Enjoy the best of both worlds by combining juicy seasoned beef, melted cheddar, and tangy sauce in these golden-brown quesadillas. Each bite blends classic burger flavors—think pickles, onions, and familiar spices—wrapped in a crisp tortilla shell. Quick to assemble and easier than grilling patties, they make for a satisfying lunch, dinner, or party snack. Serve right off the skillet with the zippy burger sauce for dipping, and savor a playful fusion of cheeseburger and quesadilla traditions in every bite.Cheeseburger quesadillas deliver all the savory satisfaction of a juicy cheeseburger wrapped up in a crispy golden tortilla. With creamy burger sauce, gooey cheddar, pickles, and seasoned beef, this recipe is pure comfort food that is fast, fun, and utterly irresistible for weeknights or gatherings.
My kids started asking for these every Friday night after I made them on a whim for game day fun and now it has become our favorite way to eat cheeseburgers without the grill.
Ingredients
- Ground beef: Lean gives juicy meaty flavor without too much grease look for bright red color and avoid packages with excess liquid
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors in the beef be generous
- Black pepper: Gives a subtle spicy kick for authentic burger taste use freshly cracked if possible
- Garlic powder: For depth and subtle savory background
- Worcestershire sauce: Brings a classic umami note and extra savoriness
- Mayonnaise: Creamy staple for the burger sauce choose a good quality full fat mayo for best taste
- Grated onion: Infuses bold sweet onion flavor into the sauce
- Ketchup: Sweet and tangy ties all the elements together in the sauce
- Relish: Gives little pops of tartness that are essential to classic burger sauce opt for dill over sweet if you prefer
- Yellow mustard: Provides zip and color
- White vinegar: Boosts the tang and keeps things lively
- Paprika: Soft smokiness and color
- Large flour tortillas: Hold everything together and get perfectly crispy select fresh pliable tortillas without cracks
- Cheddar cheese: Sharp and melty slices are best for the ultimate pull and flavor aged cheddar is especially good
- Chopped pickles: Dill offer crunch and classic burger zip
- Finely minced onion: Adds bite and more burger authenticity
- Olive oil: Helps the tortillas crisp up with beautiful golden spots
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make the Burger Sauce:
- Combine mayonnaise grated onion ketchup relish mustard vinegar and paprika in a small bowl Mix until smooth then cover and refrigerate to let the flavors blend The longer it sits the tastier it gets
- Brown and Season the Beef:
- Set a large skillet over medium high heat Add the ground beef and break into small bits as it cooks Stir and brown thoroughly for five to seven minutes Drain off any excess grease
- Add Seasonings:
- Return the pan to heat Sprinkle the beef with salt black pepper garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce Stir well so all the pieces are coated evenly and remove from heat
- Assemble the Quesadillas:
- Arrange the tortillas on a clean surface Place two cheddar slices on half of each tortilla Spoon the seasoned beef evenly over the cheese Scatter chopped onions and pickles on top Add two more cheddar slices to each then fold the tortillas in half creating a half moon
- Cook the Quesadillas:
- Heat the skillet again on medium high and add a little olive oil Place a folded quesadilla in the hot pan and cook for two to three minutes until the underside is golden and crisp Flip and brown the other side Another two to three minutes will do Repeat as needed
- Slice and Serve:
- Let the cooked quesadillas rest on a cutting board for a minute This keeps the cheesy filling intact Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to slice each quesadilla into wedges Serve right away with the tangy burger sauce for dunking
