Carne asada quesadillas are the easiest dinner recipe! With added bell peppers & onions, slow-cooked beef, & cheese, this quesadilla is sure to be a hit!
I love a good carne asada recipe. It’s such a versatile meat, and can be used in everything from tacos, to carne asada bowls, and now, even quesadillas!
When I first started testing this recipe, I was a little unsure of how it would turn out. But oh my goodness, it’s pretty much fool proof!
With slow-cooked flank steak that has been marinating in beer, orange juice, lime juice, and a ton of seasonings all day, you really can’t go wrong with these carne asada quesadillas!
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What does it taste like?
These quesadillas taste like the perfect combination of flavorful carne asada steak, fresh salsa, sauteed peppers, and onions, all encased in melted cheese. The beef is slow-cooked, so it’s tender and shreds really easily. There won’t be any chewy or tough pieces of meat. That makes it perfect to put into a quesadilla!
With your choice of salsa, you can make it as mild or spicy as you’d like. It’s really customizable, so just use your favorite salsa in this recipe, or try my homemade salsa recipe instead!
Ingredients
Flank steak – When you slow cook flank steak in your Crockpot, it falls apart and shreds so easily! It’s the perfect texture for quesadillas, because you won’t have any touch or chewy pieces of meat.
Beer – I always add a little beer to my carne asada meat in the Crockpot. Not only does it give it such a great flavor, but it also helps to keep it moist and to tenderize it as it cooks. I use Corona Light, but you can use whatever beer you want!
Juice – A combination of lime and orange juice give the carne asada a really citrusy flavor, while also helping to tenderize it as well.
Seasonings – My homemade carne asada seasoning consists of paprika, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. It’s salt-free, and uses the same combination I use for my carne asasa bowls recipe.
Bell peppers – Green and red bell peppers not only add some color to this otherwise bland colored meal, but they also had a nutritional boost of fiber and lots of vitamins, too. Bell peppers are really high in vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium. Plus, they taste amazing with carne asada.
Yellow onion – This adds another layer of flavor to the quesadillas.
Avocado oil – This is definitely my go-to cooking oil, and I use it in just about every recipe because of its health benefits and how mild the flavor is.
Shredded cheese – Your choice of cheese here, but I recommend using either shredded cheddar or a mexican-blend shredded cheese.
Salsa – Use your favorite storebought salsa or make your own from scratch! My favorite is my homemade salsa, because I can made it in large batches and freeze the extras!
Corn tortillas – Corn tortillas are whole grain, and lower in carbs and calories than wheat tortillas. They’re also gluten-free, and work amazingly well for these easy carne asada quesadillas.
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all the carne asada seasonings and sprinkle them over the beef in the slow cooker.
- Cook the flank steak in your slow cooker, along with the seasonings, beer, and juices. Pour the juices, seasonings, and beer over the meat, and cook on low for 6 hours.
- After 6 hours, remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred it!
- Saute the onion and bell peppers until softened.
- Assemble your quesadillas! Spread salsa onto a tortilla, and place it salsa-side up in a skillet. Sprinkle cheese, peppers and onions, and carne asada meat onto the tortilla. Then more cheese, and another tortilla.
- Cook on low until it’s golden and crispy, then carefully flip it, and cook 1-2 minutes on the second side. Remove from the skillet, and allow to cool slightly before cutting. Cut it into 4 pieces, and serve with guacamole and fresh cilantro!
Tips & FAQ
Flank steak or skirt steak work perfectly for slow cooker carne asada, and tend to stay moist in your Crockpot. I’ve also used breakfast steak for this recipe, which turned out a little drier but still delicious when I used it in my quesadillas!
No, this carne asada recipe isn’t spicy at all. The spiciest ingredient is salsa, so just use your favorite salsa and it will taste amazing! You can also try my homemade salsa, too! If you want these to be a bit spicier, try adding a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the quesadillas.
Carne asada beef goes great on tacos, in burritos, in quesadillas, on top of rice and beans, with eggs, salsa, and avocado, on a plate of fries, or even in these carne asada bowls!
Nutritional Info
Even though quesadillas aren’t exactly a “health” food, there are ways to make them healthier!
By using corn tortillas instead of flour, you reduce the carbs and calories you’re eating, while increasing the whole grains and fiber! Corn tortillas also tend to be much lower in sodium than flour tortillas, and are 100% gluten-free!
Adding veggies like bell peppers, and using a quality salsa for your carne asada quesadillas also helps to increase the nutritional value you’re getting from this meal.
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 419 calories
- Protein: 22 grams
- Sodium: 401 mg
- Carbohydrates: 38 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
Looking for another easy way to add protein to your morning? Try making protein coffee at home!
Pricing Info
Taking into account all the ingredients and finding a flank steak at Costco for under $7 per lb, this recipe comes out to be around $12.07 for 4 servings or roughly $3.01 per quesadilla!
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Recipe
Carne Asada Quesadillas
Ingredients
For the Carne Asada:
- 1 lb flank steak
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ½ cup beer (I use Corona Light)
For The Quesadillas:
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 yellow onion sliced fajita style
- 1 red bell pepper sliced fajita style
- 1 green bell pepper sliced fajita style
- 8 medium corn tortillas
- ½ cup salsa
- 2 cups shredded cheese of choice
Instructions
- Place the flank steak in your slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine all the carne asada seasonings and sprinkle them over the beef in the slow cooker. Pour the juices and beer over the meat, and cook on low for 6 hours.
- After 6 hours, remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred. Set aside.
- In a skillet, heat the oil on medium heat. Add the sliced onions and bell peppers, and saute for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Set aside.
- Spray a separate skillet with cooking spray, and heat on medium-low. Spread about 2 tablespoons of salsa onto a tortilla, and place it salsa-side up in the greased skillet. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of cheese onto the salsa, then 1/4 cup of the carne asada meat, and 1/4 cup of the peppers and onions. Sprinkle 1/4 cup more cheese on top of the peppers and onions, then place another tortilla on top, to complete your quesadilla.
- Let the quesadilla cook until golden and crispy on the bottom, about 4-5 minutes (see notes if using flour tortillas). Don't mess with it before it gets a little crispy, or it will tear/fall apart! Once it's golden and crispy, spray the uncooked tortilla with cookign spray, carefully flip it, and cook 4-5 minutes on the second side.
- Remove from the skillet, and allow to cool slightly before cutting. Cut it into 4 pieces, and serve with guacamole and fresh cilantro!
Video
Notes
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Carne asada quesadillas are easy and deliciously cheesy! They make a great weeknight dinner for everyone, just don’t forget the guacamole!
xoxo Megan
Easy and absolutely delicious!
Yay I love this one, too! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!