The recipes for beef quesadillas I’m about to share with you are the absolute best. If you envision beef and cheese in a tortilla, you’ve conjured up the classic beef quesadilla.
But if you consider beef and all the fantastic things you can do with it in a tortilla, you’re just beginning to appreciate the deliciousness of these recipes. My favorite?
The BBQ beef brisket quesadilla. For real.
The 13 Best beef quesadilla recipes
1. Classic Beef and Cheese Quesadilla
Beef and Cheese Quesadillas are seasoned with ground beef, taco seasoning, and melted cheese in a crispy flour tortilla. Optional toppings include salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.
Can be a meal. Could be a snack.
Huh. Pretty versatile.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning mix
8 flour tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese (such as cheddar or Mexican blend)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Optional toppings: salsa, sour cream, guacamole, chopped cilantro
Instructions
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula. Drain the grease, then stir in the taco seasoning mix and some water according to the packet instructions. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until well blended.
2. Clean a skillet or griddle, and heat it to medium. Once the skillet is hot, add a small amount of vegetable oil. Place a tortilla in the skillet, and cover one half with a generous amount of cheese. Then spoon some of the beef mixture onto the cheese, and fold the tortilla in half.
3. The quesadilla takes about 2-3 minutes on each side to develop warm gooeyness and achieve crisp perfection. It should be beautiful, as this example is: visibly browned on the outside, yet packing a melted cheesy interior.
4. Slice each quesadilla into wedges and present them with your choice of toppings, such as salsa, sour cream, or guacamole. Enjoy!
2. Spicy Chipotle Beef Quesadilla
Spicy Chipotle Beef Quesadilla
contains seasoned ground beef, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and Monterey Jack cheese wrapped in a crispy tortilla. When you bite into, you taste smoky, spicy, and savory flavors that make this a crave-worthy meal.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 small onion, diced
8 large flour tortillas
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon.
2. Mix in the finely chopped chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. Season with salt and pepper, and stir for an additional 2-3 minutes, ensuring everything is well combined.
3. Set out 4 tortillas and equally share the beef mixture among them. Scatter shredded Monterey Jack cheese over the beef mixture, then top with the remaining tortillas.
4. In the same skillet, medium heat the remaining tablespoon of oil. Cook each quesadilla for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until the tortillas are golden and the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and serve hot.
3. Loaded Beef Nacho Quesadilla
The combination of ground beef seasoned with taco treatment, cheddar cheese, jalapeños, and tomatoes, all wrapped in a crispy flour tortilla, makes the Loaded Beef Nacho Quesadilla a delight. But wait; there’s more.
The Quesadilla is served with nacho cheese sauce, bringing it to a whole other level of deliciousness.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup nacho cheese sauce
4 large flour tortillas
1/4 cup sliced jalapeños
1/4 cup diced tomatoes
Instructions
1. In a skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until completely browned. Drain any excess grease, then stir in the taco seasoning and some water as the package instructs. Cook for 2-3 more minutes, until the mixture has thickened to your satisfaction.
2. Warm a large, nonstick frying pan on medium heat. Put a tortilla in the pan, then dust half of it with shredded cheddar cheese.
3. Spread a quarter of the beef mixture over the slice of cheese, drizzle with nacho cheese sauce, and top with jalapeños and diced tomatoes.
4. Take each tortilla and fold it in half. Place it on the cooking surface and let it get golden brown. Then, flip it and let that side get golden brown. In the meantime, as the tortilla is cooking, let the cheese filling melt. For this recipe, you’re using a generous amount of cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese. That’s about 10 ounces, total, plus extra for serving.
4. Philly Cheesesteak Quesadilla
I make Philly Cheesesteak Quesadillas by pairing juicy ribeye steak, savory sauteed green bell pepper and yellow onion, shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese, and flour tortillas. It’s a delicious take on a classic sandwich.
Ingredients
Thinly sliced ribeye steak (about 1/2 pound)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow onion, sliced
4 flour tortillas
1 cup shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a frying pan at medium-high heat, place the vegetable oil. Sauté the onion and sweet pepper until they are soft and are starting to caramelize, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from the frying pan and set aside.
2. In the same skillet, add the ribeye steak, sliced, and seasoned with salt and pepper. Brown the steak until it is completely done and chopped-sized, about 4-5 minutes. Fold in the cooked onions and peppers so they are evenly distributed through the meat.
3. Place the tortillas flat and evenly allocate the steak, onion, and pepper mixture onto one side of each tortilla. Finish by adding the shredded cheese to the top.
4. Tortillas are folded in half and cooked in a dry skillet over medium heat until the cheese melts and the tortilla is golden brown and crisp. Cook about 3-4 minutes per side. Serve warm and sliced.
5. Beef and Black Bean Quesadilla
Savory ground beef, hearty black beans, and melty cheddar cheese make the Beef and Black Bean Quesadilla a quick and satisfying meal. Flour tortillas are layered with not only the star ingredients but also with onions and cumin.
The beef and cheese really elevate this dish. If it’s an afternoon when you’re feeling especially hungry, this is a great go-to.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 teaspoon ground cumin
8 flour tortillas
2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
1. In a frying pan over medium heat, sauté the ground beef and the chopped onions until the beef is brown and the onions are tender. Pour off any excess fat.
2. Add the black beans and ground cumin, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until everything is heated through.
3. Position a tortilla on a level surface, then shake a handful of shredded cheese onto one half. Spoon some of the beef and black bean mixture onto this half, topping it with more cheese. Fold the tortilla in half.
4. Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Quesadillas are cooked one at a time, for about 2-3 minutes per side, until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese has melted. These are so good, it’s hard not to eat them all in one sitting.
6. BBQ Beef Brisket Quesadilla
A Quesadilla of BBQ Beef Brisket presents the smokiest of meats, along with two types of gooey cheese, in a warm flour tortilla. My husband and I both agreed that what makes this quesadilla even better is the handful of fresh cilantro tossed in with the brisket and cheese before the tortilla is folded and griddled.
Ingredients
1 pound cooked BBQ beef brisket, shredded
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
8 large flour tortillas
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Butter or oil for cooking
Instructions
1. Make the flour tortillas flexible by warming them in a skillet over medium heat. Place them aside.
2. In the same skillet, take one tortilla and sprinkle it with a mixture of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese on half of it.
3. Layer shredded BBQ beef brisket and drizzle with BBQ sauce, then top with chopped cilantro.
4. Another layer of cheese; then fold the tortilla over to create a half-circle. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side (or until the cheese melts and the tortilla is golden brown). Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
7. Korean Beef Bulgogi Quesadilla
Beef Bulgogi Quesadilla combines the savory flavors of marinated beef sirloin, soy sauce, and garlic with melty mozzarella cheese, all wrapped in a crispy flour tortilla. It’s a fusion delight you’ll love!
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound thinly sliced beef sirloin or ribeye
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
1. In a bowl, combine the sliced beef with soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, and minced garlic. Allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
2. Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the beef that has been marinated until it is completely browned and cooked through.
3. To put together the quesadillas, unload the cooked beef and mozzarella cheese onto two tortillas, then cover them with the other two tortillas.
4. Prepare each quesadilla in a frying pan over medium heat until the tortillas are golden and the cheese has melted, about 2-3 minutes on each side.
8. Taco Beef Quesadilla
I Browned ground beef mixed with taco seasoning. II Layered that with shredded cheddar cheese.
III Added some diced tomatoes. IV Chopped green onions went in next.
V All that went between two flour tortillas. And VI Then I cooked it on the griddle and cut it into wedges.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 large flour tortillas
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown and cook the ground beef until it’s done. If there’s too much fat, drain it. Then follow the package directions for mixing in the taco seasoning.
2. Place a tortilla in the skillet and sprinkle it with a layer of cheese.
3. Put some of the cooked taco beef in the bottom of the dish, followed by some diced tomatoes and green onions. Add another layer of cheese, then a second tortilla. Press down gently.
4. Prepare the quesadilla, ensuring that the first side cooks until the bottom tortilla is a lovely golden brown. As you prepare to flip, take a moment to admire the performance of your crust as it reaches the Maillard moment and consider the first-grade flip sequence. When you have flipped the quesadilla over, pay attention to the second side and cook it until it is every bit as golden as the first side. At this point, ensure that your cheese is melted and that all the ingredients are heated through.
9. Beef Fajita Quesadilla
Marinated flank steak, vibrant bell peppers, and onions beautifully combine in Beef Fajita Quesadillas, which serve as a simple and delicious vehicle for melted cheese and warm flour tortillas. You could say that these quesadillas have a lot going on, but they manage to strike a balance between the many forms and tastes of their folded contents.
Ingredients
1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon fajita seasoning
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 cups shredded cheese (e.g., cheddar or Monterey Jack)
4 large flour tortillas
Instructions
1. Fajita seasoning can be used to prepare delicious flank steak. In fact, it can turn any flank steak fajita experience into a five-star dining occasion. Here’s how to do it.
1. Marinate the meat: Season the flank steak with fajita seasoning and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
2. In a frying pan, warm extra virgin olive oil to medium-high heat. Place the steak in the pan and allow it to sit quiet until at least half of it has turned a beautiful chocolate brown. The first side will take about 4-5 minutes. Then, flip the steak to the other side and repeat. When both sides have a nice sear, remove the steak from the pan and set it aside.
3. In the same skillet, add onion and bell pepper. Sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
4. To put together the quesadillas, set a tortilla on a flat surface. Distribute some cheese uniformly over half of it. Add a portion of the cooked steak and sautéed vegetables, then top with more cheese. Fold the tortilla over to enclose the filling.
5. Prepare the quesadillas using a skillet. Place it over medium heat and set the tortillas and cheese inside for 3 minutes. Then flip the tortillas to brown the other side and melt the cheese some more. When both sides are golden brown, serve the quesadillas hot.
10. Southwestern Beef Quesadilla
Savor a Southwestern Beef Quesadilla, featuring well-seasoned ground beef, black beans, cheddar cheese, and green chilies all tucked between flour tortillas. It’s a dish that does right by the Southwest—not only because of the composition and the use of the right ingredients but also in how it satisfies a craving for savory comfort food.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup diced green chilies
8 flour tortillas
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
1. In a big frying pan over a medium fire, cook the ground beef until it turns brown, breaking it up with a spatula. Drain off any fat, and then stir in the taco seasoning. Follow the package directions; if it says to add water, then do so. If the package says you really need to follow the instructions to the letter, or else bad stuff’s going to happen, then do that.
2. Combine cooked beef, black beans, and diced green chilies. Stir until the mixture is uniform and heat until the dish is warmed through.
3. Put a tortilla in a separate skillet and heat it over medium heat. Evenly sprinkle 1/4 of the cheddar cheese over the tortilla, then add 1/4 of the beef mixture. Place another tortilla on top. Cook until the bottom tortilla is golden brown, the cheese is melted, and then flip it and repeat the process on the other side.
4. Take the quesadilla out of the skillet, slice it into wedges, and top it with chopped cilantro. Do this for as many tortillas as you have left, and as many fillings, to work up a total of warm, gilded, delicious wedges.
11. Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadilla
Ground Beef Quesadilla is a cheesy, satisfying meal made with savory ground beef. The beef is combined with diced onions, ground cumin, and garlic powder and placed between layers of melted cheddar cheese in a warm, crispy flour tortilla.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
8 flour tortillas
Instructions
1. In a skillet, over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain off any excess fat.
2. Place the diced onion, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper with the beef. Cook until the onion is soft.
3. Place a tortilla flat and sprinkle one side with 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese. Add a portion of the beef mixture, then top with another 1/4 cup of cheese. Put another tortilla on top.
4. Prepare the quesadilla on a griddle or frying pan set over medium heat. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. When done, the side in contact with the griddle will be golden brown, the other side just slightly less so, and the cheese inside should be melted. If you suspect your cheese has yet to achieve full melty potential, leave it over the heat a little longer and cover it with a lid, which will trap steam and help the cheese along.
12. Beef and Avocado Quesadilla
Beef and Avocado Quesadilla is a delicious dish with ground beef that’s expertly seasoned with taco spices, creamy avocado slices, and melted cheddar cheese, all enveloped in crispy flour tortillas. It’s a brief yet filling dish you can serve at lunch or for a light dinner.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and sliced
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
8 flour tortillas
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Optional: salsa or sour cream for serving
Instructions
1. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Drain fat, and stir in the taco seasoning. Set aside.
2. Warm a different substantial skillet over a medium flame, adding a little vegetable oil. Lay a tortilla in that skillet, then layer it somewhat conservatively with cheese, along with the beef and avocado. Top with a little more cheese, and another tortilla; at this point, you have an almost ludicrous number of calories piled up in one tortilla.
3. Prepare on the stove top until the underside of the tortilla turns golden and the cheese is in the process of melting—about 2-3 minutes. Then, with the pan and the quesadilla in your hands, flip the quesadilla, and return the pan to the burner. Cook the second side until both sides are equally golden and the cheese is thoroughly melted.
4. Do the same with the rest of the tortillas and filling. Cut into wedges and serve with salsa or sour cream, if you prefer.
13. Beef and Mushroom Quesadilla
The Quesadilla de Res, or Beef Quesadilla, combines tender beef sirloin, savory mushrooms, sliced onions, and gooey Monterey Jack cheese encased in a crispy flour tortilla. Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
8 oz beef sirloin, thinly sliced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 small onion, sliced
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
4 large flour tortillas
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef, sliced, and cook until browned. Remove from skillet and set aside.
2. In the same skillet, add the rest of the olive oil and sauté the onions and mushrooms until soft and caramelized. Return the beef to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine.
3. Place two of the tortillas on a flat surface. On each, spread half of the mixture of beef and mushrooms. Sprinkle with the cheese, then top with the remaining tortillas.
4. A clean, large skillet should be heated over medium heat. Each quesadilla should be cooked until the tortillas are golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 3-4 minutes per side. They should be cut into wedges and served immediately.
