Cheesy Griddled Smashburger Quesadillas (Printable View)

Griddled tortillas filled with smashburger patties, melted cheese, sweet onions, and punchy mayo-mustard sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Smashburger Patties

01 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Quesadillas

05 - 4 large flour tortillas (8-10 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 blended, taking care not to overwork the meat.
02 - Preheat a flat griddle or heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and spread evenly across the surface.
03 - Add sliced onion to one side of the griddle and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and tender, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and reserve.
04 - Divide beef mixture into 8 equal portions and gently roll each into a loose ball.
05 - Place 4 beef balls onto the hot griddle with even spacing. Immediately press each one flat using a heavy spatula or burger press to create thin patties approximately 4 inches in diameter.
06 - Cook patties without moving until edges are deeply browned and juices rise to the surface, about 2 minutes. Season tops with salt and pepper.
07 - 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 to a plate.
08 - While patties cook, whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl until combined.
09 - Wipe griddle clean and reduce heat to medium. Brush both sides of each tortilla lightly with melted butter.
10 - Place one tortilla on the griddle. Layer 2 cheesy patties side by side, sprinkle with cooked onions, drizzle with prepared sauce, and top with a second tortilla.
11 - Cook until the bottom tortilla achieves a golden, crisp finish, approximately 2 minutes, applying gentle pressure with a spatula.
12 - Flip and cook the remaining side until golden, about 2 minutes more.
13 - Transfer quesadilla to a cutting board and rest for 1 minute. Slice into wedges using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
14 - Repeat the layering and cooking process with remaining ingredients to create the second quesadilla. Serve hot with desired garnishes.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Every bite has that perfect crunch from the griddled tortilla and the caramelized burger crust.
  • Two kinds of cheese melt into each other and coat the beef in a way that feels almost unfair.
  • The tangy mayo-mustard sauce cuts through all that richness and wakes up your taste buds.
  • It's faster than making separate burgers and quesadillas, and way more fun to eat.
02 -
  • Do not move the patties once you smash them; let them sit undisturbed so a deep brown crust forms on the bottom.
  • If your griddle is not hot enough, the beef will steam instead of sear, and you will lose those crispy edges.
  • Let the quesadilla rest for a full minute before slicing or the cheese will ooze out everywhere and you will burn your fingers.
03 -
  • Press the tortillas gently with your spatula as they cook so every part makes contact with the griddle and gets evenly golden.
  • Make the sauce ahead and keep it in the fridge; it gets better after the flavors sit together for an hour.
  • If you want extra crunch, sprinkle a little grated Parmesan on the outside of the tortilla before griddling it.
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