Description
Smashburger Quesadillas are crispy, cheesy, and ready in 20 minutes. Thin smashed beef patties melt into cheddar and American cheese inside a golden tortilla with tangy burger sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 6–8 flour tortillas (8-inch)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
- 4 slices American cheese, torn
- 1/2 small red onion, very finely diced
- Dill pickle chips, chopped (optional)
- 1–2 tbsp neutral oil or beef tallow
BURGER SAUCE
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1–2 tsp relish or finely chopped pickles
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Pinch paprika and black pepper
OPTIONAL GRAVY DIP
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Stir together burger sauce ingredients and chill.
2. Gently mix beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Divide into 6–8 loose balls.
3. Heat a cast-iron or heavy skillet over medium-high and lightly oil.
4. Place 2–3 beef balls in the skillet and immediately smash very thin with a spatula. Cook 1–2 minutes, flip, and cook 30–60 seconds more. Repeat with remaining beef.
5. Reduce heat to medium. Lay a tortilla in the skillet. Add a thin layer of cheddar, 1–2 smashed patties, onions, pickles, and torn American cheese. Sprinkle a bit more cheddar.
6. Fold tortilla over. Cook 1–2 minutes per side until deeply golden and cheese melts. Repeat.
7. For optional gravy: melt butter in the skillet, whisk in flour 1 minute; slowly whisk in broth, Worcestershire, and onion powder. Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thick; season to taste.
8. Slice quesadillas into wedges. Serve with burger sauce (and gravy) for dipping.
Notes
Hot pan = lacy edges on the smashed beef.
Drain pickles and pat tomatoes dry to keep tortillas crisp.
Use a wire rack to rest cooked quesadillas so steam doesn’t soften them.
Air-fryer reheat: 350°F (175°C) for 3–5 minutes.
Variation ideas: bacon + American; jalapeño jack; mushroom Swiss; BBQ ranch.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Quesadillas, Beef
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 folded quesadilla
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg