The first time I ordered Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger, I nearly dropped my fork in amazement. “Why didn’t I think of this?” I wondered as I bit into a juicy beef patty sandwiched between two crispy cheese quesadillas instead of a regular bun. After that life-changing meal, I became obsessed with recreating this at home. After multiple attempts, I have finally perfected this copycat recipe, which my family now requests weekly. The best part? You can create this masterpiece in just 30 minutes with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.
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Table of Contents
What makes the Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger so good??
The Applebees Quesadilla Burger has to be one of the best hamburgers you can get in a restaurant. These cheesy, juicy burgers are designed for those who love Mexican food and hamburgers. Why have an ordinary hamburger when you can have cheesy quesadilla burgers?
Why should you try this copycat recipe?
Everyone has copycat recipes, but this one is extra special because it is the perfect restaurant copycat. We give you the recipe to make the ideal handcrafted burgers in your kitchen. We include the exact seasonings and sauce you need for this recipe, and we walk you through how to put it together.
What’s on this Quesadilla burger?
This burger is made with well-seasoned ground chuck beef patties. The meat is topped with slices of Pepper Jack cheese, a delicious Mexi-ranch sauce, crispy Applewood smoked bacon, fresh pico de gallo, crispy fresh lettuce, and warm Cheddar cheese quesadillas surround this burger.
What’s the secret to this burger?
The secret to this burger is that simple ingredients are prepared uniquely. Everyone has made a basic cheeseburger; here, we upgrade the cheese, add bacon, and change out the condiments slightly. The actual upgrade is the Cheddar cheese quesadilla. You and your family can enjoy one fantastic burger in no time.
Quesadilla Burger ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this copycat Applebee’s quesadilla burger recipe:
For the Mexi-Ranch Sauce:
- Sour cream
- Prepared ranch dressing
- Salsa
- Taco seasoning
For the quesadillas:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Small flour tortillas (street taco size)
For the burger patties:
- Ground beef
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
For the burger toppings:
- Sliced pepper jack cheese
- Cooked applewood bacon
- Pico de Gallo
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
What type of ground beef should you use?
Ground chuck has just the right amount of marbling to make the burger juicy and not dry. The ground cut is beef, which is 80% lean and 20% fat. Ground beef, like sirloin, is a bit too dry to carry this burger off. Plain ground hamburger meat can have as much as 30% fat, and that’s too rich for all of the cheese in this burger.
How to make Quesadilla Burgers
- Make the Mexi-ranch sauce by combining sour cream, ranch dressing, salsa, and taco seasoning in a small bowl.
- Preheat the oven to 200°F.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over eight tortillas. Place the eight remaining tortillas on top.
- Cook the quesadillas in a non-stick large frying pan over medium-high heat for about two minutes until they are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Remove the quesadillas from the skillet and keep them warm in the oven while you cook the burgers. Wipe out the skillet with paper towels.
- Combine the ground chuck, salt, and black pepper in a bowl with your hands. Divide the beef into four equal portions and form them into patties.
- Cook the burgers over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes on each side in a large skillet or until you reach your desired doneness.
- Place each burger patty on top of a quesadilla. Top each patty with pepper jack cheese, cooked bacon, Pico de Gallo, shredded lettuce, and Mexi-ranch sauce.
- Cover the burger with another quesadilla.
- Serve immediately.
How do you store the leftovers?
I know you will want to store this fantastic burger if you have one left over. Here are some tips to enjoy those leftovers later. If you consume all of the burgers in one meal, I suggest you store all of the burger’s components in separate containers.
- Allow to Cool: Let the quesadilla burger cool down for about 30 minutes at room temperature. This helps prevent condensation inside the storage container, which can make the burger soggy.
- Store in airtight containers: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
What is the best way to reheat quesadilla burgers?
Reheating a quesadilla burger properly is key to maintaining its flavor and texture. Here’s the best way to reheat a quesadilla burger:
- Preheat Oven or Toaster Oven: Preheat your oven or toaster oven to around 350°F (175°C). This method is preferred over a microwave because it helps maintain the burger’s crispiness.
- Prepare a Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper to make cleanup easier.
- Reheat Slowly: Place the quesadilla burger on the prepared baking sheet.
Ideas for what to serve with this cheesy quesadilla burger
Try these great-tasting appetizers and sides:
- Best Mexican Refried Beans Recipe
- Blooming Onion
- Chilis Skillet Queso Recipe
- Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa Recipe
- How to Do Jalapeno Poppers
- Copycat Chipotle Lime Rice
- Panera Salad (Green Goddess)
- Pea Bacon Salad
- Southwestern Egg Roll Recipe
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Sweetie Pies Mac and Cheese Recipe
Love Applebees? Don’t stop with this burger. There is more!
Who doesn’t love Applebee’s restaurant? Enjoy their French Onion Soup and Oriental Chicken Salad, and finish with one of their famous Triple Chocolate Meltdown desserts.
More burger and quesadilla recipes
- Air Fryer Burgers
- Breakfast Burger
- Butter Burger
- Chicken Quesadilla
- Garlic Burger
- Hamburger Steak with Onion Gravy
- Krystal Burgers
- McDonald’s Burger
- Pizza Burgers
- Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder with Cheese
- White Castle Hamburgers
Check out more of my tasty Mexican food recipes and copycat restaurant dishes.
Applebees Quesadilla Burger
Ingredients
Mexi-Ranch Sauce
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup salsa
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
Quesadillas
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 16 tortillas small, street taco sized
Burger Patties
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Burger Toppings
- 8 slices pepper jack cheese
- 8 slices applewood bacon cooked until crisp
- 1/2 cup pico de gallo
- 2 cups shredded iceburg lettuce
Instructions
Mexi-Ranch Sauce
- Combine the sour cream, ranch dressing, salsa, and taco seasoning in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
Quesadillas
- Preheat the oven to 200°F.
- Divide the cheese evenly among 8 tortillas. Cover the cheese with the 8 remaining tortillas.
- In a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, cook the quesadillas for about two minutes on each side until they are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the skillet and keep warm in the oven while you cook the burgers.
Burger Patties
- Combine the ground chuck, salt, and black pepper in a bowl, and use your hands to incorporate. Divide the beef into 4 patties.
- With a paper towel, wipe out the non-stick skillet you used for the quesadillas, and cook the burgers over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
Burger Assembly
- Place each burger patty on top of a quesadilla. Top each patty with 2 slices of pepper jack cheese, 2 slices of cooked bacon, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, and Mexi-ranch sauce.
Video
Notes
- Want perfectly cooked bacon? Try baking it in the oven! No mess, and perfectly flat crisp bacon.
- Make the Mexi-sauce ahead of time. If you have any left over, it makes a great salad dressing!
- Have leftover chicken or grilled veggies, add them to the quesadillas!
- You can purchase prepared pico de gallo or make homemade pico de gallo.
This is my favorite burger. I’m so glad I was able to make it at home for my daughter and I. It was so good, I make an extra and she took the last one. The recipe was great! I will definitely make it again.
I’ve never had this at Applebee’s, but I saw the picture and had to make it ASAP. And it’s so good! Such a fun mash-up and tastes and textures
This is a great recipe! I made it tonight and it was really good. I used a different cheese and it was great.
This is a great recipe! I made it tonight and it was really good. I used a different cheese and it was great.