Cheesy Beef Bean Quesadillas (Printable)
Golden tortillas layered with spiced beef, creamy beans, and melted cheese for a tasty Tex-Mex dish.
# What You Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
07 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ Bean Mixture
10 - 1 can (15 oz) refried beans or black beans, drained and mashed
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
→ Quesadillas
13 - 8 medium (8-inch) flour tortillas
14 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
15 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
16 - 2 tablespoons butter, softened
→ To Serve (optional)
17 - Salsa
18 - Sour cream
19 - Sliced jalapeños
20 - Fresh cilantro
# Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
02 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Break it apart with a spatula and cook until browned and fully cooked, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Mix in ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until spices release their aroma. Remove from heat.
04 - Combine refried beans with lime juice and chopped cilantro in a small bowl, stirring until evenly blended.
05 - Lay tortillas flat on a work surface. Spread 2 tablespoons of bean mixture over half of each tortilla. Evenly distribute beef mixture on top, then sprinkle cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the fillings.
06 - Fold each tortilla in half to enclose the fillings securely.
07 - Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly brush the outside of each quesadilla with softened butter.
08 - Place quesadillas on the skillet and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and cheese is melted. Remove and let rest for 1 minute before slicing.
09 - Serve warm with salsa, sour cream, jalapeños, and fresh cilantro as desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Crispy, golden exterior with melty cheese that stretches perfectly on every bite.
- Comes together in under 40 minutes, making it ideal for weeknight scrambles when inspiration is running low.
- Feeds a crowd without requiring hours of prep or a complicated ingredient list.
02 -
- Don't overcrowd the skillet when cooking quesadillas or they'll steam instead of crisp.
- The butter on the outside is what creates that golden crust—oil alone won't give you the same color or flavor.
03 -
- Don't skip the rest period after cooking—those 60 seconds let the cheese firm up just enough that slicing is clean instead of messy.
- Use a mix of two cheeses instead of just one; the combination melts more smoothly and tastes more complex.