Best Valentines Quesadillas to Make

Coming up with a fun, creative dinner idea for Valentine’s Day can feel like a lot of pressure. Between making dinner reservations weeks in advance or battling crowded restaurants, sometimes the most romantic choice is staying in and keeping things simple.

That’s why these Valentine’s quesadillas are such a perfect solution – they’re easy to make together, totally customizable with your favorite fillings, and way more laid-back than a fancy night out. Plus, who doesn’t love sharing a cheesy, melty dinner with someone special?

What Kind of Ground Beef Should I Use?

For taco-style quesadillas, you’ll want to think about the fat content of your ground beef. An 80/20 mix (meaning 80% lean meat, 20% fat) is ideal since it gives you enough fat to keep the meat juicy and flavorful, but not so much that your quesadillas become greasy. If you prefer leaner meat, 85/15 will work too, though you might notice it’s slightly less tender. When you’re at the store, look for beef that’s bright red in color and avoid any packages with excessive liquid at the bottom. Remember to drain off excess fat after cooking to prevent soggy tortillas – nobody wants that in their Valentine’s Day dinner!

Options for Substitutions

Need to switch things up with these cute quesadillas? Here are some easy swaps you can try:

• Minced beef: You can easily swap the beef for ground turkey, chicken, or even plant-based alternatives like Beyond Meat. For a vegetarian version, try using refried beans or sautéed mushrooms instead.
• Taco spice mix: Out of taco seasoning? Make your own by mixing 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon each of cumin and paprika, and ½ teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano.
• Cheddar cheese: Any melting cheese works great here – try Monterey Jack, Mexican cheese blend, or pepper jack for extra kick. For dairy-free options, use your favorite plant-based shredded cheese.
• Flour tortillas: Corn tortillas can work too, but warm them first so they’re more flexible. For a low-carb option, try using large lettuce leaves, though you’ll lose the heart shape.
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter: No heart-shaped cutter? Use any shape you have, or simply fold the quesadillas in half for traditional half-moon shapes.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when making heart-shaped quesadillas is overfilling them – using more than 1/3 cup of filling per quesadilla can lead to messy spillage when cutting and flipping.

Getting the perfect crispy texture requires medium-low heat (not high heat, which will burn the tortillas before the cheese melts), and resist the urge to press down too hard with your spatula, as this can cause the filling to squeeze out the sides.

When using the cookie cutter, wait until the quesadilla has cooled for about 1-2 minutes after cooking – cutting while too hot will result in melted cheese sticking to your cutter and messy edges, but waiting too long will make the cheese too firm to cut cleanly.

For the best results, cook your ground beef until well-browned and drain any excess grease before adding the taco seasoning, as this prevents your quesadillas from becoming greasy and soggy.

What to Serve With Valentine’s Quesadillas?

These cute heart-shaped quesadillas pair perfectly with all your favorite Mexican-inspired sides! A simple bowl of Mexican rice and some refried beans make the meal more filling and satisfying. I love setting up a little toppings bar with fresh pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and extra sour cream so everyone can customize their plate. For a lighter option, try serving these quesadillas with a crisp southwestern salad loaded with corn, black beans, and cilantro-lime dressing – it adds nice freshness to balance out the cheesy goodness.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Got leftover quesadillas? Place them in an airtight container with wax paper between each one to prevent sticking. They’ll stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days. The seasoned beef mixture on its own can be kept in a separate container for up to 4 days.

Freeze: These heart-shaped treats freeze really well! Let them cool completely, then wrap each quesadilla individually in foil or plastic wrap and pop them in a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to 2 months – perfect for quick lunches or after-school snacks.

Warm Up: To get your quesadillas crispy again, warm them in a skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes per side. You can also use the microwave for 30-45 seconds, though they won’t be as crispy. If frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Make Ahead: You can prep the taco meat mixture up to 2 days in advance and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to make the quesadillas, just reheat the meat and assemble. This makes party prep so much easier!

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	15-20 minutes
Total Time	25-35 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2500-2700
• Protein: 150-170 g
• Fat: 180-200 g
• Carbohydrates: 200-220 g

Ingredients

• 1 pound minced beef
• 1 packet taco spice mix
• 1 cup diced white onion
• 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 12 flour tortillas
• Optional: sour cream (salsa, guacamole for garnish)
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter

Step 1: Cook the Ground Beef and Onion

Begin by preheating a skillet over medium heat.

Add ground beef and diced onion to the skillet.

Sauté the mixture, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until the beef is browned and fully cooked through, and the onions are tender.

Drain any excess fat if necessary and set aside.

Step 2: Cut Tortillas into Heart Shapes

While the beef is cooking, take a heart-shaped cookie cutter and place it on a cutting board.

Use it to cut the tortillas into heart shapes.

You can re-roll the tortilla scraps and cut them again if needed to maximize the use of tortillas.

Step 3: Assemble the Tortilla Hearts

Once your tortillas are ready, fill each heart-shaped tortilla with an even layer of the cooked beef mixture and a sprinkle of cheese.

Be careful not to overfill each tortilla to ensure they cook evenly and hold together well.

Step 4: Cook the Assembled Tortillas

Place the filled tortillas in a flat pan over medium heat.

Cook, flipping occasionally, until each side is lightly browned and the cheese inside is melted.

This should take a few minutes per side.

Adjust heat as necessary to prevent burning.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Once the tortillas are cooked to a golden brown and the cheese is melted, remove them from the pan.

Serve immediately with sides of salsa, sour cream, and/or guacamole for delicious dipping options.

Enjoy your heart-shaped treats!