This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
These Cuban inspired quesadillas are filled with beef picadillo, pico de gallo and cheese. So delish and a great way to use up leftovers!
Picadillo Quesadillas
One word… YUM! I make Picadillo all the time in my house (Madison’s number one request), and because it makes so much I like to get creative with my leftovers. I came up with this quesadilla for lunch one day and my husband said I should put it on the blog, so I thought with Cinco De Mayo coming, it would be fun to do some Cuban-Mexi fusion.
Variations:
- Try this with leftover taco meat instead of picadillo.
- Use gluten-free tortillas like Siete to make them gluten-free.
More Quesadilla Recipes You Will Love
- Chicken Quesadilla
- BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
- Cuban Sandwich Quesadillas
- Buffalo Burger Quesadillas
- Shrimp Quesadilla
Picadillo Quesadillas
These Cuban inspired quesadillas are filled with beef picadillo, pico de gallo and cheese. So delish and a great way to use up leftovers!
Yield: 2 servings
Serving Size: 1 quesadilla (3 triangles)
Ingredients
For the quick Pico De Gallo:
- 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp chopped tomato
- 1 tbsp chopped scallion
- juice from 1/2 lime
For the quesadilla:
- cooking spray
- 2 flour tortillas, reduced-carb, whole wheat
- 6 tbsp shredded reduced fat cheddar jack
- 1/2 cup leftover picadillo, drained
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients for the quick pico de gallo in a small bowl.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray the skillet with oil and add a tortilla.
- Brown about 2 minutes on each side, then spread 1/4 cup picadillo on half of the tortilla.
- Top with cheese and half of the pico de gallo, then fold and press down with a spatula. Cook 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crisp.
- Remove from heat and cut in 3 pieces. Repeat with the remaining. Eat hot!
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Nutrition
Serving: 1 quesadilla (3 triangles), Calories: 211 kcal, Carbohydrates: 15 g, Protein: 22 g, Fat: 10 g, Cholesterol: 30 mg, Sodium: 563 mg, Fiber: 8 g, Sugar: 1 g
Categories:
Followed recipe exactly. Delicious!! Big hit at my house!
We will definitely make it again.
So good. Could eat this everyyday. I have added black beans or even refried nonfat beans sometimes. Doesn’t need it, but if have to use up I add it. Thanks!
My son and I made these tonight and we loved them! We made this exactly as the recipe is written and used the green olives. Loved that it made enough for another meal perfect meal prep recipe! Will definitely make this again!
Perfect! 🙂
I’m going make this with ground turkey with taco seasoning!……..can’t wait to try it! Looks delicious and easy!
How would this taste with 93% lean turkey instead? What would that make the points on purple?
The pico makes this! I had it first without the pico, and it was good, but nothing spectacular. I made the pico the next time, and it was yum!!
OH MYYYYY! Such wonderfulness (not a word) These are FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Gina… You have made it SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO nice to lose some pounds and eat healthy….. These seriously ROCKED….
We had these last night – they were so delicious! Even my picky 2 year old ate it (with sour cream)!
These were phenomenal. I added some of the olive brine. Used a regular onion since that is what i had for the pico de gallo. Perfect! Using the leftovers for tacos another night this week. Excellent!
Really good.???????????? You saved my picadollo from going to waste and my night lol
These were easy and amazing!! I love left over recipes and I still have more Picadillo left so I will definitely be making this again!
Great! Glad you enjoyed them!
One word yes. Soooo. Good
Made these for dinner tonight and my husband absolutely LOVED them! Found a new favorite for football Sunday’s 🙂
Part of the recipe says 1/2 cup drained and then below it it says 1/4 cup, which is the correct serving size? Also what size quesadillas the little or larger ones? Thanks
definitely forgot to drain the meat…. crucial step. what a mess and a failure for me 🙁
I don't see where the question of how big the tortilla is that you used in the recipe, Gina. I do not have La Tortilla Factory in my grocery so I need to know how big the tortilla is in inches. Thanks!
Gina, this was FANTASTIC!! Even my picky six year old ate it and absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for a winner that the entire family will eat.
This recipe is really wonderful! So tasty and awesome that you make the Picadillo ahead of time!
Gina, I love your site and recipes. I just found it this past month and have used about five of your recipes so far. Last night I made these for my two girls and me and they were delicious to say the least. The picadillo has such great flavor..even my sometimes picky 6 year old loved them. I think I will be using this as my taco recipe from now on as well! The flavors are to die for! 🙂
YUM! I've used my leftover picadillo in omelets… delicious!
This looks super yummy, but I am a little confused…there appears to be ground beef in the pictures, but no mention of ground beef in the ingredients.
Just click on the "crock pot picadillo". This will take you to the recipe to make the ground beef. 🙂
A Latin American and Caribbean favorite, picadillo is a savory-sweet ground beef filling that's … It's also good in tacos, quesadillas, and omelets.
I made these last night for dinner and they were so yummy! The recipe for Picadillo tastes much better than the taco mix added to ground beef (what I usually make for quick taco dinners). I'll use your recipe from now on!! Much healthier too! Thank you!
Are the points calculated with the La Tortilla Factory Large Size or Original size reduced-carb whole wheat flour tortillas?
Super delicious!! Adding it to my recipes! Thanks so much 🙂
I am definitely making this tonight but will be using ground turkey instead and adding beef flavored seasoning. I also can't have the cheese so I'm going to try using avocado for some creaminess. btw I'm new to your website and I absolutely love love it I will be using these recipes for years to come!!
Where is the recipe for the meat, the link does not wotk
I just fixed the link
Sorry it's fixed, but anything can be found using the search bar for the future!
The serving is one tortilla, but since the recipe calls for it be folded over, one serving is the three triangles.
Yes, the recipe link is broken. I'm sure she'll fix it but in the meantime, you can type 'picadillo' in the search bar (top right) and the link WILL come up. She has both a crockpot and a stovetop version on the blog.
This looks amazingly delicious!! Think CP Picadillo is a must this week!
Appetitose davvero!!!!
Looks great! I use my leftover picadillo to stuff sweet potatoes. They are awesome. You can also do empanadas, and other Latino dishes if you are so inclined.
I'm embarrassed to admit I don't know what an empenada is. Many people have mentioned it. Gina, could you post an empenada recipe? (I used tour search bar but nothing came up.)
Thea, here is one that she posted a while back. So good! https://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/01/baked-empanadas-3-pts.html
I have tried the link for the Empanada recipe and it does not work. 🙁
Is the one quesadilla the entire tortilla or one of the 1/3 sections?
it's one whole tortilla, folded in half so you get all 3 sections.
I see you use the la tortilla factory tortillas. Did you use the original size or large size to calculate the nutritional value? Thanks 🙂
Link in the recipe is broken.
Just fixed
When I click on the link to get the crockpot picadillo, it is telling me it is not there. Just an FYI, I will look it up, as I am sure I can find it by a search option on here! 🙂
If using leftover picadillo, do you need to reheat it from the fridge, or will it get warm enough while the cheese is melting (without burning the rest of the tortilla)?
Yes, I like to warm it up first.
Mmmm, that looks amazing! That recipe title is a great portmanteau 🙂
Click on the "crockpot picadillo" recipe for the meat portion. Looks easy and delicious!
You have to look up the picadillo recipe to get the meat part.
Is it just me or is there meat in the pictures, but none in the recipe?
I linked to the picadillo, click the link
The link is broken, would you mind re-posting. Thanks.
Yes, I was thinking the same thing. There looks like there's ground beef. Is that included in the calories?
I just fixed the link, sorry! And yes, that is all calculated into the calories.
Looks amazing. What size brand or size tortilla do you use to compute the points?
I used La Tortilla factory to calculate.
I found La Banderita brand of corn tortillas ans they are 2 points for 2 tortillas & are 5 1/2 inches!!
We don't have that brand. Is it an 8 or 10 inch tortilla?