These cheesy BBQ ground beef jalapeño quesadillas are packed with smoky, savoury flavour, with seasoned minced beef, gooey melted cheese and little bursts of heat from the jalapeños all tucked inside crisp golden tortillas.
They make a great quick lunch, easy dinner or fakeaway-style meal when you want something simple, satisfying and seriously delicious, especially served with your favourite dips or a fresh salad on the side.
Calories in Cheesy BBQ Beef Jalapeno Quesadillas
This recipe serves 4 and is 310 calories per serving.
If you're looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you'll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 500+ calorie recipes.
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Extra lean ground beef: is perfect for the filling, keeping it lean while still adding plenty of rich savoury flavour.
- Onion: adds a little natural sweetness and extra depth to the beef as it cooks.
- Paprika, smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder: all work together to give the filling a lovely smoky, savoury flavour. Some also use for the spicy mayo.
- BBQ sauce: adds that sticky, tangy, slightly sweet flavour, so just use one you really enjoy.
- Cheddar: adds a stronger cheesy flavour that works really well with the BBQ beef.
- Mozzarella: is great for that delicious gooey melt.
- Pickled jalapeños: add little pops of heat and tang throughout.
- Fresh coriander (cilantro): adds a fresh burst of flavour that helps balance the richness.
- Spring onions: for additional flavour and colour.
- Large low calorie tortillas: are ideal for keeping these lighter, and they crisp up beautifully when cooked.
- Reduced fat mayo: gives the spicy mayo dip a creamy, rich base.
- Fat free plain yoghurt: helps lighten the dip while adding a nice little tang.
- Pickling juice: adds a tangy kick and helps carry that jalapeño flavour through the dip.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions
Variations and Substitutes
You can easily switch up the protein in these quesadillas to suit what you have on hand. Ground turkey or ground chicken are great lighter options, while ground pork gives a slightly richer flavour that works really well with the BBQ sauce and jalapeños.
To bulk out the filling a little, you can sauté some diced peppers in with the onion and beef mixture, or add sweetcorn, finely chopped mushrooms or black beans. For the cheese, Monterey Jack, Mexican-style cheese blends or pepper jack all work well depending on whether you want it extra melty or a little spicier.
You can also swap the low calorie tortillas for high protein wraps if you want to boost the protein, and they crisp up just as nicely. For a milder version, just reduce the jalapeños, or if you prefer more heat, add a pinch of chilli flakes or use a spicier BBQ sauce.
Tips for Cooking Quesadillas
Flipping quesadillas can be a little tricky, especially if you don't make them very often. But there's a really easy way to do it without everything falling out, and that's the plate-over-pan method.
Once the underside is lovely and golden, place a large plate over the frying pan, then carefully flip so the quesadilla lands on the plate. Slide it back into the pan uncooked side down, and it will keep everything nicely in place while helping you get that perfectly crisp, golden finish on both sides.
Side Suggestions
These quesadillas are great served with all kinds of sides depending on whether you want to keep things simple or make it more of a full meal. Some favourites to serve alongside are:
- Homemade potato wedges: perfect if you want to turn this into more of a fakeaway-style meal. These Garlic and Herb Potato wedges or Spicy Potato Wedges are perfect.
- Soured cream: great for adding a cool creamy contrast to the smoky BBQ filling.
- Guacamole: always a delicious choice with quesadillas and works really well with the jalapeños.
- Sliced avocado: a simple option if you want that creamy avocado flavour without making guacamole.
- Extra BBQ sauce: ideal for drizzling or dipping if you love that sticky smoky flavour.
- Mixed salad: a fresh crunchy side that helps balance the richness of the quesadillas.
- Additional pickled jalapeños: perfect for anyone who likes an extra little kick of heat.
- Corn on the cob: a great side for a more rounded meal and pairs really well with the BBQ flavours.
- Corn salsa or regular salsa: adds a little sweetness and freshness that works really nicely with the smoky beef filling. This Easy Corn and Tomato Salsa is yummy!
- Coleslaw: a crisp fresh side that goes really well with the cheesy BBQ flavours. Check out my Lighter Coleslaw and Apple Coleslaw
More Ground Beef Recipes
Need more ground beef inspiration? Here are some recipes you'll love:
See more Ground Beef Recipes →
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All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.
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Recipe Card
Cheesy BBQ Beef Jalapeno Quesadillas
These cheesy BBQ ground beef jalapeño quesadillas are a quick and easy fakeaway-style meal, loaded with smoky beef, melty cheese and little pops of spicy, tangy flavour.
Ingredients
For the creamy jalapeno dip:
- 3 tablespoons of reduced fat mayo
- 3 tablespoons of fat free Greek Yoghurt
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon of onion powder
- 4 pickled jalapeno slices, chopped
- little of the pickle juice
For the quesadillas:
- 1lb (455g) of extra lean ground beef
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 2 teaspoons of paprika
- 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- 6 tablespoons of barbecue sauce
- fresh coriander
- 3 spring onions, chopped
- pickled jalapeno slices
- 60g of reduced fat cheddar
- 60g of reduced fat mozzarella
- 4 large low calorie tortillas
Instructions
- Add the ingredients for the jalapeño dip to a bowl, except for the pickling juice, and mix until combined. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed, then stir in a little of the pickling juice to loosen to your desired consistency.
- Heat a large frying pan or skillet over a medium-high heat, add the ground beef and onion and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and BBQ sauce and cook for another couple of minutes.
- Stir in the chopped green onions and fresh coriander (cilantro), then transfer the beef mixture to a bowl or plate. Wipe the pan clean.
- Mix together the mozzarella and cheddar in a small bowl.
- Place the pan over a medium heat, spray with low calorie cooking spray and add one tortilla. Sprinkle over one quarter of the cheese, then top with half of the ground beef mixture and a few pickled jalapeño slices. Scatter over another quarter of the cheese, then place a second tortilla on top.
- Cook until the underside is crisp and golden, then carefully flip using a large plate and cook the other side until golden. Remove and set aside, covering loosely with foil to keep warm if needed.
- Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make the second quesadilla.
- Slice each quesadilla into 6 and serve with the creamy jalapeño dip and your choice of sides.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- Gluten Free Friendly - use gluten free wraps of choice
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Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 465Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 7gUnsaturated Fat 17gCholesterol 132mgSodium 1087mgCarbohydrates 46gFiber 8gSugar 12gProtein 45g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
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