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5.0 from 9 votes

Ground Beef Quesadillas (with Black Beans)

Spicy ground beef quesadilla recipe with black beans, avocado, and cheese. Crispy tortillas stuffed with a cheesy, meaty filling; this dish will make anyone happy!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 859 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 lb lean ground beef 450 g, Note 1
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 onion
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon sweet paprika powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper more or less to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
  • fine sea salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ¼ cup water 65 ml, Note 2
  • 2 cups cooked black beans 125 g/ 4.5 oz
  • 1 large avocado
  • 4 large tortillas Note 3
  • 2 cups cheese grated, 200 g/ 7 oz, Note 4
  • 1 lime
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro parsley, or chives
  • Sour cream to serve Note 5

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Chop the onion and the garlic.1 onion + 2 garlic cloves
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet or non-stick pan. Cook the onion and the garlic for 2 minutes.
  3. Cook beef: Add ground beef and brown well, breaking it up as it browns, 3-4 minutes until the onions are softened. Drain the excess grease if there is too much in the pan, but it shouldn’t be if the beef is lean.1 lb lean ground beef / 450 g
  4. Add the dried oregano, paprika powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, coriander, salt (½ to 1 teaspoon to taste), and pepper. Stir in the tomato paste and the water (Note 2). Add the drained black beans.½ teaspoon dried oregano + ½ teaspoon sweet paprika powder + ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper + ¼ teaspoon ground cumin + ¼ teaspoon ground coriander + fine sea salt and pepper + 2 tablespoons tomato paste + ¼ cup water / 65 ml + 2 cups cooked black beans / 125 g
  5. Cook beef filling: Stir well and cook on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.
  6. Chop the avocado in the meantime. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the avocado and herbs.1 large avocado + 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  7. Wipe the pan clean or use another one. Heat the pan and brush it with some of the remaining olive (Note 6).
  8. Fill quesadillas: Place one tortilla in the pan and add some cheese to one half of it. Top with some of the beef mixture and add more grated cheese. Fold the other tortilla half over the filling.4 large tortillas + 2 cups cheese/ 200 g
  9. Fry the quesadilla lightly on both sides until golden. Use a spatula to turn the quesadillas to the other side carefully.
  10. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
  11. Serve immediately with tomatoes or tomato salsa, sour cream, and lime wedges.1 lime + sour cream to serve

Notes

  • Ground turkey works, too.
  • You could replace the tomato paste and water with about 4-5 tablespoons of salsa of choice.
  • The tortillas available here are large, about 9-10 inches/ 24-26 cm in diameter. If your tortillas are smaller, you will need more than four for all the filling.
  • Cheese: Cheddar, Gouda, Monterey Jack, Manchego, Mexican cheese. Any good melting cheese you like.
  • The nutrition is calculated without the sour cream.
  • Don’t use too much oil or the quesadillas will be greasy and soggy.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1quesadilla Calories 859kcal (43%) Carbohydrates 63g (21%) Protein 52g (104%) Fat 45g (69%) Saturated Fat 18g (90%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 18g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 128mg (43%) Sodium 963mg (40%) Potassium 1228mg (35%) Fiber 15g (60%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 990IU (20%) Vitamin C 14mg (16%) Calcium 558mg (56%) Iron 8mg (44%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 859

% Daily Value*

Serving 1quesadilla
Calories 859kcal 43%
Carbohydrates 63g 21%
Protein 52g 104%
Fat 45g 69%
Saturated Fat 18g 90%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 18g 90%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 128mg 43%
Sodium 963mg 40%
Potassium 1228mg 26%
Fiber 15g 60%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 990IU 20%
Vitamin C 14mg 16%
Calcium 558mg 56%
Iron 8mg 44%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.