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A side shot of fried quesadillas topped with shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream and cotija cheese
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Fried Quesadilla

This fried quesadilla is a riff on a popular street food in Mexico City. It's like empanadas, tacos and quesadilla all together!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4 people
Author: Derek Wolf

Ingredients

Dough:

  • 2 cups Masa Harina
  • 1 ½ cups Warm Water
  • ½ tsp Salt

Quesadilla:

  • 1 lb Ground Beef
  • 1 ½ tbsp Cowboy Butter rub
  • 1.5 cups Shredded Jack Cheese
  • Neutral oil for frying

Toppings:

  • Shredded Lettuce
  • Sour Cream
  • Pico de Gallo
  • Cotija Cheese

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine masa harina, warm water, and salt. Mix until a soft, pliable dough forms (like playdough). If it’s too dry, add a bit more water. Cover with a damp towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • Preheat fire for medium high heat using Cowboy Lump Charcoal (about 350F)
  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Stir in my Cowboy Butter Rub and a splash of water. Simmer until fully cooked then set aside.
  • Divide dough into 8 equal balls. Using a tortilla press or your hands, flatten each ball between plastic or parchment into a 5–6 inch circle.
  • Spoon jack cheese onto one side of each dough round. Fold over into a half-moon and gently press edges to seal tightly.
  • Heat oil in a deep skillet to 350F. Fry quesadillas in batches, flipping once, until golden and crispy on both sides (about 2–3 minutes per side). Pull off and set to the side to drain..
  • While still hot, carefully split open each quesadilla down the seam. Stuff generously with the seasoned beef. Pile on shredded lettuce, a drizzle of sour cream, and a spoonful of pico de gallo. Add cotija cheese on top. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Homemade Guacamole
When it comes to tacos and quesadillas, I'm all about the toppings. Guacamole is such a classic, and it's easy to make! Here's my recipe for homemade guacamole, which I use in a bunch of different recipes, including this elote pork belly. First, core and mash 5-6 ripe avocados in a medium bowl. Add in 1 cup finely diced red onions, 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, juice from 3-4 medium limes and kosher salt to taste. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 669kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 630mg | Potassium: 560mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 542IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 505mg | Iron: 9mg