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Smashburger Quesadillas

Smashburger quesadillas combine crispy smashed beef, melty cheddar, and burger sauce inside a golden folded tortilla. Beef is smeared thin on the tortilla in a hot skillet, then topped with pickles and onion before getting grilled until the cheese fully melts.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 780
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Beef
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 0.75 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
Quesadilla
  • 4 flour tortillas
  • 1.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 0.25 cup diced pickles
  • 0.25 cup diced onion
  • 0.33 cup burger sauce (mayo, ketchup, and mustard mixed)
  • 2 tbsp butter, for cooking

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Season and prep
  1. Divide the ground beef into 4 portions and season with kosher salt and black pepper.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Smash and cook the quesadilla
  1. Place a portion of beef on one half of a tortilla and use a spatula to smash it flat and thin directly onto the tortilla.
  2. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until the beef is browned.
  3. Flip the entire tortilla so the beef side cooks against the pan for 1 minute.
  4. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese, diced pickles, and diced onion over the beef.
  5. Fold the tortilla in half to cover the filling.
  6. Add butter to the skillet and cook the folded quesadilla for 2 minutes per side, until golden and the cheese is melted.
Serve
  1. Drizzle with burger sauce and slice before serving.
  2. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and fillings.

Notes

Pro tip: Smash the beef thin directly on the tortilla so it cooks quickly and stays crisp around the edges. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days and reheat in a skillet to re-crisp. Freezing is not recommended because the tortillas lose texture after thawing. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cheddar and light burger sauce (swap for mayo) to cut calories without changing the cooking method.