I believe that everybody has at least one dish in their culinary repertoire that they make exceptionally well – something they’re known for whipping up better than anyone else.
Even you folks who think you can’t cook! Why, I bet you can slice cheese in such a way that the ratio of cheese to cracker when paired together is absolutely sublime.
Within my immediate family, my Dad is the gumbo boss, my Mom is an AWESOME dessert artist, I fancy myself as somewhat of a grilled chicken expert, and Ben’s Beefy Mansagna is always a hit.
That’s right, Ben’s Beefy Mansagna is the HUGE ground beef and mozzarella cheese-packed lasagna Ben is known for making the minute he finds out a friend or family member is in need – from being sick, having a baby, or just going through some hard times – which he then delivers straight to their door.
It is, the best. (So is he.)
Just this week I recruited him to make a mansagna for a friend who had a health scare in her family, and it was gratefully received. That’s the thing about lasagnas – who wouldn’t want a big, bubbling casserole delivered to their doorstep?!
Anyways, after assembling the aforementioned mansagna earlier this week, he found himself with about a cup of ground beef leftover at the end. Now, Ben and I are great at eating leftovers, but we’re terrible at using leftover ingredients, do you know what I mean? I knew that if we put the ground beef in the fridge by itself, it wouldn’t surface again for another week (minimum) absolutely untouched.
So, instead of tossing it in to no man’s land, I decided to use the already cooked and seasoned ground beef up on the spot, and made Cheeseburger Quesadillas for dinner. It’s no mansagna, but holy cow I freaking loved these!
Seasoned ground beef is enveloped in a yummy sauce of ketuchup, mustard (directions for a mustard-free version are below!) and worcestershire sauce, layered in a flour tortilla with chopped tomatoes, pickles, onions, and cheese, then crisped to a golden brown in a hot skillet.
This was a perfect way to use up the extra ground beef that would have undoubtedly gone to waste, AND get the flavor of a classic cheeseburger without all the fuss. YUM.
Start the Cheeseburger Quesadillas by browning 1lb ground beef lightly seasoned with salt & pepper in a hot skillet. Drain the beef then return it to the skillet and turn off the heat.
Next mix in the goodies that will make the quesadillas taste just like a juicy cheeseburger – ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. I find some people loathe mustard while others love it, so you can use all ketchup and Worcestershire if you like. (Just go easy on the Worcestershire because it’s very salty.)
A good ratio to follow if you’re using everything is 3 parts ketchup, to 2 parts mustard, and 1 part Worcestershire sauce.
Next layout 4 large flour tortillas and place 1/4 of the seasoned ground beef on one half of each tortilla. Then add on the toppings that you would normally include on a cheeseburger! For me that includes chopped tomatoes,
minced white onion, chopped pickles (could use relish too – for some reason all we had in the fridge was sweet relish though – no thanks,)
and CHEESE! Shredded sharp cheddar cheese works best if you’re going the classic cheeseburger route like me, but honestly just use whatever you’ve got on hand. This here is white Vermont sharp cheddar.
Fold the other half of the tortilla over, then cook on a large flat top or regular skillet low and slow over medium heat (that’s the secret to getting SUPER crispy quesadillas!) with a little non-stick spray until golden brown on one side. Flip then cook until golden brown on the other, then place onto a cutting board to cool for 5 minutes.
Use a pizza cutter to cut the quesadillas into wedges, then enjoy!
Cheeseburger Quesadillas
Makes 4 quesadillas
Ingredients:
1lb ground beef
salt & pepper
ketchup
mustard
Worcestershire sauce
4 large flour tortillas
Toppings:
Tomatoes, onions, chopped pickles/relish, shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
- Add ground beef to a large skillet over medium-high heat then lightly season with salt and pepper, and cook until no longer pink. Drain then return to the skillet off the heat and stir in in ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce to taste.* (A good ratio to follow is 3 parts ketchup, to 2 parts mustard, and 1 part Worcestershire sauce.)
- Lay tortillas out then spread 1/4 of the seasoned ground beef on one half of each tortilla. Top with toppings of choice then fold over tortilla. Cook in a large skillet over medium heat sprayed with non-stick spray until golden brown on one side, then flip and cook until golden brown on the other side. Remove to a cutting board to cool for 5 minutes, then slice into wedges with a pizza cutter.
*I find people’s tolerance for mustard to vary (Ben won’t touch the stuff, while I love it,) which is why I didn’t include measurements for the sauce. Just add to your liking!
Cheesy, satisfying, and filling – just like a regular cheeseburger! Just no muss and fuss with shaping patties, busting out the grill, etc. These were easy, and oh-so delicious.
Quick, too! The Cheeseburger Quesadillas took less than 20 minutes to assemble and eat. How bad could that be? 
Ok I know some of you are wondering about Ben’s mansagna recipe, but the beauty of the recipe is that there is no recipe! Here’s an outline of what he does:
Brown 1lb ground beef with garlic salt & pepper then drain slightly. Meanwhile, cook 1 box lasagna noodles in salted, boiling water then drain and rinse under cold water. Spread a bit of REALLY good marinara sauce (locals – Gino’s is the way to go) in the bottom of a 9×13 pan then layer in the noodles, more sauce, ground beef, and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers until you run out of ingredients.
So simple, but people RAVE. 
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What are you really good at making really well?
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WOD: 45 Minute, 4.75 Mile Treadmill Interval Routine
Oh yummy! And a perfect “pantry recipe”. I think I have everything at home!
I love that Ben is taking over the mansagna! What a guy.
And it certainly looks like he knows his way around a bag of shredded cheese. 
OMGOSH this makes me want to dig into a quesidilla for sure! yummy! Eric would love this!
This is PERFECT for all those late nights my hubby works during budget and audit season (ah, the life of an accountant’s wife
. I would have to say I am known for my pastry baking skills. Scones, muffins, Madeleines, PIES, etc! NOT. CAKES. I am awful at fancy cakes, but give me a recipe for a hearty, rustic loaf cake or a crazy good pie, and I’m all over it. I love to cook, but I LIVE to bake. 
Um, Ben’s “mansagna” is pretty much the exact way my mom makes her regular lasagna, and it gets rave reviews from everyone who eats it! It’s the best!
Your cheeseburger quesadillas are a great way to get rid of extra ground beef, which I never know what to do with – awesome idea!!
I’m known for my cakes and desserts. I love to bake cakes and other desserts!!!
Such a genius idea! I always have leftover tortillas after making enchiladas or tacos, and they ususally just sit in the fridge until the next time. I think this is going to show up on my dinner table within the next week or so.
How did you know I thawed ground beef tonight but had no idea what to make?! This is perfect! Thank you!
I make pretty epic guacamole. And lasagna as well, actually! It’s my mom’s recipe and it’s fabulous.
These look awesome! I am definitely going to try this recipe this weekend!!! Thank you!
those look amazing! i’m pretty sure i would love anything in quesadilla form, though
How sweet! It is so rare these days to find kind people who will go door to door to cheer those in need. Way to go you two and thank you for this fab recipe!
Oh my gosh this is perfectly timed! I’m going to half this recipe for lunch tomorrow. I have a 1/2 pound of ground beef leftover from making spaghetti sauce and I was racking my brain for what to do with it!
These look amazing! Can’t wait to try next week!
I make a mean chicken piccata. Capers and beurre blanc sauce… what more could you want?
Mansagna is the only way I’ll eat lasagna… Any other kind of cheese & forget it!
Stuffed peppers and guacamole (not together!) are in my wheel house.
Thanks for te quick recipe – I have some leftover ground turkey I’ll be trying this with!
I love how you put ketchup and mustard with the ground meat. So clever!
wow! what a great idea! ive been also looking into getting one of those griddles for the stove, which do you have?
Most of my pans (including that skillet) are from Calphalon. They NEVER chip or scratch!
My man’s ‘sagna “recipe” looks quite similar. I don’t even try to top it!
What a clever idea. I’ll share it with my husband, who does all of our cooking. Thx!
God those look good… Think I’ll make those this weekend.
I’ve gotta say, your blog inspires me to cook more than any other blog!
Oh my goodness. This looks absolutely delicious!
Thanks for the recipe…I just got a quesadilla maker (won it – not something I’d necessarily ever buy) last week and have yet to use it. I think I’m going to have to make this recipe tomorrow night!
So funny about the mansagna!! My husband has a recipe he calls taco pie that I (and now all of our friends) call “mansserole.” It’s one of the most delicious, cheesy, taco-y, amazing things ever but I don’t see how it could have been dreamed up by a woman:)
Aww, that’s so sweet of Ben! I swear it’s totally possible to taste “love” in food. There is no other possible explanation for why my mom’s microwave scrambled eggs taste like heaven.
I’m darn proud of my guacamole and perfectly pretty omelets. My boyfriend is King of the Hard Boiled Egg. He has a gift.
Kristen,
As a long-time vegan, I still think your blog is wonderful. Your personality comes through in every post, and it seems that you and Ben live life to the fullest. Thanks for the earnest entries that show your charisma. You are classy.
You wouldn’t know this just by looking at me, but I am REALLY good at making packaged ramen noodles
These look AMAZING — and I have to say that it is SO sweet that your husband does that for friends and family. Things like that warm my heart!
SHUT UP! This might actually convince my husband he likes mexican! Cant wait to try it!
xo Rach
rachiecakes-rachael.blogspot.com
This recipe looks delicious! I have had this thing for quesadillas lately and I always love cheese burgers so this is perfect! When I have made them I use a little vegetable oil, did you not use any oil to crisp them up in the pan?
I’m good at making Chicken Parmesan really well! Plus these Crab-Cheese appetizers some people call Crabbies, when I ask what I can bring they ask for these.
I was scared that I will see tons of cilantro inside, but NO! YUM!! They look delicious. Perfect for dinner!
Hey these look absolutely tasty amazing!!! BTW if you want to “man up” those quesidillas along the lines of “Ben’s Beefy Mansagna” …you can use pita bread instead of the tortillas which makes a heartier quesidilla to hold and eat! Blessings everyone “Famous Dave”
Great idea, Dave! So great to hear from you again – it’s an honor!
YUM, this sounds really good! What a great idea.
Just tried these over the weekend. Holy cow were they good. We cooked our onions with our beef because we prefer grilled onions to raw on our burgers. We also added some crumbled bacon to the mixture. So simple and quick, so satisfying!
So for the measure would you say 3 tbsp ketchup 2 tbsp mustard and 1 tbsp worcetershire sauce?
That should be a good start, then mix and add more of whatever ingredient you think it needs more of!
Kristin,
I’m a mom of two little ones (2, and soon-to-be 5). Thank you so much for that great recipe of yours, I just cooked it last night for my family, and it was a hit!!
I only used ketchup for the little ones though, and since we live in Paris, France, I used shredded ‘swiss cheese’, and it was perfect! I will do it again.
Absolutely love it!! I love mixing ketchup and mustard together– is that weird? My BF and I use it as dipping sauce for fries sometimes! This sounds great and I love that you even added pickles!
I tried these tonight and they were delicious! So easy and simple yet totally tasty and comforting. Definitely will be a go-to recipe in the future!
I tried these tonight too! They really do taste like cheeseburgers! Delish. Made the pumpkin scones tonight too, and I can’t wait to share them with friends for breakfast. Thanks for sharing!
I made these last night using 1/2 lb. of hamburger. They were delicious! My hubby’s only comment between his “mmmmm…this is so good” was to use more cheese next time.
Have you tried barbequed chicken in quesadillas? Just cut up cooked chicken, add BBQ sauce and mix it together. We usually like some chopped onion and cheese added too. They are awesome!
BBQ Chicken Quesadillas are Ben’s #1 favorite dinner in the entire world! http://iowagirleats.com/2010/06/28/the-secret-ingredient-to-make-anything-taste-better/
Sorry I didn’t know you had this recipe too! Next time, I’m carmelizing the onions! Yum!
(I’m another Iowa girl…in Dubuque!)
Oh gosh, no – nothing to be sorry about!
Have a great weekend, girl!
I am going to make these this week! I am curious about the recipes for Ben’s Mansangna too!!!
Thanks for the great recipe! I made it on Saturday evening and we all loved it. I prepped the meat – we did ground turkey – the night before so it came together super fast, and my step daughter (15) said she’d eat it every night, when I said I’d pop it into our meal listing. (Your bruschetta mozzarella burgers are in there, along with several other recipes from IGE!) Thanks!
These were a great hit for my families with teenage boys!
What a great idea to make a burger-style sauce for the ground meat using ketchup/mustard/sauce – such a nice contrast to the more traditional taco flavorings. I used ground turkey and it was delicious!
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Thank you so much for the awesome idea! I thought it was a fun way to use some pre-cooked ground beef I had in the freezer, plus I love each person getting what they want for dinner.
I posted about my experience with this recipe on my blog.
http://bloginspiredcooking.blogspot.com/2013/02/customized-for-you-cheeseburger.html
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