Cheeseburger Quesadilla is a fun mash-up meal that merges all the flavor and fixings found between the burger bun with the crunch of a skillet-cooked quesadilla. Seasoned beef, onion, pickles, and melted cheese all tucked inside buttered tortillas and smothered in special sauce.

Cheeseburger quesadilla stack with melted cheese, pickles, and special sauce on a white plate.

What Is a Cheeseburger Quesadilla?

A cheeseburger quesadilla combines the flavors of a cheeseburger with the crispy, cheesy crunch of a quesadilla. It’s packed with beef, cheese, pickles, and onions, all wrapped in a pan-fried tortilla. Customize it with your favorite toppings for a fun, handheld meal—no messy patties required!

Cheeseburger Quesadilla Ingredients

Flour tortillas: I like to use the 8-inch soft taco size.
Unsalted butter
Canola oil
Ground beef: You can substitute ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground pork for ground beef.
Yellow onion
Montreal steak seasoning
Ketchup
Yellow mustard
Worcestershire sauce
Colby jack cheese: You can substitute the shredded Colby jack cheese with shredded cheddar cheese, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, shredded pepper jack cheese, or any combination of these.
Dill pickles
Mayonnaise
Sweet pickle relish
Salt
Black pepper

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Cheeseburger Quesadilla stacked on a plate.

How to Make Cheeseburger Quesadillas

Brush With Butter: Brush one side of each flour tortilla with melted butter and place in a stack, buttered sides facing up. Set aside.
Brown The Beef: In a large skillet, brown the beef in hot oil with the onions and Montreal steak seasoning. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
Combine With Condiments: Add the ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce to the cooked beef mixture. Stir and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Assemble: Place one flour tortilla, buttered side down, into a separate warm skillet. Add a layer of cheese, followed by beef, more cheese, and dill pickle chips. Top with a second flour tortilla, buttered side facing up.
Cook: Cook the first side until golden brown, then flip it over and cook the second side. Remove from the skillet and repeat.
Make The Sauce: Stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, sweet pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Slice and Serve: Cut into quarters and top with burger sauce. Serve and enjoy!

Flour tortilla with shredded cheese, seasoned ground beef, more cheese, and pickles, topped with another tortilla, then pan-cooked until golden brown.

How to Make a Crispy Cheeseburger Quesadilla

To make a Quesadilla Cheeseburger that’s golden-brown and perfectly crunchy, here are some tips for achieving the ideal texture and flavor:

Fill Flour Tortillas: Flour tortillas fry up the best for this dish, giving you that soft, chewy inside with a crispy exterior.
Use Both Butter and Oil: For that perfect golden crust, use both oil and butter. Brush butter on the outside of each tortilla and use enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan. You can use a combination of butter for flavor and oil for a higher smoke point. Use vegetable or canola oil for the crispiest results, as they have a neutral flavor and can handle higher heat.
Create The Crisp: Cooking on medium heat is key. If the heat is too high, the tortilla may burn before the filling gets heated through. If it’s too low, it will take longer and may end up soggy instead of crispy.
Press The Package: Once assembled, gently press the quesadilla down with a spatula while cooking. This helps the filling stay inside and ensures that the entire surface gets crispy.
Stop Overstuffing: It’s tempting to pack your quesadilla with a lot of ingredients, but less is more when it comes to the filling. Overstuffing can make the quesadilla difficult to flip and cause it to break apart or get soggy. Stick to a balanced amount of meat, cheese, and condiments.
Serving Suggestion: Serve your cheeseburger quesadillas while they are freshly made and hot. The crunchiness will be at its max!

Cut the Cheeseburger Quesadilla into 4 pieces.

Customizing Your Cheeseburger Quesadilla

Prepare Without Pickles: Serving people who do not like pickles? Leave them out! Simply place a sliced pickle onto the top of some of the cooked quesadillas and secure it with a toothpick.
Make Without Meat: You can make a vegetarian or vegan version by using black beans, Beyond Meat, or your favorite meat alternative instead of the ground beef. Make sure to use a dairy free cheese for a vegan version.
Swap The Sauce: Instead of the classic ketchup and mustard combo, spread Thousand Island dressing inside for a Big Mac-inspired twist. BBQ sauce adds a smoky sweetness; Ranch dressing has a rich, creamy contrast to the crispy quesadilla. Or for a spicy kick, Sriracha or Hot Sauce will give it some heat.
Choose Your Cheese: Choose from classic cheddar for a sharp, tangy bite, creamy American cheese for a smooth melt, mild Monterey Jack for richness, nutty Swiss cheese, spicy pepper jack for a kick, or mozzarella for stretchy, gooey texture.
Fill With Burger Fixings: Feel free to fill your quesadilla with shredded lettuce, sautéed mushrooms, bacon bits, jalapeños, diced tomato, or any of your favorite burger fixings.
Sprinkle In Seasoning: Sprinkle in a little garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or cayenne pepper to your beef mix for added depth of flavor. Use your favorite herbs and spices to make it just the way you like.

How to Store and Reheat Cheeseburger Quesadillas

You can prepare all your ingredients in advance and store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. Whether you choose to cook all five quesadillas at once or just one at a time, the process is simple. The cooked cheeseburger mixture can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.

If you make all the quesadillas at once and have leftovers, wrap the cooled quesadillas tightly in aluminum foil and refrigerate them for up to 2 days. To reheat, place the quesadillas on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Heat them in a 375°F oven for 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melty and the quesadillas are crispy.

You can also make the special sauce in advance. Cover the bowl of burger sauce with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. This sauce will last up to 5 days in the fridge.

More Twists on Quesadilla Recipes

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