas, simply reheat the beef and assemble as directed. You can also assemble the quesadillas ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. However, keep in mind that the tortillas may become slightly soggy if stored for too long. Cook the quesadillas just before serving for the best results.

Storage Instructions

Leftover cheeseburger quesadillas can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, you can microwave them, but they will be softer. For best results, reheat them in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through and the tortillas are crispy.

Recipe Card: Cheeseburger Quesadilla

**Yields:** 4 quesadillas
**Prep Time:** 15 minutes
**Cook Time:** 15 minutes

**Ingredients:**

* 1 pound ground beef
* 8 large flour tortillas
* 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
* 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
* 1/4 cup ketchup
* 2 tablespoons mustard
* 1/4 cup dill pickle chips, finely chopped (optional)
* 1 tablespoon cooking oil
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika

**Instructions:**

1. Heat the cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
2. Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
3. Season the ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir well.
4. Lay one tortilla flat on a clean surface. Spread a thin layer of ketchup and mustard over the tortilla.
5. Sprinkle half a cup of shredded cheese over the ketchup and mustard. Spoon approximately 1/4 of the cooked ground beef mixture over the cheese. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of chopped pickles (if using) over the beef. Top with another half cup of shredded cheese. Place another tortilla on top.
6. Repeat steps 4-5 for the remaining tortillas and filling.
7. Heat a clean skillet over medium heat. Carefully place one quesadilla in the hot skillet.
8. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
9. Remove the cooked quesadilla from the skillet and place it on a cutting board.
10. Repeat steps 7-9 for the remaining quesadillas.
11. Let the quesadillas cool slightly before cutting them into wedges. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings and sauces.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per quesadilla)

* Calories: 600-800
* Protein: 30-40g
* Fat: 40-50g
* Carbohydrates: 40-50g

*Note: Nutrition information will vary depending on the specific ingredients and portion sizes used.*

Conclusion

Cheeseburger quesadillas are a fun and delicious way to combine two classic comfort foods. They’re easy to make, customizable, and perfect for any occasion. So, the next time you’re craving a cheeseburger or a quesadilla, why not try this recipe? You won’t be disappointed!

Enjoy!