Cheesy Griddled Smashburger Quesadillas (Printable)

Crispy beef patties melted with cheddar and American cheese inside golden tortillas with sweet onions and zesty mayo-mustard sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Smashburger Patties

01 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Quesadillas

05 - 4 large flour tortillas (8 to 10 inches each)
06 - 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
07 - 4 slices American cheese
08 - 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
09 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

→ Sauce

11 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
12 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

→ Optional Garnishes

14 - Sliced pickles
15 - Chopped fresh cilantro
16 - Salsa
17 - Sour cream

# How To Make It:

01 - In a medium bowl, gently combine ground beef with kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until just incorporated, avoiding overworking the meat.
02 - Preheat a flat griddle or heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and coat the surface evenly. Place sliced onion on one side of the griddle and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and softened, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
03 - Divide beef mixture into 8 equal portions and roll each into a loose ball.
04 - Place 4 beef balls onto the hot griddle with even spacing. Immediately press each flat with a heavy spatula or burger press to form thin patties approximately 4 inches across. Cook undisturbed until edges are deeply browned and juices bubble to the surface, about 2 minutes. Season tops with salt and pepper.
05 - Flip patties and immediately top each with 1 slice cheddar and 1 slice American cheese. Cook until cheese melts and edges crisp, approximately 1 minute. Transfer patties to a plate.
06 - Wipe the griddle clean and reduce heat to medium. Whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Brush both sides of each tortilla lightly with melted butter.
07 - Place a tortilla on the griddle. Layer 2 cheesy patties side by side, sprinkle with cooked onions, and drizzle with sauce mixture. Top with a second tortilla.
08 - Cook until the bottom tortilla is golden and crisp, about 2 minutes, gently pressing with a spatula. Flip and cook the other side until golden, approximately 2 minutes more.
09 - Transfer quesadilla to a cutting board and rest for 1 minute. Slice into wedges using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
10 - Repeat assembly and cooking process with remaining ingredients to prepare 2 large quesadillas total. Serve hot with pickles, cilantro, salsa, or sour cream.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You get the crispy crust of a smashburger and the melty comfort of a quesadilla in every single bite.
  • It cooks fast on a griddle, so you can feed a crowd without standing over the stove all night.
  • The mayo-mustard sauce cuts through the richness and ties everything together like a secret handshake.
02 -
  • Do not skip the smash step; pressing the patties hard and flat against the hot griddle is what creates those crispy, caramelized edges.
  • Reduce the heat to medium before griddling the tortillas or they will burn before the cheese inside gets gooey.
  • Let the quesadilla rest for a full minute before slicing or the cheese will ooze out all over the cutting board.
03 -
  • Use a heavy spatula or burger press to really smash the patties flat; the more pressure, the crispier the crust.
  • Whisk the sauce together before you start cooking so it's ready to drizzle the second the patties come off the griddle.
  • If your griddle isn't big enough, cook the patties in batches and keep them warm on a plate while you finish the rest.
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