Description
A delicious fusion of a crispy, cheesy quesadilla and a juicy smash burger—all layered between flour tortillas and melted cheese, with burger sauce or chipotle mayo to tie the best of both worlds together.
Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- 10-inch flour tortilla
- Mexican-blend shredded cheese
- Red onion (diced)
- Jalapeño (diced)
- Roma tomato (diced)
- Chipotle mayo
- Vegetable oil
- American cheese singles
- Flour tortillas (8–9-inch)
- Yellow onion (finely chopped)
- Dill pickle chips
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
- Special sauce (mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles or relish, sugar, white vinegar)
Instructions
- Option 1: Mexican-style with chipotle mayo (Candid Cooks version):
- Mix ground beef with garlic powder, onion powder, and salt; form into a log.
- Preheat skillet over medium-high heat, smash the beef into a patty, cook ~3 minutes per side.
- In a separate pan over medium-low heat, place a tortilla; sprinkle cheese over half, add onion, jalapeño, tomato. Cook open-faced until cheese melts.
- Transfer the patty onto the cheese side, drizzle chipotle mayo, fold the tortilla over.
- Slice and serve immediately.
- Option 2: Double-tortilla with special sauce (Serious Eats version):
- Prepare special sauce by whisking mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles or relish, sugar, and vinegar.
- Divide ground beef into ~5-oz balls. Heat oil in a smoking-hot skillet, smash each ball into a patty, season with salt and pepper. Cook 2–3 minutes per side.
- Top patty with 2 slices of American cheese, then onions and pickles.
- Place a tortilla on top, press to adhere; flip, add cheese and a second tortilla, press again, and cook briefly until cheese melts.
- Slice each quesadilla into wedges, top with shredded lettuce and drizzle or serve with special sauce.
Notes
- Add a kick with cayenne or smoked paprika.
- Swap beef for chicken or extra mushrooms for a lighter or vegetarian-friendly version.
- Deglaze with a splash of white wine for added complexity.
- Stir in heavy cream for a richer sauce.
- Use cashew or coconut cream for a dairy-free adaptation.
- Prep Time: 7-10 minutes
- Cook Time: 11-15 minutes
- Category: Lunch/Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesadilla
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
