Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas

Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas

by | Apr 12, 2021 | BEEF | 0 comments

Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas

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Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas are on regular rotation in my house. They’re not only quick and easy but tasty, family-approved and customizable. I like to use cheddar cheese and load mine up with fresh cilantro. But Monterey jack, spicy Mexican blend, or mozzarella cheese are also great options. Go ahead and be adventurous with the toppings too. Sour cream and salsa are always family favourites but also try diced avocado, taco sauce, pickled jalapeños, green onion…and the list goes on. But that’s what makes it fun and perfect for the whole family.

There’s a huge variety of tortillas available too. I like the flour and corn blend while my husband prefers plain flour. These are the basic options, you may want to try a multigrain, garden vegetable or sun-dried tomato tortilla. Again, there are lots of options to please everyone.

Sauteed beef, onions and green peppers in a cast iron skillet in preparation for Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas.
Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas ready to be folded in a skillet.

The black beans extend the ground beef, making these budget-friendly too. You can easily cut back on the ground beef further and sub in a few more black beans. I like just enough to give a little texture, fibre and added nutrition. I use drained and rinsed canned black beans out of convenience but you can certainly cook your own dried beans, which will reduce the cost further. Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas are a great weeknight meal for the whole family no matter how you stack them up. You’ll want them on regular rotation, enjoy!

Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas cut and stacked three high on a wooden plate, garnished with cilantro and lime.

Author:  Compelled to Cook

Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas cut and stacked three high on a wooden plate, garnished with cilantro and lime.
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Beef and Black Bean Quesadillas

Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp canola oil plus more for tortillas
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup diced green pepper
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 tbsp taco seasoning or 35g pkg
  • 1/4-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 3/4 cup canned black beans, drained & rinsed
  • 1/2 cup corn niblets
  • 4 10" tortillas
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese about 8 ounces
  • as needed chopped fresh cilantro optional
  • as needed salsa optional
  • as needed sour cream optional

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a medium skillet, add beef and cook until just starting to brown, breaking up larger pieces as it cooks. Drain or dab out any excess fat.
  • Add green pepper, onion and garlic. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes until vegetables start to soften and beef is fully browned and cooked through.
  • Stir in water, taco season, and red pepper flakes. Cook over medium until liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes.
  • Stir in black beans and corn and heat until warm. Adjust salt to taste.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat and drizzle in 1/2 tsp of oil. Add one tortilla and sprinkle the entire tortilla with 1/2 cup of grated cheddar cheese (about 2 ounces). Spread approximately 1 cup of beef mixture evenly over half of the cheese-covered tortilla.
  • Allow to cook until the bottom of the tortilla is golden and the cheese is melted. Fold the tortilla in half and press gently to hold it together. Remove to a cutting board and cut into 3 wedges. Repeat with remaining tortillas and serve immediately with your favourite garnishes like sour cream and salsa.

Notes

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Meaty Black Bean Chili

Meaty Black Bean Chili

by | May 15, 2020 | BEEF, GLUTEN FREE, PORK | 2 comments

Meaty Black Bean Chili

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Meaty Black Bean Chili served in a shallow bowl with flatbread, garnished with cheddar cheese, green onions and cilantro.

Meaty Black Bean Chili is my new favourite chili! For good reason too, it’s hearty and spicy with a punch of freshness from fresh cilantro added at the end. It also uses black beans, which is my favourite bean and they’re a great change from kidney beans. I also like the use of beef and pork for a meaty and hearty chili that is very satisfying. This chili is excellent for potlucks and back yard BBQ parties.

Meaty Black Bean Chili in a cream coloured dutch oven resting on a navy kitchen towel and wooden trivet.

Spicy heat is a personal choice for everyone and everyone gets an opinion on how hot their food should be. I don’t care for anything too spicy, and by that I mean, if I can’t taste the other ingredients because my lips are burning so bad, well, that ’s too hot for me. I find the spiciness in this Meaty Black Bean Chilli just right for my liking. It has a subtle spiciness that’s just enough to make me want to eat another bite with fresh cilantro and cheese to mellow the heat. But of course, this is just my opinion, so feel free to add more cayenne or chipotle peppers in adobo sauce if that suits your taste.

Another great thing about chili is it’s even better if served the next day as the flavours and spiciness have more time meld. It freezes very well and can be kept in a sealed container in the freezer for 1-2 months. Enjoy!

Author:  Compelled to Cook

Meaty Black Bean Chili
Print Recipe
    Servings Prep Time
    9 cups 30 minutes
    Cook Time
    60 minutes
    Servings Prep Time
    9 cups 30 minutes
    Cook Time
    60 minutes
    Meaty Black Bean Chili
    Print Recipe
      Servings Prep Time
      9 cups 30 minutes
      Cook Time
      60 minutes
      Servings Prep Time
      9 cups 30 minutes
      Cook Time
      60 minutes
      Ingredients
      Servings: cups
      Instructions
      1. Heat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground beef and pork and cook until no longer pink and starting to brown, breaking up any large pieces. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
      2. Scrape out seeds from the chipotle peppers and finely mince, use about two chili peppers with sauce to equal 2 tbsp or more depending how hot you want it. Add peppers to the pot along with beef broth, tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, green pepper, onion, spices, salt, and sugar. Stir well to combine.
      3. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for about 50 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove lid and adjust consistency to your liking by adding more beef broth or simmering uncovered for a few minutes to evaporate some liquid. The chili will thicken slightly as it sits and cools.
      4. Stir in black beans and cook for 1-2 minutes to warm. Stir in cilantro just before serving and ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with cheddar cheese, green onion and additional cilantro.
      Recipe Notes

      -I found 1 cup of beef broth just about right for consistency.  Adjust to your liking.

      -This chili is even better when served the next day as the flavours have longer to meld.

      -Makes about 9 cups of chili and freezes very well.

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      Beef Taco Crostada

      Beef Taco Crostada

      by | Jan 17, 2020 | BEEF | 0 comments

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      Beef Taco Crostada is tasty and fun with flaky pastry, taco seasoned beef and endless topping options.  It’s like a taco pie without the pie plate.  For convenience, you could use purchased pie dough but I’m partial to finding the time to make my own, especially this one, because of the added maize (corn flour).  Since corn flour is gluten-free the pastry is very tender because there is less gluten than if you used all regular flour.  Corn flour also has a nice fine texture which aids in a lighter, flakier crust as well.  

      Ground beef cooked with taco seasoning, onions, peppers and black beans in a cream coloured cast iron skillet ready for Beef Taco Crostada.

      The ground beef is cooked with onions and green pepper and then seasoned with a taco seasoning blend for flavour and spiciness. Black beans add texture, fibre and Mexican flair. Cheddar cheese brings everything together.  The fun comes adding a variety of toppings to suit your taste.  I happen to like shredded lettuce, green onions, avocado, cilantro and sour cream.  Other options may include salsa, jalapenos, guacamole, tomato, red onion and black olives. Go crazy with the toppings and enjoy it, it’s a fun family meal.

      Want more family friendly meal ideas?

      One Pot Turkey Mushroom Pasta

      Meaty Baked Pasta

      Stroganoff Meatballs

      A wedge of Beef Taco Crostada topped with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and sour cream.

      Author: Compelled to Cook

      Beef Taco Crostada
      Print Recipe
        Servings Prep Time
        4 people 40-45 minutes
        Cook Time Passive Time
        35 minutes 1 hour
        Servings Prep Time
        4 people 40-45 minutes
        Cook Time Passive Time
        35 minutes 1 hour
        Beef Taco Crostada
        Print Recipe
          Servings Prep Time
          4 people 40-45 minutes
          Cook Time Passive Time
          35 minutes 1 hour
          Servings Prep Time
          4 people 40-45 minutes
          Cook Time Passive Time
          35 minutes 1 hour
          Ingredients
          Pastry
          Taco Meat
          Servings: people
          Instructions
          Pastry
          1. Combine flours and salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter chunks until pea-size or smaller. Drizzle with 4-5 tbsp of cold water and the vinegar tossing with a fork until dough becomes scraggly. Add another tbsp of cold water if necessary. Turn mixture out onto a clean work surface and knead until dough comes together. Form into a flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
          Taco Meat
          1. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion and green pepper and sauté over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add ground beef and continue to cook until beef is no longer pink and has started to brown, breaking up beef chunks as it cooks. Remove from heat and dab out any excess fat with a paper towel.
          2. Return to medium heat and add spices and water, stirring to combine. Allow mixture to come to a simmer and cook uncovered until most of the moisture has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
          3. Remove from heat and stir in beans and half of the cheese.
          4. Preheat oven to 375°F and line a large baking tray with parchment.
          5. Roll dough into a 14" circle that will be about 1/8" thick. Fold dough in half and move to your prepared baking tray.
          6. Spread beef mixture in the centre of the dough leaving a 1 1/2"-2" boarder of dough. Fold the dough boarder up and over the beef mixture, crimping the dough slightly as you go.
          7. Whisk egg with a tbsp of water and brush onto exposed pastry edge. Bake for about 35 minutes until pastry is golden.
          8. Remove from oven and top centre with remaining cheese. Cut into wedges and serve with desired toppings.
          Recipe Notes

          -The pastry can be made up to a day in advance and kept chilled until ready to use.

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          I may receive compensation for purchases made through this site, at no cost to the purchaser. Compelled to Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
          Stroganoff Meatballs

          Stroganoff Meatballs

          by | Nov 29, 2019 | BEEF, CASSEROLES | 0 comments

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          Stroganoff Meatballs in a red casserole dish resting on a wooden tray lined with a white kitchen towel.

          This a casserole that I’ve made time and time again. I love it because it makes enough for six people or provides plenty of leftovers, which is important for me as a shift worker. It’s also a comforting, family-style meal that is fantastic served over mashed potatoes. Stroganoff Meatballs is a great fall/winter recipe that you’ll want to make over and over.

          Raw beef meatballs rolled and arranged on a baking tray in preparation for Stroganoff Meatballs.

          For this recipe, you’ll notice that I insist you use a beef soup base such as Knorr OXO Beef in a Mug and not regular beef bouillon powder. This is not a sponsored post, but I’ve tried both beef bouillon cubes and regular beef bouillon powder. They just don’t have the same beef flavour that the soup base does, and it makes all the difference. I do hate to be so particular on an ingredient, but for this recipe I must insist that you use beef soup base such as Knorr OXO Beef in a Mug.  It’s worth the little bit of fuss, enjoy!

          Ingredients for Stroganoff Meatballs arranged on a small wooden board on a white kitchen towel.

          Author: Compelled to Cook, adapted from Companys Coming Casseroles cookbook 1985.

          Stroganoff Meatballs
          Print Recipe
          Servings Prep Time
          6 people 55-60 minutes
          Cook Time
          35 minutes
          Servings Prep Time
          6 people 55-60 minutes
          Cook Time
          35 minutes
          Stroganoff Meatballs
          Print Recipe
          Servings Prep Time
          6 people 55-60 minutes
          Cook Time
          35 minutes
          Servings Prep Time
          6 people 55-60 minutes
          Cook Time
          35 minutes
          Ingredients
          Beef Meatballs
          Stroganoff Sauce
          Servings: people
          Instructions
          Beef Meatballs
          1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
          2. In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix until incorporated. Roll into 1-ounce meatballs (about 2 tbsp each) and arrange on a large baking tray lined with parchment. Will yield about 38 meatballs.
          3. Bake for 15 minutes and remove from oven. Reduce heat to 350°F.
          Stroganoff Sauce
          1. While meatballs are cooking, heat oil in a large dutch oven. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté until most of the liquid has evaporated and starting to brown.
          2. Add 2 cups water and OXO soup base and heat to a simmer, stirring to dissolve. Whisk together the cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water. Add to pot, whisking constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and whisk in mushroom soup until smoothed out. Stir in sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, paprika and pepper.
          3. Add meatballs to the sauce and stir gently to coat with sauce. Cover and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately over noodles, rice or potatoes.
          Recipe Notes

          -It is a must to use beef soup base (preferably Knorr OXO Beef in a Mug)  I have tried to use regular beef bouillon cubes and powder, however, they do not have the same level of beef flavour and are not recommended for this recipe.

          -Meatballs can be made and cooked up to a day ahead.  Keep covered and chilled until ready to use.  Cook casserole for 40-45 minutes if using cold meatballs.

           

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          I may receive compensation for purchases made through this site, at no cost to the purchaser. Compelled to Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
          Beef Roulade

          Beef Roulade

          by | Oct 4, 2019 | BEEF | 0 comments

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          Grilled Beef Roulade arranged on a wooden platter and garnished with fresh basil.

          Beef Roulade is a simple yet impressive entree of beef flank steak rolled with prosciutto, basil and provolone and grilled to perfection.

          Simple flavours come together in this wonderful dish and it’s easier than you think. It can easily be prepped in advance making it great for entertaining or a weekend family meal.

          Flattened flank steak layered with prosciutto, basil and provolone in preparation for Beef Roulade.

          What’s important for this recipe is to flatten the flank steak as evenly as possible for ease of rolling and uniform cooking. You also need to season the meat well with salt and pepper.  Rolling the flattened meat as tight as possible to hold in the layered elements within is also important. Some cheese does seep out when cooking, so a tight roll will help keep everything in place and minimize the loss of melty cheese.

          Be sure to have your grill or pan hot before adding the rolls. They only take 4-5 minutes per side, so you want the surface hot enough to brown the meat before it cooks. As with any meat, it’s important to allow the meat to rest for several minutes prior to serving, this will allow the moisture to settle back into the muscle rather than run all over your plate.

          Flattened flank steak rolled and tied with basil, provolone and prosciutto and ready for grilled Beef Roulade.

          By all means, you can grill the assembled and tied roll as one whole piece and slice to serve, but I prefer the individual grilled portions because you get more charred/seared meat per bite which to me means more flavour. And I’m always game for more flavour, enjoy!

          Author:  Compelled to Cook

          Beef Roulade
          Print Recipe
            Servings Prep Time
            3-4 people 40 minutes
            Cook Time Passive Time
            10 minutes 3 minutes
            Servings Prep Time
            3-4 people 40 minutes
            Cook Time Passive Time
            10 minutes 3 minutes
            Beef Roulade
            Print Recipe
              Servings Prep Time
              3-4 people 40 minutes
              Cook Time Passive Time
              10 minutes 3 minutes
              Servings Prep Time
              3-4 people 40 minutes
              Cook Time Passive Time
              10 minutes 3 minutes
              Ingredients
              Servings: people
              Instructions
              1. Butterfly flank steak by laying flat and slicing in half lengthwise with the grain, stopping 1-2" before cutting all the way through.
              2. Open up flank steak like a book and place between two pieces of parchment. Pound flat with a mallet to an approximate 12"x8" rectangle. Try to flatten the seam to the same thickness.
              3. Season the flattened flank steak with salt and pepper and brush generously with Dijon mustard.
              4. Cover with prosciutto slices in an even layer. Arrange basil leaves in a single layer on top of the prosciutto. Top with an even layer of provolone cheese.
              5. With the prepped steak facing you lengthwise, roll up tightly. Secure with a few toothpicks to hold it while you tie it.
              6. Using butcher string, snugly tie the rolled steak at 1" intervals. Remove toothpicks and cut roll evenly between each piece of string, giving you about 8 one-inch rolls tied in the centre with string.
              7. Preheat grill to medium-high.
              8. Rub or brush prepared rolls on both sides with oil.
              9. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side for medium by grilling directly on the grill, using a mesh grill mat on the grill or by pan-frying. Allow to rest 2-3 minutes and serve.
              Recipe Notes

              -I have found that using grated provolone makes the roll easier to roll.

              -Using a mesh grill mat is convenient but not necessary.

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              I may receive compensation for purchases made through this site, at no cost to the purchaser. Compelled to Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
              Steak with Balsamic Butter Sauce

              Steak with Balsamic Butter Sauce

              by | Aug 12, 2019 | BEEF | 0 comments

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              Steak with Balsamic Butter Sauce is an elevated meal for two and takes only a few quality ingredients and less than 30 minutes to prepare.

               

               

              Tenderloin steak, butter and balsamic vinegar arranged on a wooden board in preparation for Steak with Balsamic Butter Sauce

               

              Beef tenderloin steaks can be a bit pricy, even for us here in beef country. But what I really like about beef tenderloin is that it’s a relatively lean cut of beef, it’s super tender and flavourful. It deserves a good sear to hold in the moisture and a generous drizzle of balsamic butter sauce.

               

               

              Butter sauce comes in many forms, like Beurre Blanc-French butter sauce, Piccata sauce and the sauce on my Tarragon Chicken Cutlets

              A butter sauce is quite simple and uber quick to pull off with a little know-how. In any butter sauce, it’s very important to use cold butter cut into small chunks. Cold butter melts more slowly, allowing the fat particles to breakdown and be dispersed throughout other liquids like wine, lemon juice, stock or in this case, balsamic vinegar. Adding butter gradually is equally as important. It allows all the fat particles to become completely emulsified but at a slower rate. This process creates a thicker and more stable sauce. Scientifically it’s a little more involved, but this gives you the idea behind it.  Enjoy!

               

              Steak with Balsamic Butter Sauce sliced and ready to serve garnished with fresh rosemary.

              Author: Compelled to Cook

              Steak with Balsamic Butter Sauce sliced and ready to serve garnished with fresh rosemary.
              Steak with Balsamic Butter Sauce
              Print Recipe
                Servings Prep Time
                2 people 10-15 minutes
                Cook Time
                12-15 minutes
                Servings Prep Time
                2 people 10-15 minutes
                Cook Time
                12-15 minutes
                Steak with Balsamic Butter Sauce sliced and ready to serve garnished with fresh rosemary.
                Steak with Balsamic Butter Sauce
                Print Recipe
                  Servings Prep Time
                  2 people 10-15 minutes
                  Cook Time
                  12-15 minutes
                  Servings Prep Time
                  2 people 10-15 minutes
                  Cook Time
                  12-15 minutes
                  Ingredients
                  Servings: people
                  Instructions
                  1. Pat steaks dry with a paper towel and season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
                  2. Add oil to a medium stainless steel skillet and heat on high. When the oil is hot add steaks and cook 4 to 4 1/2 minutes per side for medium-rare, flipping only once and getting a good sear on both sides.
                  3. Remove steaks to a plate and cover with foil.
                  4. Add balsamic vinegar, beef broth and rosemary to the same pan whisking to pick up any beefy bits left behind by the steak. Continue to cook over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes until sauce is reduced by at least half and can coat the back of a spoon. Remove rosemary sprig.
                  5. Turn heat to low and whisk in butter one chunk at a time, allowing the butter to be incorporated before adding more. Once all the butter is incorporated remove from heat and adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Serve over steak or on the side as a dipping sauce. Makes about 1/3 cup of sauce.
                  Recipe Notes

                  Cooking time for steaks will be dependant on size.  The steaks I used were approximately 8 ounces each and 1 1/2 " thick.

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                  I may receive compensation for purchases made through this site, at no cost to the purchaser. Compelled to Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com