Cheeseburger Quesadillas
Mix up burger night…by turning ’em into Cheeseburger Quesadillas!
This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
I was sitting on the back deck last weekend listening to some Jimmy Buffett. Seriously! Buffett is great music for warm days. Sure, the nights are starting to turn chilly around here, but the days are still warm…and so I’m totally embracing me some Margaritaville, Come Monday and Volcano. In fact, now that I think about it, I think Jimmy Buffett’s Boats, Beaches, Bars and Ballads was the first box set I ever bought. I was in 9th grade, and I remembering saving up my allowance to get it…and it was audio cassettes!
I haven’t seen a cassette player in years. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen that box set in years, either. I should’ve gotten the CD version! However, as I was looking up that box set on Amazon, I noticed the CD set is available for ~$20. The audio cassette version? ~$45. How does that work!? Does it come with it’s own boom box? Like the kind I could put on my shoulder and walk down the street with. Because listening to Jimmy Buffett on a boom box while walking down the street is definitely how to win friends and influence people!
Speaking of classic Buffett songs, Cheeseburger in Paradise was always a favorite. Kinda silly song, but what do you expect? It’s a song about a cheeseburger! Jimmy likes his with Heinz 57, French fried potatoes, big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer. How about you? What are your favorite cheeseburger toppings?
My parents used to laugh that I lived on cheeseburgers as a kid. Whenever we went out to eat, I’d order a cheeseburger. Well, guess what? Times haven’t changed much. I still love a good cheeseburger! I love all sorts of toppings, but my favorites are a good sharp cheddar, bacon, onion and brown mustard. Not yellow mustard. Brown mustard. (You’d be surprised at how many restaurants don’t have brown mustard! I’d guess it’s about a 50-50 success rate.)
Cheeseburger Quesadillas
I channeled those cheeseburger vibes into these delicious Cheeseburger Quesadillas. (‘Dillas are another go-to when I find myself at a pub or bar.) Let me tell ya: these Cheeseburger Quesadillas are delicious! Pop open a cold one and serve up a batch of quesadillas. Now there’s the formula for an awesome time!
After much debate, I decided to forego my beloved brown mustard on these Cheeseburger Quesadillas. I figured it would be a strange addition in quesadilla form. However, I still got the pickle, onion and bacon in there! Instead of putting sliced pickled into the middle of the ‘dilla, I whipped up a simple topping with chopped tomatoes, pickles and red onions. It’s kinda like sprinkling pico de gallo on top…except it has pickles. While I’ll still always go to a good burger, I must admit that these Cheeseburger Quesadillas aren’t far behind! So turn on some Buffett, find a warm spot in the sun and serve up a batch of ‘dillas. Cheers!
Did you make these Cheeseburger Quesadillas at home? Leave a comment. Or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog)!
Looking for more fun burger recipes? Check out these other favorites:
Grilled Mushroom Swiss Burgers
Cheeseburger Rollups
Hatch Green Chile Burgers
Southern Burger with Fried Pickles
Grilled Aloha Burger
Cheeseburger Quesadilla
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1½ tsp minced garlic
- ¾ cup diced red onion
- 1 jalapeno seeds and ribs removed, diced
- 16 oz. ground beef I used Certified Angus Beef ® brand 85/15
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 8 oz. bacon cooked and crumbled
For the Quesadillas
- 4 10” flour tortillas
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
For the Topping
- 2 Roma tomatoes diced
- 2 Tbsp diced red onion
- 2 Tbsp diced pickles
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- sour cream
Instructions
For the Filling
- Using a large skillet, add olive oil and place over medium heat. Once hot, add garlic, onions and jalapeno; sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring often, or until onions begin to soften.
- Add ground beef, rosemary, paprika, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes, or until beef is no longer pink. Remove skillet from stove and stir in cooked bacon.
For the Quesadillas
- Brush one side of each tortilla with melted butter. Using a large skillet or griddle, place tortillas buttered-side down. (Note: Quesadillas will need to be cooked in multiple rounds. Keep finished quesadillas in a warm 250°F oven until all quesadillas have been cooked.)
- Using a small bowl, combine the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Spread ~¼ of the mixture onto each tortilla.
- Spread ~¼ of the beef mixture onto half of each tortilla; fold tortilla into a half-moon. Cook over low heat, turning once, until tortilla is golden brown.
For the Topping
- Using a small bowl, add diced tomatoes, onions, pickles and salt; stir until well combined.
- Once all quesadillas have been cooked, cut into wedges. Top with sour cream and a spoonful of tomato mixture.
You are too funny, David! I can just picture you with a boom box perched on your shoulder strutting down the street to Margaritaville, lol!
We are big fans of quesadillas (and cheeseburgers!). These look like Friday night dinner to me!
Oh, I totally would march down the street with a boom box on my shoulder. There’s no shame in my game! 🙂 Also, quesaburgers are totally a new thing in our house. SO good! Hope you’re doing well, my friend!
Hi David! While you were strutting down the street did you wear baggy pants? 🙂 I went to a Margaritaville restautant when I was in Vegas years ago, it was a blast! These sound fantastic! We just had cheeseburgers last night, but now I want these! Pickles and spicy brown mustard are a must for me on a burger.
Haha! Well, I’d have to go out and buy a pair of baggy pants. I bet I could find some MC Hammer parachute pants somewhere, though! 🙂 I knew there was a reason we are friends – cheers to the pickles and spicy brown mustard!
My boys are in love with burgers, easily my oldest’s favorite food. I bet these would go down a treat in our household!
Ok, so your oldest and I are two peas in a pod. I still love a good cheeseburger, and if push came to shove I’d probably order a cheeseburger before anything else on a menu. 🙂 The quesaburger is a fun twist on a classic here, Matt!
That’s a winning dinner! My kid loves quesadilla and I am saving this to give a try.
Yes! Totally put this one on the list, Kankana. I love quesadillas, so the burger twist was a fun way to mix up dinner. 🙂
brown mustard? i wonder what that is?:) I dislike that awful yellow stuff, and in fact i make my own grain mustard with basil and sun-dried tomatoes. but brown mustard has me beat …
Man, we just keep coming up with new ingredients left and right, don’t we, Sherry? Spicy brown mustard is a fairly common ingredient here in the States. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_(condiment)#Spicy_brown/deli-style_mustard) I would guess that it’s pretty similar to your homemade grain mustard, except the grains are ground up (and there aren’t any tomatoes or basil). Yellow mustard is ok in a pinch, but I much much much prefer the spicy brown kind!
I wonder if cassettes will come back like records have? I bet it will! I can’t imagine showing one to my niece. She wouldn’t have a clue what it was and I’m sure would be so amazed that you would have to rewind it like that to ‘find’ a song, lol. Quesadillas are a staple in our home and love the cheeseburger twist here. They would disappear SO fast!! We’d enjoy these for any meal of the day, but I bet they would be extra yummy Friday night in cozy pants 🙂 Have an awesome weekend ahead, David!
Now that would be funny if cassettes come back around! I know a lot of folks saved records, but I’m not sure anyone saved cassettes. You’re totally right, though. Kids these days would be shocked that you’d have to rewind something to listen to the song you want!
In other news, quesadillas + cheeseburgers are a thing of beauty…especially on a Friday night with a cold beer in hand! 🙂
Jimmy Buffet is all we’d play in the car when we went on road trips, so my daughters know all the words. Dave would always skip the one song – why don’t we get drunk – so they always thought there was something wrong with that cassette! Cheeseburger is a great song, but he’s written so many beautiful ones as well. Just like my favorite guy (Jimmy is Dave’s) Jerry Jeff Walker, he’s unfortunately known for “Up Against the Wall,” and yet he’s also written so many beautiful ballads. I actually listen to JJW often while cooking. Anyway, a friend years ago told me that Applebee’s sells a cheeseburger quesadilla on their menu and I didn’t think much of that idea, but yours looks fabulous. I love all of the goodies as well!
Hah! I love that your daughters just thought there was something wrong with the Jimmy Buffet cassette. 🙂 So I haven’t been to an Applebee’s in, gosh, 10 years? I’m not sure they even have Applebee’s up here in our area. But if they’ve got a cheeseburger quesadilla on the menu, then they’re onto something! I don’t like the idea of a burger patty put on a quesadilla…but a seasoned ground beef mixture? That’s the way to go! Thanks, Mimi!
Quesadillas are a go-to at my house–they’re one of my favorites easy dinners (or lunches or, to be real, breakfasts). And I love this twist on them! As for the cassettes. . .I actually found my old walkman in a box when I moved to Phoenix. Maybe instead of donating it to Goodwill I should have tried to sell it on eBay? I can’t believe anyone would charge $45 for tapes!
Quesadillas are seriously one of the easiest meals ever! And we’re the same way, Kelsie. If all else fails and we’ve got nothing in the fridge, a good quesadilla is always an option!
You should totally see if you can sell that Walkman. I bet it’s worth something…to someone! 🙂
Jimmy Buffett is a great inspiration to eat a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” or have a cold beer as “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere”. But “Come Monday”, I should try your Cheeseburger Quesadillas with a cold beer while listening to a cassette tape on my old yellow Sony Walkman. Yep, it still works and there’s still cassettes alive. Great recipe David.
Well done, sir, well done. 🙂
I love that you still have a Walkman…and it still works! That alone earns you a cheeseburger quesadilla and a cold beer!
There are definitely some good vibes going on in the quesadilla. Love the inspiration. And the side of bacon is another plus! :- ~Valentina
A side of bacon is always a winning choice! 🙂 Thanks so much, Valentina!
I don’t recall the song “Cheeseburger in Paradise”, so I’ve got to check it out. Also, I’ve never been a burger person (I can order it once in a while…like once or twice a year!), so I probably didn’t notice the mustard situation. Next, I am not prejudiced against kinds of mustard, but I thought you can find yellow mustard only in a cheap hotdog street places while more serious places use brown… I guess I was wrong! I’ll check how it works in Canada and let you know haha.
In a meanwhile, pass me this quesadilla please. It looks fantastic!
Oh man, I certainly make up for your lack of burger eatin’, Ben! I love a good cheeseburger. 🙂 I’m expecting a full report of the mustard options up there in Canada now, though!
Quesadillas are a staple meal in our house. A cheeseburger quesadilla will be a huge hit – especially with my boys. You just can’t go wrong with anything cheese burger!
You said it, Kathy! You can’t go wrong when a good cheeseburger is involved. Putting it into quesadilla form is definitely a fun twist! 🙂
Cheeseburger quesadillas, now that’s a splendid idea. I have to try it while listening to Jimmy Buffet.
Yes! I fully support the idea of making these quesadillas while you’ve got Buffet playing in the background! 🙂
Everything is love about this burger with a fun mexican twist.
Yes! This is such a fun twist on a classic, Marie. It was a huge favorite in our house for sure! 🙂
Such a clever idea, David! (You always have the best ones!)
I love a good quesadilla but would never have thought about a cheeseburger one. Delicious, my friend!
Why thank you very much, Alexandra…you are too kind! 🙂 Like you, I love a good quesadilla. I also love a good cheeseburger. So it just kinda made sense to combine them! Give it a try sometime!
Ha ha brilliant! I used to have a “boom box”that I walked around with on my shoulder! It wasn’t Jimmy Buffett though. I can’t even tell you what it was, it makes me shudder to think of it! Anyway Lynne and I love our quesadillas so we’ll have to make sure this is on the menu soon! Thanks for the recipe and for the laugh reading this post David. 🙂
No way! Shudder? Neil. I would totally take that boom box off your hands if you still had it. Imagine how fun that would be to go retro and pull that thing out now!
Anyhoo, quesadillas are a favorite in our house, and adding in the ground beef took this one to a new level of delicious! 🙂