Cheesy Beef Quesadillas – One Skillet Challenge!

Who doesn’t love a good cheesy quesadilla?  Awhile ago, I was looking at a cooking website that I love called Delish. Have you ever been to www.delish.com?  I could spend hours looking at the beautiful food pictures and recipes.  Anyway, I saw an article on there that said “100+ One Skillet Meals”.  It caught my attention because I’ve been making a lot of sheet pan meals lately because they are easy and delicious.  I decided it would be fun to do a one skillet “challenge”.  I’m going to choose several (maybe not all 100) of these one skillet meals and make them and share them with you!  I will let you know how easy (or not) they are, and what my family and I thought about the finished product!  I think it will be fun and I will likely add some to my meal rotation – maybe you will too!

My first one skillet meal that I tried was really delish (see what I did there?).  Here’s what you need for cheesy beef quesadillas!

1 lb ground beef, salt and pepper, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1 diced onion, 1 T taco seasoning, 2 T tomato paste,  1 8 oz can black beans, drained, 1 avocado pitted and diced, 4 t canola oil, fresh cilantro, 4 large flour tortillas, 8 oz shredded white cheddar, 1 lime cut into wedges, and sour cream (for serving).

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef.  Break it up as you are cooking it.  Season with salt and pepper, then saute with diced onion and minced garlic until the onion is softened – about 3 minutes.

Add taco seasoning, tomato paste, 1 T water and black beans.  Cook on medium low for 5 minutes.  

Remove from heat and add avocado and cilantro.  I forgot to buy cilantro, so you won’t see it in the pictures.  But I will definitely add that the next time I make these!

At this point, I put the meat mixture into a bowl and washed out the skillet.  Warm the skillet over medium heat with 1 teaspoon of oil.  Put a flour tortilla in the pan and sprinkle half with cheese, beef mixture, then more cheese.  Fold tortilla in half and fry lightly on both sides until cheese is melted.  Repeat with the rest of your tortillas.  You could use two pans for this process to save time.  

Cut into wedges and serve with lime wedges and sour cream.  

The consensus at my house was that this recipe is a keeper and should go into our meal rotation.  They were quick and easy, but really tasty.  I think this is a perfect weeknight dinner!  Serve with rice and/or black beans or just all by themselves!

Print Recipe

Cheesy Beef Quesadillas

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Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 T taco seasoning
• 2 T tomato paste
• 8 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 avocados, pitted and diced
• 1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 t canola oil
• 4 large flour tortillas
• 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• Sour cream

Instructions

1

In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown ground beef, breaking up with a wooden spoon.

2

Season with salt and pepper.

3

Saute the meat with onion and garlic until onion is softened (3-4 mins).

4

Add taco seasoning, tomato paste, 1 T water, and black beans. Cook on medium low for about 5 minutes.

5

Turn off heat and add avocado and cilantro.

6

Wash out pan (or use a second pan). Warm the skillet over medium high heat with 1 t oil.

7

Place a tortilla in the pan and sprinkle half with cheese, then beef, then cheese. Fold in half and lightly fry on both sides until cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

8

Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve with lime wedges and sour cream.