Get ready to meet your new weeknight obsession: the viral Smashburger Quesadillas. This recipe combines the irresistible, crispy-edged goodness of a classic smashburger with the cheesy, convenient format of a quesadilla. If you’re looking for a quick, family-pleasing meal that’s packed with flavor, you’ve come to the right place. We’re breaking down everything you need to know to perfect this TikTok-famous dish in your own kitchen, complete with a signature sauce that ties it all together.
What Are Smashburger Quesadillas?
At its heart, a Smashburger Quesadilla is a brilliant culinary mashup. It takes a thin, seasoned ground beef patty and smashes it directly onto a large flour tortilla while it cooks in a hot skillet. The beef gets an incredible crust, just like a classic diner-style smash burger. Then, it’s loaded with cheese, folded, and pan-fried until the tortilla is golden brown and crispy and the cheese is perfectly melted. It’s the best of both worlds in every single bite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This entire meal comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Incredibly Flavorful: You get the rich, savory taste of a burger with the satisfying crunch of a quesadilla.
- Budget-Friendly: Made with simple, affordable ingredients like ground beef and tortillas, it’s a meal that won’t break the bank.
- Customizable: Easily swap out cheeses, add your favorite toppings, or adjust the sauce to make it your own. For a different take on a classic, check out this easy chicken quesadilla recipe.
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Quesadillas
- Ground Beef: An 80/20 blend is perfect. The higher fat content ensures a juicy patty and helps create that delicious, crispy crust.
- Large Flour Tortillas: Use burrito-sized tortillas (10-inch) to ensure you have enough room for the beef and toppings.
- American Cheese: Nothing melts quite like American cheese, giving you that classic, gooey cheeseburger experience. You can also use cheddar or Monterey Jack.
- Onion & Pickles: Finely diced onion adds a sharp bite, while dill pickle slices provide a tangy crunch.
- Seasonings: A simple mix of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder is all you need to season the beef.
For the Signature Burger Sauce
- Mayonnaise: The creamy base of our sauce.
- Ketchup: Adds a touch of sweetness and classic burger flavor.
- Dill Pickle Relish: For that essential tangy crunch.
- Spices: A little paprika and onion powder round out the sauce with a savory depth.
How to Make Smashburger Quesadillas
This recipe is all about the technique. Follow these steps carefully for a perfect result every time. We’ll start by mixing up the simple yet addictive burger sauce.
Step 1: Make the Burger Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, dill pickle relish, paprika, and onion powder until smooth and well combined. Set it aside. If you want a more detailed guide, this classic burger sauce recipe (coming soon) is a great resource.
Step 2: Prepare the Beef
Divide your ground beef into four equal portions (about 4 ounces each) and gently roll them into balls. Do not overwork the meat. Season each ball generously on all sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Step 3: Assemble and Cook the Quesadilla
Heat a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Place a tortilla in the dry, hot pan. Immediately place one ball of seasoned beef in the center of the tortilla. Using a stiff spatula or the bottom of a pan, firmly smash the beef into a thin, even layer that covers one half of the tortilla. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until a deep brown crust forms on the beef. Flip the entire tortilla over so the beef side is up. Top the beef with two slices of American cheese, a sprinkle of diced onion, and a few pickle slices. Drizzle generously with your prepared burger sauce. Fold the empty half of the tortilla over the fillings. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, pressing down gently, until the bottom is golden brown and crispy. Flip and cook the other side for 1-2 minutes until golden.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy
Remove the Smashburger Quesadilla from the skillet and let it rest for a minute before slicing it in half. Serve immediately with extra burger sauce for dipping.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Quesadilla
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Cook one quesadilla at a time to maintain the pan’s temperature and ensure a crispy tortilla.
- Get a Good Smash: Press down firmly and decisively when smashing the beef. This is key to creating the signature crust.
- High Heat is Key: A hot skillet ensures the beef sears properly and the tortilla gets crispy without becoming soggy.
- Use Freshly Shredded Cheese: If you’re not using American cheese slices, shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting as smoothly.
Serving Suggestions
These quesadillas are a meal in themselves, but they pair wonderfully with classic burger sides. Consider serving them with a side of crispy french fries, tater tots, or a simple green salad. For a full-on comfort food experience, try them alongside this cheeseburger tater tot casserole.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are best enjoyed fresh to ensure the tortilla stays crispy. However, you can prepare the components ahead of time: mix the sauce, dice the onions, and portion the beef. This makes assembly take just a few minutes.
The key is to use a hot, dry skillet. Don’t add any oil or butter for the first stage of cooking. The high heat immediately starts crisping the tortilla and searing the beef, preventing any sogginess.
They are fantastic on their own but pair perfectly with classic burger sides like french fries, tater tots, onion rings, or a simple side salad with ranch dressing.
An 80/20 ground beef blend is ideal. The 20% fat content is crucial for creating a juicy burger and achieving the signature crispy, lacey edges when smashed on a hot surface.
Our simple but delicious burger sauce is a creamy blend of mayonnaise, ketchup, dill pickle relish, a pinch of paprika, and onion powder. It gives you that classic burger joint flavor.
Craving More Delicious Recipes?
I hope you love this Smashburger Quesadilla recipe as much as my family does! It’s a fun, satisfying meal that’s sure to become a new favorite. If you try it, please leave a comment below and let me know what you think. For more easy and delicious recipe ideas, be sure to follow me on Pinterest!
Smashburger Quesadillas Recipe
Smashburger Quesadillas: The Ultimate Viral Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, dill pickle relish, paprika, and onion powder until smooth. Set aside.
- Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 4 oz each) and gently form into balls. Season all sides generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Place a tortilla in the hot pan. Place a seasoned beef ball in the center of the tortilla and immediately smash it into a thin layer covering half of the tortilla.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until a deep brown crust forms on the beef. Flip the entire tortilla over. The beef side should now be facing up.
- Top the cooked beef with 2 slices of American cheese, diced onion, and pickles. Drizzle with the burger sauce. Fold the empty half of the tortilla over the fillings.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until the tortilla is golden brown and crispy and the cheese is fully melted.
- Remove from the skillet, let rest for a minute, then slice in half. Serve immediately with extra sauce for dipping.
Notes
Tip 2: Ensure your pan is sufficiently hot before you begin. This helps the beef sear quickly without steaming and makes the tortilla crispy, not soggy.
Tip 3: You can prepare the burger sauce up to 3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
