Ditch the bun for Cheeseburger Quesadillas! This quick, fun, and crispy spin on cheeseburgers goes from fridge to table in just 30 minutes.
“This was AMAZING! I had low expectations because it seemed so simple…but then I took my first bite dipped in the special sauce… and WOW!”
My oldest child’s favorite food on the planet is burgers. He’d eat them every single night if he could but…everyone’s getting a little sick of burgers!
Cheeseburger Quesadillas though? Can’t get enough. They’re crispy, cheesy, and seriously irresistable – especially when dunked into homemade special sauce. Plus they couldn’t be easier to make. A true 30 minute dinner!
Watch How to Make Them
Easy Cheeseburger Quesadillas
Browned ground beef is mixed with ketchup and mustard then layered in a tortilla with shredded cheddar cheese, your favorite burger toppings (I love diced onion and pickles), topped with MORE cheese, then crisped in a hot skillet.
Want to add bacon? You should. Sauteed mushrooms? Go for it!
That said, I’m not including any ingredient measurements in the recipe card. No need! One component I am including specifics for is the Special Sauce you’ll want to smother each bite in. Cannot have burgers – in any form – without special sauce.
Best of all, we always have the ingredients to make Cheeseburger Quesadillas on hand so I can brown a pound of ground beef then quickly make these for lunch, dinner, or hearty snack.
So good, so easy — let’s do this!
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Make the ground beef filling.
Start by adding browned ground beef to a bowl with ketchup and mustard. I like using a 2:1 ratio of ketchup to mustard but it’s totally up to you. You’ll want the mixture to be more on the saucy vs dry side.
You can brown the ground beef in a skillet, or use my method for cooking ground beef like a restaurant.
Step 2: Brown the quesadilla.
Heat a large skillet or electric griddle over medium heat then spray with nonstick spray.
Place a tortilla down (I like Mission gluten free tortillas), then add a thin layer of shredded cheddar cheese, followed by the ground beef mixture.
Next add your favorite burger toppings. I typically go with lots of diced white onion and chopped pickles.
Recipe Tip
Add whatever burger toppings you typically like on your burger such as sauteed mushrooms, chopped bacon, etc.
Lastly, add another thin layer of shredded cheddar cheese and top with another tortilla.
Cook until both sides are crisp then slide the quesadilla onto a cooling rack, let it cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer to a cutting board and slice into wedges.
I like to mix up the Special Sauce (recipe below) while the quesadillas are cooling, though the sauce can be made up to 5 days ahead of time. It just gets better as it sits in the refrigerator.
I hope you love this mouthwatering twist on classic cheeseburgers as much as we do! Enjoy!
More Easy Ground Beef Recipes
- Cheeseburger Bombs
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Homemade Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper
- American Goulash
- Beef and Veggie Enchilada Skillet
- Oven-Baked Burgers
- Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatlaoves
- Skillet Tater Tot Caserole
- Skillet Shepherd’s Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- ground beef, browned with salt and pepper then drained
- ketchup
- mustard
- large tortillas, Mission gluten free tortillas recommended
- shredded cheddar cheese
For the Toppings:
- chopped onions, chopped pickles, chopped bacon, etc.
For the Special Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons minced dill pickles
- 1 Tablespoon minced white onion
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
Directions
For the Special Sauce:
- Add ingredients to a bowl then stir to combine. Can be made several days ahead of time.
For the Quesadillas:
- Add cooked ground beef to a mixing bowl then add ketchup and mustard to taste (I usually go with 2 parts ketchup to 1 part mustard.) You'll want the mixture to be on the "saucy" side vs dry.
- Heat a large skillet or electric griddle over medium heat then spray with nonstick spray. Place a tortilla in the bottom of the skillet then sprinkle on a thin layer of cheddar cheese followed by the ground beef mixture. Add your desired toppings then sprinkle on another thin layer of cheese and place a tortilla on top.
- Once the tortilla has browned on the bottom, flip the quesadilla then continue to cook until the second side has browned. Transfer the quesadilla to a cooling rack to cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a cutting board and slice into wedges. Serve with Special Sauce.
Notes
- Estimated nutritional information is for the Special Sauce only.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
These look amazing! Can’t wait to try next week!
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!
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! :-)
those look amazing! i’m pretty sure i would love anything in quesadilla form, though :)
These look awesome! I am definitely going to try this recipe this weekend!!! Thank you!
I make pretty epic guacamole. And lasagna as well, actually! It’s my mom’s recipe and it’s fabulous. :-)
How did you know I thawed ground beef tonight but had no idea what to make?! This is perfect! Thank you!
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.
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!!!
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. :-)
OMGOSH this makes me want to dig into a quesidilla for sure! yummy! Eric would love this!
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. :)
Oh yummy! And a perfect “pantry recipe”. I think I have everything at home! :)