INGREDIENTS:
½ tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef (I use ‘extra lean’)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
½ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper powder (or to taste, optional)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoon unsalted beef stock/broth
12 ounces shredded cheese blend (about 3 cups (or combination of cheddar, Monterey jack and pizza mozzarella))
6 flour tortillas (mine were about 7 to 8 inches in diameter)
Cooking spray or oil (to grease pan)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 200 degree Fahrenheit (to keep quesadillas warm while cooking batches).
Heat olive oil in a pan (I used non-stick pan) over medium heat.
Once oil is hot, add ground beef, chili powder, chipotle powder, oregano, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper powder (if using).
Heat until cooked through, breaking into crumbles with a wooden spoon, about 8 to 10 minutes or so. Stir in tomato paste and stock/broth and cook 1 to 2 minutes more.
Remove beef from pan into a bowl. If there is any excess grease drain/remove.
Distribute about 8 ounces (or 2 cups) of cheese among all tortillas (on one side of them).
Note:
Reserve the remaining 4 ounces (or 1 cup of cheese).
Also, if your tortillas are smaller or larger than the size I used, the quantity you yield may vary.
Distribute ground beef on top of cheese. Then, sprinkle remaining 1 cup (or 4 ounces) of cheese on top of ground beef. Fold tortilla over so you have a half moon shape.
Working in batches (about 2 quesadillas per batch), spray cooking spray into pan and cook quesadillas (over medium-low heat) for about 2 minutes per side until golden brown and cheese is melted (carefully turning and watching to ensure they don’t burn).
While continuing batches, place cooked quesadillas on a baking sheet in preheated oven to keep warm.
Cut each half moon (quesadilla) in half. Serve with salsa, guacamole and/or sour cream. Enjoy!
Note:
If you have any leftovers, properly store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 2 to 4 days.
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