Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas with Lime Crema

These loaded quesadillas are a fantastic way to enjoy a hearty, flavorful meal without spending hours in the kitchen. We’ve combined seasoned ground beef, protein-rich black beans and tender green peppers with two types of melted cheese, all folded into crispy golden tortillas. The finishing touch is a bright lime crema and a dash of hot sauce for an extra kick.

Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe comes together in under 20 minutes using just one pan. It’s a versatile dish that the whole family will love and you can easily adjust the spice level to suit your taste. Serve with a side of salsa or a simple salad for a complete meal.

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Ingredients

2 unit Flour TortillasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Long Green PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Black BeansView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 cup Monterey Jack CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Tex-Mex PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 cup Mexican Cheese BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Hot SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon (tbsp) ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Wash and dry produce. Quarter the lime. Core, deseed and dice the green pepper. Drain and rinse the black beans.
2. In a small bowl, combine sour cream with a big squeeze of lime juice to taste. Stir in water 1 teaspoon at a time until the mixture reaches a drizzling consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the diced green pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Add the drained black beans and Tex-Mex paste; season with salt and pepper. Cook until the beans are warmed through, 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat and transfer the mixture to a medium bowl. Wipe out the pan.
5. Place tortillas on a clean work surface. Evenly top one half of each tortilla with the Mexican cheese blend. Spoon the beef and bean filling over the cheese, then sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese. Fold the tortillas in half to form quesadillas.
6. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in the same pan over medium-high heat. Add the quesadillas and cook until the tortillas are golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 2-4 minutes per side. (For 4 servings, work in batches, using 1 tablespoon butter per batch.)
7. Cut each quesadilla into thirds and divide between plates. Drizzle with the lime crema and hot sauce to taste. Serve immediately.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use corn tortillas instead of flour?

Yes, corn tortillas work well, but they may be smaller and more prone to breaking. Warm them briefly before filling to make them more pliable.

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftover quesadillas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet or oven to maintain crispness.

Can I make this vegetarian?

Absolutely! Omit the ground beef and add extra black beans or other vegetables like corn or bell peppers.