Sweet Savory Beef Quesadillas (Printable Version)
Sweet-savory beef and melted mozzarella-cheddar folded in crisp flour tortillas for a cozy Tex-Mex meal.
# Ingredient List:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 10 oz flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar or honey
07 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
→ Additional Fillings
10 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
11 - 1/2 cup sweet corn kernels, canned or fresh, drained
12 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
→ Tortillas
14 - 4 large flour tortillas
→ Serving Accompaniments
15 - Sour cream, for serving (optional)
16 - Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
17 - Lime wedges (optional)
# How to Make:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the thinly sliced beef, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Sauté for 2 minutes until the beef begins to brown.
02 - Add brown sugar or honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and sliced red onion to the skillet. Cook, stirring continuously, until the beef is fully browned and the onions have softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set the mixture aside.
03 - Wipe the skillet clean and place one flour tortilla in the skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses evenly over one half of the tortilla. Layer the beef mixture, sliced red bell pepper, and corn kernels on top of the cheese, then fold the tortilla in half to enclose the filling.
04 - Cook the quesadilla for 2 to 3 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until the exterior is golden brown and the cheese has fully melted.
05 - Remove the first quesadilla from the skillet and repeat the assembly and cooking process with the remaining tortillas and fillings.
06 - Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve warm with sour cream, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges alongside.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The brown sugar and soy sauce combo creates this sticky caramelized crust on the beef that borders on addictive.
- You get the crunch of a toasted tortilla, the pull of melted cheese, and a sweet savory punch all in every single bite.
- It uses one skillet for everything so cleanup is almost embarrassingly easy.
02 -
- Do not overfill the tortillas or they will burst open and make a mess that is still delicious but definitely not photogenic.
- Let the beef mixture cool slightly before assembling or the cheese will melt before you even get it into the pan and everything slides apart.
- Reheat leftovers in a dry skillet over medium heat rather than a microwave if you want any hope of keeping that crunch alive.
03 -
- A light brush of butter on the outside of the tortilla before cooking gives you an impossibly flaky golden crust that oil alone cannot match.
- Shred your own cheese from a block rather than buying pre shredded because the anti caking additives on bagged cheese prevent it from melting smoothly.