Smashburger Quesadillas (Printable)

Crispy tortillas filled with smashed beef, melted cheese, and fresh burger toppings for an irresistible handheld meal.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1.1 lb ground beef, 80/20 blend preferred

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
03 - 1 medium tomato, sliced
04 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
05 - 2 dill pickles, sliced

→ Dairy

06 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

→ Tortillas

07 - 4 large flour tortillas, 10-inch

→ Condiments

08 - 4 tbsp burger sauce

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 tsp salt
10 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
11 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
12 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

→ Cooking

13 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, divided

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat until properly heated.
02 - Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions and shape into loose balls.
03 - Place beef ball onto one half of each tortilla and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
04 - Press each beef ball thinly and evenly onto tortilla using spatula or heavy pan with parchment paper.
05 - Sprinkle generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over smashed beef.
06 - Fold tortilla over filling to form half-moon shape and press gently to seal.
07 - Add 1/2 tbsp butter to skillet and cook quesadillas 2-3 minutes per side until beef is cooked through and tortilla is golden and crisp. Add more butter as needed for second batch.
08 - Remove from skillet and let rest 1 minute while preparing vegetables.
09 - Gently open each quesadilla and layer with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and spoonful of burger sauce.
10 - Close quesadillas and cut into wedges. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The crispy beef edges against the warm tortilla create texture you cannot get from regular burgers
  • You get all the satisfaction of smash burgers without dealing with burger buns falling apart
02 -
  • Smash the beef thin enough that it cooks through in the time it takes to crisp the tortilla, or you will end up with undercooked meat
  • Do not overload with toppings or the tortilla will tear when you try to fold it over
03 -
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat better and creates the best crust
  • Let the skillet get properly hot before adding the first quesadilla, or you will end up with soggy tortillas

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