The Ultimate Beef Quesadillas Recipe (Extra Flavorful!)

First, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This is just to keep the finished quesadillas warm while you cook in batches.

Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced yellow onion and minced garlic clove. Cook until the onion is soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes.

Now, add the chili powder, ground chipotle chili pepper, oregano, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until the spices become very fragrant; this is called blooming and it unlocks their flavor.

Add the ground beef to the pan. Cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until it is fully browned and no pink remains, which usually takes about 8 to 10 minutes.

Stir in the tomato paste and beef broth, and let it cook for another 1 to 2 minutes to bring the sauce together. Remove the beef mixture from the pan and place it in a bowl. If you used a higher-fat beef, be sure to drain any excess grease.

Lay out your six flour tortillas. On one half of each tortilla, sprinkle a portion of the cheese, using about two-thirds of your total cheese blend (about 2 cups).

Evenly distribute the seasoned ground beef mixture on top of the cheese. Try not to overfill the quesadilla, as this can cause it to fall apart when you flip it.

Sprinkle the remaining one-third of the cheese (about 1 cup) over the beef filling. Fold the empty half of the tortilla over the filling to create a half-moon shape.

Wipe out the skillet you used for the beef. Add about 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil to the pan and heat it over medium-low heat. The key here is not to use high heat, which will burn the tortilla before the cheese melts.

Carefully place two quesadillas in the pan. Cook for about 2 minutes on the first side, until it's golden brown and crispy.

Using one or two spatulas for better control, carefully flip the quesadillas. Cook for another 2 minutes on the other side, or until the tortilla is crispy and you can see the cheese is completely melted and bubbly inside.

Transfer the cooked quesadillas to a baking sheet and place them in your warm oven. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining quesadillas, adding fresh oil to the pan for each batch.

Once all are cooked, cut each quesadilla in half. Serve them immediately with your favorite toppings like salsa, homemade guacamole, or sour cream.