As promised I have a vegan quesadilla recipe that will knock your socks off! It’s a perfect quick meal or appetizer for Taco Tuesday!
It’s easy to find vegan ground beef these days. I love both Gardein and Beyond Beef, but there are many other options out there. You can also use tempeh, lentils, or just skip the meat substitutes all together.
Sometimes I have a craving for a cheesy, meaty, yet #crueltyfree quesadilla. Here's an easy #vegan recipe that will satisfy. #meatlessmonday #tacotuesdayClick To Tweet
Quesadillas are one of my go-to dishes when I’m short of time. They are ready in less than a half hour, delicious, and really filling too. You can use prepared refried beans and salsa or make your own. The guacamole used in this recipe is very simple, just a mashed avocado with a little lemon or lime juice and salt and pepper. It works perfectly with the seasoned Beefless Ground and salsa.
Vegan Quesadillas with Gardein Beefless Ground
- 1 avocado
- 1 lemon or lime
- salt and pepper
- ½ cup onion, finely chopped
- 1 jalapeno or Serrano chili pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup vegan ground beef
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup vegetarian refried beans
- 1 cup vegan cheese
- ½ cup salsa
- 2 large tortillas (use gluten free if desired)
- Preheat a non-stick pan over medium heat.
- In a small bowl, use a fork to mash the avocado. Squeeze the lemon or lime on top and sprinkle with a little salt or pepper. Combine well and set aside.
- Cook onions and chili for several minutes until soft. Add the vegan ground beef, water, chili powder, and garlic powder. Cook and stir until heated through. Set aside.
- Preheat a large frying pan over medium low heat.
- Heat the tortilla for about 15 seconds on one side the flip over. Sprinkle about half of the vegan cheese over the tortilla. Add half of the vegan ground beef mixture, beans, salsa, and guacamole, spreading thinly.
- Carefully fold tortilla in half. Press it with a spatula to flatten as much as possible. Cook until lightly browned on each side. Keep warm while you prepare the second quesadilla.
Going meatless one day a week is not only great for your health, but it is also good for the environment. The meat industry produces more greenhouse gasses than the entire transportation sector combined. If all Americans ate meatless one day a week, it would be the equivalent of taking 1/2 million cars off the road. And for Californians in the midst of a drought, here’s a fact that will hit home: A pound of beef uses 1,799 gallons of water to produce. A pound of vegan ground “beef” takes just 52.8 gallons (source: Water Footprint Research Methodology for beef usage).
Weekly Linkups
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Inspire Me Monday with Janet
Tuesday Topics with Kim and Zenaida
The Runners’ Roundup with Rachel , Deborah, Lisa, Smitha, Jenn, and Me!
The Weekly Run Down with Deborah and Kim
“If all Americans ate meatless one day a week, it would be the equivalent of taking 1/2 million cars off the road” that right there is reason to eat pasta once a week. Come on folks- let’s do this. The quesadilla looks dellish Debbie! I love any Mexican inspired food.
Thanks Lisa! There are a lot of reasons to go meatless and that one hopefully strikes a chord with a lot of people.
Gotta love a quesadilla — I remember my dad making them for me in the 70s but he called them “cheese crisps” === btw, didn’t tell my hubby that I was using beefless ground in a recipe recently and he was non the wiser!
I love that your husband didn’t catch on! See! It’s easy to go meatless once in a while!
you have gotten me so so so into the GARDEIN!!!!!
alert the company please
You got it!
Quesadillas are our go-to for quick meals too. You can out anything in it, it’s quick and just tastes great!
I agree! Plus, since I rarely get to eat them when I go out because real cheese, I get to enjoy the cheesy goodness.
Reading this is making my tummy growl! Sounds really good.
Good! That’s quite an accomplishment this early in the morning!
YAY! Thanks for joining us for MM again! Love it when you do! Wow this sounds fantastic, and Steve would be in heaven with this, he loves quesadillas, there is just something about that crunch with the gooey! Glad you talked about the importance of MM too, I hope more people start to make that change!
Yes, I love any reason for people to go meatless and helping the environment is a good one. Thanks for hosting. It’s inspiring me to get back to posting recipes.
Hmm.. They look delicious!!! I love having meat substitutes as well. Thanks for the recipe!
#sweatpink
Thank! Meat substitutes are a great way to go meatless, either for Meatless Monday or forever!
Veggie quesadillas are a staple for me! I could eat them everyday. Thanks for linking up with us for meatless Monday great to have you! Clicked through as well
Thanks for the click through. Hope you grabbed a coupon while you were at it.
Thanks too for hosting ing the link up. It’s inspired me to get back to posting recipes regularly. Plus I love seeing all the creative and delicious food that people share!
This is such a great idea to use the beetles crumbles! I would never think of that! yum
Yes, they work great and are really tasty too!
I am not vegan but I have had some of their meals & they are good!
You don’t need to be vegan or vegetarian to enjoy Gardein. It’s fun to try something different, plus they’re good for you and the environment!
I would totally eat this even without the Gardein but I bet it’s delicious. Yum!
I will admit, it’s good with or without the Gardein (or with Gardein Chick’n..yum!).
yum! i love quesadillas!
My family loves quesadillas!! I have never tried gardein, but it looks delicious!
I live in So Cal, and anything I can do to help our water crisis, I am all for it!
YUM! I love quesadillas
Well, you know I’m a meat-eater . . . but I love these Gardein products. I like variety, and it’s nice to have a plant-based meal a couple times a week. Been doing a lot with the Teriyaki strips . . .. even my husband approves, which I couldn’t believe! YUM, need to try your yummy-looking recipe