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Bean and Cheese Quesadillas with Beef Queso

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Beef Queso

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with chiles like Rotel
  • 1 tablespoon tabasco or other hot sauce
  • salt and black pepper

Bean and Cheese Quesadillas

  • 2 cans black beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 8 flour tortillas
  • 1-2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese more as needed

Instructions

  • In a large deep nonstick skillet, placed over medium heat, add the ground beef. Cook until brown and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside. Leave the skillet over medium heat.
  • To the hot pan, add the unsalted butter. Melt it and then whisk in the flour to create a roux. Cook for about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Whisk in the milk and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for about 4 minutes, whisking frequently until the sauce has thickened. Stir in the cheese in 1/4 cup increments. Make sure that each increment of cheese has melted completed before adding the next. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tabasco, and ground beef. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Keep warm on the stove until you are ready to serve.
  • To a medium saucepan, add the black beans and oil. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and black pepper. Cook over medium-low heat until hot, about 5 minutes. Mash the beans with a potato masher as they cook until it resembles a chunky paste. Adjust seasoning to taste. Keep warm on the stove as you prepare your quesadillas.
  • Preheat a griddle pan or large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a tablespoon or so of butter, and melt. Spread the bean mixture on one flour tortilla and place it dry side down on the hot griddle. Top with about 1/4-1/3 cup of cheese. Place a second flour tortilla on top and press down. Flip the quesadilla very carefully once the bottom has browned slightly and cook for 2-3 minutes on the opposite side. Remove from heat, and repeat these steps 3 more times.
  • Cut the quesadillas into triangles and serve with slow cooker beef queso.

Notes

Alternatively, you can make the beef queso in the slow cooker if you'd like to keep it warm for a while. Just brown the ground beef in a separate pan and create the roux just like you would in the recipe above. Add both the roux and ground beef to the slow cooker and add the rest of the beef queso ingredients. Cook on low heat for about an hour, and keep warm until you are ready to serve.