Cheeseburger Quesadillas Special Sauce (Print View)

Juicy beef, melted cheese, and special sauce inside golden quesadillas for a delicious American-Mexican fusion.

# Components:

→ For the Quesadillas

01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1 tablespoon ketchup
07 - 4 large (10-inch) flour tortillas
08 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1/2 cup diced dill pickles
11 - 1/2 cup diced red onion
12 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ For the Special Sauce

13 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
14 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
15 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
16 - 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
17 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
18 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
19 - 1 teaspoon white vinegar
20 - Pinch of black pepper

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, sweet pickle relish, garlic powder, smoked paprika, white vinegar, and a pinch of black pepper. Whisk thoroughly. Cover and chill until needed.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and thoroughly cooked, approximately 5-6 minutes. Drain any excess fat. Stir in kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and ketchup. Mix well to combine, then remove from heat.
03 - Wipe out the skillet and reduce heat to medium. Lay one flour tortilla flat. Sprinkle one quarter of the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses evenly over half of the tortilla. Top with one quarter of the cooked beef mixture, diced dill pickles, and diced red onion. Drizzle a spoonful of the prepared special sauce over the filling.
04 - Fold the filled half of the tortilla over the filling to create a half-moon shape.
05 - Melt a portion of the unsalted butter in the skillet. Carefully place the folded quesadilla in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted. Repeat this process with the remaining tortillas and filling ingredients.
06 - Allow the cooked quesadillas to rest for 1 minute before cutting them into wedges. Serve immediately with additional special sauce on the side for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in just 35 minutes from start to finish
  • Uses simple ingredients you likely have on hand
  • Kid friendly while still appealing to adult taste buds
  • Perfect for using up leftover ground beef
02 -
  • Can be prepared ahead and assembled just before cooking
  • Freezes beautifully for up to 3 months when wrapped properly
  • Perfect for repurposing leftover taco meat or burger patties
03 -
  • For the crispiest exterior brush the outside of the tortillas with melted butter rather than putting butter in the pan. This ensures even browning.
  • Let the quesadillas rest for 1 full minute before cutting to allow the cheese to set slightly which prevents all the filling from oozing out.
  • If cooking for a crowd use two skillets simultaneously or keep finished quesadillas warm in a 200°F oven while completing the batch.

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