Spicy Beef Quesadillas

Prep:  30 Minutes
Total Time:  30 Minutes
Servings:  4

Ingredient List

  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 4 (8 to 10-inch) flour tortillas
  • 5 oz. (1 1/3 cups) shredded hot pepper Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/4 cup thick & chunky salsa
  • 1/4 cup sour cream

Preparation

  1. In medium skillet, cook ground beef, corn and onions over medium-high heat until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain. Stir in chili powder, salt and cumin. Cook 1 minute.
  2. Spray large skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Heat over medium heat until hot. Place 1 tortilla in skillet. Layer tortilla with 1/3 cup cheese and 1/4 of beef mixture. Fold tortilla over. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Carefully turn quesadilla; cook an additional 2 minutes.
  3. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling. Cut each quesadilla into wedges. Serve quesadillas with salsa and sour cream.

Expert Tips

  • A popular appetizer in Mexico, quesadillas are tortilla turnovers filled with cheese, refried beans or meat. These hearty quesadillas with ground beef are served as a main course. To serve them as an appetizer or snack, cut them into strips or smaller wedges.
  • Chili powder contains ground dried chiles, garlic, oregano, cumin, coriander and cloves.
  • While preparing this ground beef quesadilla recipe, keep the cooked quesadillas warm in a 200°F oven. As the quesadillas are cooked, place them on a cookie sheet or oven-safe plate, cover them with foil and return them to the oven.
  • Serve these spicy ground beef quesadillas with Spanish rice and assorted olives. For dessert, try sliced papaya, mango, star fruit and banana tossed with lime juice. Yum!

Nutrition

  • 1 Serving Calories 600 (Calories from Fat 300);  Total Fat 33g (Saturated Fat 16g);  Cholesterol 110mg;  Sodium 920mg;  Total Carbohydrate 40g (Dietary Fiber 3g ,Sugars 3g);  Protein 35g
  • % Daily Value: Vitamin A 20%;  Vitamin C 6%;  Calcium 40%;  Iron 25%
  • Exchanges: 2 1/2 Starch;  2 1/2 Other Carbohydrate;  2 1/2 Fat
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet