Taco Quesadilla

PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 20 MINUTES

SERVINGS: 4 SERVINGS

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef or ground turkey

1 packet taco seasoning mix

1 red bell pepper thinly sliced

1 orange bell pepper thinly sliced

1 yellow bell pepper thinly sliced

1 medium onion thinly sliced

1/2 red onion thinly sliced

2 jalapeños seeded and thinly sliced (adjust to your spice preference)

2 cups shredded cheese a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack works well

4 large flour tortillas

Cooking oil vegetable or olive oil

Optional toppings: salsa sour cream, guacamole, or sliced avocado



Instructions:

Prepare the Taco Meat

• In a large skillet, cook the ground beef or turkey over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles with a spatula as it cooks.
• Once the meat is browned and cooked through, drain any excess fat.
• Add the taco seasoning mix to the cooked meat, following the package instructions. Typically, this involves adding water and simmering for a few minutes. Stir well to combine, then set aside.

Sauté the Vegetables

• In the same skillet, heat a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the sliced bell peppers, onions, and jalapeños to the skillet.
• Sauté the vegetables until they become tender and slightly caramelized, about 5-7 minutes.
• Remove the sautéed vegetables from the skillet and set them aside.

Assemble the Quesadillas

• Wipe out the skillet and return it to the stove. Place it over medium heat.
• Brush one side of each tortilla with a little oil.
• Place a tortilla, oil-side down, in the skillet.
• Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese over the tortilla.
• Spread a layer of the seasoned taco meat over the cheese.
• Add a portion of the sautéed peppers, onions, and jalapeños and top with additional cheese.
• Place a tortilla over the filling, brush the top side of the tortilla with a little oil.
• Press down gently with a spatula and cook until the bottom tortilla is golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes.
• Carefully flip the quesadilla and cook the other side until it's also golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Serve

• Remove the quesadilla from the skillet and place it on a cutting board.
• Allow it to cool for a minute before slicing it into wedges using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
• Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas and filling.
• Serve the Taco Quesadillas hot with optional toppings like salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or sliced avocado.