Ingredients
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1 pound ground chicken or turkey (or lean ground beef if you prefer!)
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* 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
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* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
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* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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* 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
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* 1/4 teaspoon chili powder (optional, for a little warmth!)
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* 4 large flour tortillas (burrito size works great!)
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* 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil, plus a little more for cooking
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* 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or a Mexican blend!)
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* 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
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* Optional toppings: salsa, sour cream, chopped cilantro, sliced avocado, diced tomatoes
Instructions
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**Prep Your “Smash” Patties:** In a medium bowl, gently combine the ground chicken (or turkey/beef), salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder (if using). Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the patties tough. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions.
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2. **Get Ready to Smash!** Lightly flatten each portion of meat into a thin patty, about the size of your tortillas. Don’t worry about them being perfectly round – a little rustic charm is part of the fun!
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3. **Warm Up the Tortillas:** Lightly brush one side of each tortilla with a little bit of the olive oil.
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4. **Sizzle and Sear:** Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or on a griddle over medium-high heat. Carefully place two of the meat patties into the hot skillet. Cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, until nicely browned and cooked through. If they seem too thin, you can gently press down with a spatula to “smash” them a bit more for extra crispy edges! Remove the cooked patties from the skillet and set aside. Repeat with the remaining two patties.
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5. **Build Your Quesadilla:** Wipe out the skillet if needed, then add a tiny bit more oil if it looks dry. Place one tortilla, oiled-side down, into the warm skillet. Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar and half of the Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the tortilla.
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6. **Add the Burger Goodness:** Carefully place one cooked “smash” patty on top of the cheese. Top the patty with the remaining cheese.
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7. **The Grand Finale:** Place another tortilla, oiled-side up, on top of the cheese and patty.
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8. **Crisp it Up!** Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the bottom tortilla is golden brown and crispy. Carefully flip the quesadilla (a spatula and a plate can help with this if you’re nervous!). Cook the other side for another 3-4 minutes, until it’s also golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey.
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9. **Serve and Enjoy!** Remove the quesadilla from the skillet and let it rest for a minute before slicing it into wedges. Repeat steps 5-8 for the second quesadilla.