Easy Smashburger Quesadillas

These Easy Smashburger Quesadillas are a kid-approved, family-favorite dinner made with crispy smashed beef, melty American cheese, and classic cheeseburger toppings tucked inside golden tortillas. This smashburger quesadilla recipe is quick, comforting, and perfect for making sweet kitchen memories with kids.

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Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cheeseburger quesadilla recipe, easy ground beef dinner, kid friendly dinner, Smashburger quesadillas, smashburger taco quesadilla

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 30

Servings:

Calories: 620kcal

Equipment

1 Large heavy skillet or griddle Cast iron or a flat-top works best for crispy edges.
1 Heavy-duty spatula or burger press You’ll need this to smash the beef nice and thin.
1 Small mixing bowl For the special sauce.
1 Sharp knife For chopping toppings and slicing quesadillas.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef (80/20) Juicy and flavorful for smashing.
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
8 small flour tortillas 6–8 inch size works best.
8 slices American cheese
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup diced pickles
½ cup diced white onion
1 cup shredded lettuce
½ cup diced tomatoes
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon pickle relish
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, garlic powder, and onion powder to make the special sauce. Set aside.
Divide ground beef into 8 equal balls and season each with salt and pepper.
Heat a skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and melt a little butter.
Place a tortilla in the skillet, top with a beef ball, and smash it thin using a spatula or burger press. Cook for 2–3 minutes until crispy.
Add a slice of American cheese over the beef and place a second tortilla on top. Carefully flip the quesadilla and cook another 2–3 minutes until golden.
Remove from heat, open the quesadilla, and fill with diced pickles, onion, lettuce, tomatoes, and a drizzle of special sauce. Fold and slice to serve.
Remove from heat, open the quesadilla, and add [pickles], [onion], [lettuce], [tomatoes], and a drizzle of special sauce. Fold, slice in half, and serve warm.

Notes

For a lighter version, use ground turkey or chicken.
Whole wheat or low-carb tortillas work well if preferred.
These are best eaten fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in a skillet.
Let kids help with mixing sauce or adding toppings, it makes the meal more special and builds confidence in the kitchen.

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