Low Fat Birria Quesadilla

Indulge in the bold, savory flavors of this Low Fat Birria Quesadilla—a lighter twist on the classic Mexican favorite. Featuring tender, slow-simmered lean beef infused with the smoky, slightly sweet heat of guajillo and ancho chilies, this recipe offers all the richness of traditional birria with a guilt-free spin. Whole wheat tortillas and low-fat mozzarella cheese keep things wholesome, while fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime add bright, zesty notes to every bite. Perfectly crisp on the outside and oozing with melted cheese and juicy shredded beef inside, these quesadillas make for a satisfying weeknight meal or an irresistible party dish. With easy-to-follow instructions and options for meal prep, this is a must-try recipe for anyone craving authentic Mexican flavors with a healthy twist.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:180 mins

Total Time:210 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 lb Lean beef chuck roast
• 4 cups Vegetable broth
• 3 Dried guajillo chilies
• 2 Dried ancho chilies
• 3 Garlic cloves
• 1 medium White onion
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 tsp Ground cumin
• 1 tsp Dried oregano
• 1 cup Low-fat mozzarella cheese
• 6 Whole wheat tortillas
• 1 bunch Fresh cilantro
• 2 Lime wedges
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Pepper
• 0 Cooking spray

Directions

Step 1

Start by trimming any visible fat off the beef chuck roast. Cut the beef into large chunks and set aside.

Step 2

In a large pot, add the vegetable broth and bring to a simmer.

Step 3

De-seed and de-stem the guajillo and ancho chilies. Add them to the simmering broth and steep for 10 minutes until softened.

Step 4

Peel and quarter the onion and garlic. Add them along with the softened chilies, 1 cup of the steeping broth, and bay leaves to a blender. Blend until smooth.

Step 5

Return the blended mixture to the pot. Add cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.

Step 6

Add the beef chunks to the pot, making sure they're submerged in the liquid. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 2.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender and pulls apart easily.

Step 7

Once the beef is done, remove it from the pot and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded beef to the pot to soak in the juices for another 10 minutes.

Step 8

To assemble the quesadillas, spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.

Step 9

Place a tortilla in the skillet. On one half of the tortilla, sprinkle a handful of shredded beef mixture and some low-fat mozzarella cheese. Fold the tortilla over.

Step 10

Cook until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese melts, about 3 minutes per side. Repeat for remaining tortillas.

Step 11

Serve the quesadillas with fresh cilantro and lime wedges on the side.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2067.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2869.0

Total Fat 131.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 48.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.9g
Cholesterol 406.2mg	0%
Sodium 7697.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 247.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 47.4g	0%
Total Sugars 27.3g
Protein 185.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1225.0mg	0%
Iron 32.1mg	0%
Potassium 5425.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 40.6%

Protein: 25.5%

Carbs: 34.0%