Beef Quesadillas Salsa Guacamole (Printable Version)

Crispy tortillas filled with seasoned beef, cheese, fresh salsa, and creamy guacamole for a flavorful Mexican dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 14 oz ground beef
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp chili powder
09 - ½ tsp dried oregano
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - ½ tsp black pepper

→ Quesadilla Assembly

12 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
13 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
14 - 8 medium flour tortillas

→ Fresh Salsa

15 - 3 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
16 - ½ small red onion, finely chopped
17 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced
18 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
19 - Juice of ½ lime
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Creamy Guacamole

21 - 2 ripe avocados
22 - 1 small tomato, diced
23 - 1 tbsp finely chopped onion
24 - 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
25 - 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
26 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Optional Garnishes

27 - Sour cream
28 - Lime wedges

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Combine diced tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix thoroughly, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
02 - Cut avocados in half, remove pits, and scoop flesh into a bowl. Mash with a fork to desired consistency. Stir in tomato, onion, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface and refrigerate.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook 2–3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and bell pepper; cook another 2 minutes until fragrant.
04 - Add ground beef to skillet, breaking apart with a spoon. Cook 5–7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed. Add cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine and remove from heat.
05 - Lay tortillas flat. Sprinkle half of each tortilla with blended cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. Top with seasoned beef mixture, then additional cheese. Fold tortillas in half to enclose filling.
06 - Wipe skillet clean and return to medium heat. Cook quesadillas 2–3 minutes per side, pressing gently, until golden brown and cheese melts completely. Transfer to cutting board and slice into wedges.
07 - Arrange quesadilla wedges on serving plates. Top with fresh salsa, guacamole, sour cream if desired, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one skillet and comes together in under 45 minutes
  • The beef filling gets incredibly flavorful from smoked paprika and cumin
  • Fresh homemade salsa and guacamole elevate this from dinner to celebration
02 -
  • Do not overfill the quesadillas or the cheese will escape while cooking
  • Let the beef filling cool slightly before assembling to prevent soggy tortillas
  • Warm your tortillas for 20 seconds in the microwave if they are stiff from the fridge
03 -
  • Let the quesadillas rest for 1 minute after cooking so the cheese sets slightly
  • Use a pizza cutter to make clean, even wedges without tearing the tortilla

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