Description
This Taco Bell Cheesy Quesarito copycat brings together taco-seasoned beef, zesty Spanish rice, nacho cheese, cheddar, and chipotle sauce, all wrapped in a quesadilla and grilled to crispy perfection. A bold, indulgent Tex-Mex favorite made at home.
Ingredients
For the Taco Meat:
1 lb ground beef
1 tsp taco seasoning
¼ cup water
For the Spanish Rice:
2 Tbsp olive oil
¼ cup onion, finely chopped
1½ cups uncooked white rice
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp ground cumin
For the Chipotle Sauce:
½ cup sour cream
2 tsp chipotle sauce (from canned adobo peppers)
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp onion powder
For Assembly and Grilling:
8 large flour tortillas
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup nacho cheese sauce
2 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-high and cook ground beef with taco seasoning and water until browned. Drain excess fat.
- In a separate pan, sauté onions in olive oil, stir in rice to toast, then add chicken broth, salsa, garlic salt, and cumin. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
- In a small bowl, whisk all chipotle sauce ingredients until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Lay down a tortilla, spread 2 Tbsp nacho cheese sauce, sprinkle cheddar, then top with a second tortilla. Repeat to make four quesadilla bases and keep warm.
- On each quesadilla, layer ½ cup Spanish rice, ¼ of the taco meat, chipotle sauce, and extra cheddar. Fold and roll burrito-style.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Grill each quesarito 3 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Serve hot.
Notes
Grill on a hot, oiled surface to prevent sogginess and seal the quesadilla.
Swap in shredded chicken, turkey, or black beans for variations.
Freeze cooked quesaritos and reheat from frozen for a quick meal.
Adjust chipotle sauce heat by using more or less adobo sauce.
Use Monterey Jack or pepper jack for extra melt and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesarito
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1050mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg