Go Back

Smashburger Quesadillas

Smashburger quesadillas with crispy smashed beef and melty cheddar folded inside golden flour tortillas. Pan-cooked until browned on the outside and gooey at the center, with crunchy pickles, onion, and a tangy burger sauce drizzle.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 920
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground beef mixture
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 0.75 tsp kosher salt Kosher salt, divided across portions.
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper Black pepper, divided across portions.
Quesadilla components
  • 4 flour tortillas Large tortillas for folding.
  • 1.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese Use for even melting.
  • 0.25 cup diced pickles For crunch and tang.
  • 0.25 cup diced onion For savory bite.
  • 0.33 cup burger sauce Made from mayo, ketchup, and mustard mixed.
  • 2 tbsp butter For cooking and browning.

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Portion and season the beef
  1. Divide the ground beef into 4 portions and season with kosher salt and black pepper, pressing the seasonings in evenly.
Smash-cook on tortillas
  1. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Place a portion of beef on one half of a flour tortilla and use a spatula to smash it flat and thin directly onto the tortilla.
  2. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until the beef is browned, then flip the entire tortilla so the beef side cooks against the pan for 1 minute.
Add filling and fold
  1. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese, diced pickles, and diced onion over the beef, then fold the tortilla in half to cover the filling.
Finish until golden
  1. Add butter to the skillet and cook the folded quesadilla for 2 minutes per side, until golden and the cheese is melted.
Sauce and serve
  1. Drizzle burger sauce over the quesadilla and slice before serving, then repeat with the remaining ingredients.

Notes

For the best smash, keep the skillet truly hot before smashing so the beef browns quickly. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet over medium heat until crisp again. Freezing isn’t ideal because the tortillas can soften, but you can freeze cooked patties (separately) and reassemble when ready. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cheddar and swap the burger sauce to a lighter mayo-based version to cut calories without changing the flavor direction.