Description
These Sheet Pan Beef Quesadillas are a quick, easy, and delicious way to enjoy a classic Mexican-inspired dish. Ground beef seasoned with spices is layered between flour tortillas with melted mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, sautéed onions, and colorful bell peppers. Buttered tortillas are folded and baked until golden and crispy on a sheet pan, making for a perfect shareable meal that’s great for weeknights or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Vegetables
- 1/3 cup finely diced red onion
- 2/3 cup diced bell peppers (yellow and red combination)
Cheeses
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Tortillas and Butter
- 10 taco size flour tortillas
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and lightly butter a large baking sheet to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook 1 pound of lean ground beef with 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper until browned and thoroughly cooked, crumbling as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
- Arrange Tortillas: Place 8 of the 10 flour tortillas on the buttered baking sheet—two at one end and six around the edges—forming a rough rectangle at the center.
- Layer Meat and Cheese: Spread the cooked ground beef evenly down the middle two tortillas arranged on the sheet. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the beef.
- Sauté Vegetables: Using the same skillet, warm the diced red onion and bell peppers over medium heat for about 4 minutes until softened. Then, spread this mixture evenly on top of the mozzarella cheese layer.
- Top with Cheddar Cheese: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the onion and pepper layer.
- Butter Remaining Tortillas: Brush the remaining two tortillas with the melted salted butter on one side. Place these buttered tortillas over the cheese layer, butter side facing up.
- Fold Tortillas: Fold the side tortillas inward over the buttered tortillas, pressing gently to help the butter act as glue holding the quesadilla together. Then fold the end tortillas over the top and gently press again. Optionally, spread remaining melted butter on the outer folded tortillas for extra crispness.
- Bake the Quesadilla: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 17 minutes until the tortillas are golden brown and crisp. If the edges of the tortillas lift, you can place another baking sheet on top to keep them pressed down while baking.
- Serve: Remove from oven, slice into portions, and serve warm with your favorite toppings like sour cream, salsa, jalapeños, or diced tomatoes.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to minimize grease and avoid soggy quesadillas.
- Butter acts both as a flavor enhancer and glue to hold folded tortillas together.
- Placing a second baking sheet on top prevents the quesadilla edges from popping up during baking.
- Adjust cayenne pepper according to your preferred spice level.
- Toppings like sour cream, guacamole, or pico de gallo complement the quesadillas perfectly.
- These quesadillas can be customized with different cheeses or vegetables based on preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/8th of the recipe)
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
