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Ground Elk Quesadillas

Say goodbye to bland, dry quesadillas! This flavor-packed, perfectly saucy (but not soggy) ground elk recipe is loaded with gooey cheese and pure deliciousness.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 6 quesadillas
Calories: 668 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Filling:
  • ½ lb ground elk (or venison, moose, antelope, etc.)
  • 2 ½ tablespoon taco seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon lard (only needed if your meat doesn't have fat ground in)
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ cup wild game stock (or beef stock)
  • ¾ cup red bell pepper, finely diced
  • ¾ cup red onion, finely diced
  • ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
Other Ingredients:
  • 12 tortillas (6" or casera size)
  • 3 cups quesadilla cheese (or Monterey jack, cheddar, etc.)
  • 2 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped
Sauces (optional):
  • guacamole
  • sour cream
  • salsa

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. To a medium bowl, add ground meat and taco seasoning. Mix seasoning into meat with your hands until well-combined.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add lard to pan and swirl to coat the pan.
  3. Add seasoned meat to pan and spread out in a thin layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until browned on the bottom. Flip and break the meat up into small pieces.
  4. Add diced peppers, diced onions, and minced garlic to pan. Stir to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until vegetables start to soften.
  5. Add in tomato paste and stock. Stir to combine. Simmer until liquid is mostly absorbed into the meat mixture, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  6. To a cold griddle, add half of the tortillas. You may have to work in batches depending on the size of your griddle. Top each tortilla with ¼ cup cheese.
  7. Spread ⅓ cup meat mixture on top of cheese. Top with ½ teaspoon cilantro and ¼ cup cheese. Place remaining tortillas on top.
  8. Heat griddle on medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes or until bottom is golden brown and cheese is melting.
  9. Flip quesadillas and cook an additional 2 minutes.
  10. Remove from heat and let sit for 1-2 minutes before cutting.
  11. Cut quesadillas into quarters and serve with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, or your desired dipping sauces. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Quesadilla cheese is the perfect cheese for quesadillas (no surprise there). But, you can also use other melting cheeses like cheddar, monterey jack, etc.
  • Starting with a cold pan while cooking quesadillas helps ensure the cheese melts before the bottom tortilla gets too browned. The cooking times for the quesadillas are based on using a gas stove. If you have an electric stove, it may take longer to heat up.
  • Quesadilla filling can get dried out pretty easily, especially with wild game. Adding vegetables, tomato paste, and stock to the filling makes a delicious sauce that keeps the filling moist.
  • Quesadilla cheese is the perfect cheese for quesadillas (no surprise there). But, you can also use other melting cheeses like cheddar, monterey jack, etc.
  • Starting with a cold pan while cooking quesadillas helps ensure the cheese melts before the bottom tortilla gets too browned. The cooking times for the quesadillas are based on using a gas stove. If you have an electric stove, it may take longer to heat up.
  • Quesadilla filling can get dried out pretty easily, especially with wild game. Adding vegetables, tomato paste, and stock to the filling makes a delicious sauce that keeps the filling moist.

Nutrition Information

Calories 668kcal (33%) Carbohydrates 34g (11%) Protein 44g (88%) Fat 40g (62%) Saturated Fat 23g (115%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 154mg (51%) Sodium 1176mg (49%) Potassium 311mg (9%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 731IU (15%) Vitamin C 26mg (29%) Calcium 945mg (95%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6quesadillas

Amount Per Serving

Calories 668

% Daily Value*

Calories 668kcal 33%
Carbohydrates 34g 11%
Protein 44g 88%
Fat 40g 62%
Saturated Fat 23g 115%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 154mg 51%
Sodium 1176mg 49%
Potassium 311mg 7%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 731IU 15%
Vitamin C 26mg 29%
Calcium 945mg 95%
Iron 4mg 22%

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