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In this article, I’m going to teach you how to feed five people with roughly $5 dollars. This ground turkey quesadilla recipe is delicious, simple, and perfect for those who are on a budget. I’m tired of seeing those videos on YouTube that promise a cheap meal, and all you’re left with are skimpy portion sizes. Rest assured, you will be satisfied and full after eating these.
If you’re super focused on tracking your calories right now, then this recipe is probably not the best for you. This is a high-protein, relatively high-calorie meal that is most beneficial for feeding several people. Two of these turkey quesadillas provide 565 calories, 25 grams of protein, and lots of heart-healthy fats. If you’re looking for something else, check out our other meal ideas.
Ingredients
The ingredients for this are fairly simple, I mean come on – you’re spending less than $5 dollars! I’m assuming that you have salt, pepper, and either canola or olive oil at home. If not, that’s perfectly fine, they are optional ingredients that don’t need to be purchased.
Here’s what you’ll need to feed five people:
1lb Jennie-O Lean Ground Turkey – Cooked
8oz Mexican Shredded or Chihuahua Cheese
2 packages El Milagro Corn Tortillas
1tbsp extra virgin olive oil or canola oil (optional)
A pinch of salt and pepper (optional)
A good alternative for oil is using cooking spray each time you make one of these. In doing so, you cut down on calories, but you’re also losing a lot of the good fats from the olive oil. As I said, you don’t necessarily need oil or seasoning, but they are recommended for flavor.
So now that you now all the ingredients, you’re probably wondering how the price breaks down. Take a look at the graphic below to get an idea of exactly how much you’re spending.
If you’re curious about the math breakdown, you can check that out below. Please note that most of these ingredients are cheaper in stores, so online prices may be different.
1lb Jennie- O Lean Ground Turkey – $2.50 in stores
2 Packages El Milagro Corn Tortillas – 0.70c in stores
8oz (1 package) Mexican Shredded Cheese – $2 in stores
Therefore, $2.50 + 0.70c + $2.00 = $5.20!
Preparation
Heat up a medium-sized frying pan on low-medium to heat. Your ground turkey should be cooked prior to making these quesadillas, but if not then make it now. Cook the turkey for 15 minutes with olive oil, salt, and pepper until browned.
Gather your ingredients and start by adding oil to the pan. Allow the oiled pan to get hot, and then add one of the corn tortillas. Each of these quesadillas uses two corn tortillas to ensure they don’t break when you eat them. Immediately add cheese to your first tortilla, this will act as a “glue” for the second tortilla. Add the second tortilla and slightly more cheese on top.
Once you see that the cheese on the second tortilla is starting to melt, add your ground turkey. Each quesadilla should contain roughly 1.6oz of meat, but you can eyeball it. Make sure that meat covers all of the cheese.
After about a minute, the cheese should be thoroughly melted, You can now fold your quesadilla in half so that it resembles a taco or empanada. Apply pressure with your spatula after folding so that everything melts together.
After folding, allow each side to cook for roughly one minute while frequently applying pressure. Your ground turkey quesadillas are now ready to serve after cooling momentarily.
Once you’re done, you’ll have something that looks like the picture below. The above recipe will make two quesadillas for each person if you’re feeding five people. Rest assured, everything will be full and satisfied!
Nutrition Facts
This recipe is designed to make two quesadillas for each person eating if you’re serving five. Don’t let this discourage you from eating less or more to your liking, but be aware of the macronutrients of course. Luckily, this recipe is easy to alter, so you should have no issues.
The following nutrition information is based on the 2 tortillas, 1.6oz ground turkey, ¼ cup shredded cheese, and 1 tbsp olive oil.
Serving Size: 2 Quesadillas
Total Calories: 565
Total Fat: 28.4 grams
Carbohydrates: 25 grams
Protein: 25 grams
Sugar: 0 grams
The highlights of this meal are that it’s low carb, high in protein, and has zero sugars. Its high-fat content might throw you off, but these are mostly heart-healthy fats from the olive oil. This recipe is perfect if you’re doing keto, or simply if you need a filling high-protein meal.
You can cut out a substantial amount of calories and fat by removing the olive oil. If you do this, you’re gonna lose a lot of great flavors, but it’s a completely personal preference. For the most satisfaction, I recommend using olive oil and seasoning.
The serving size is also just a recommendation. You can eat just one of these quesadillas if you want, and it would only be 283 calories. Each quesadilla is an additional 283 calories, approximately.
Conclusion
I hope you guys give this ground turkey melt/quesadilla recipe a try. Unlike plenty of recipes on the internet that promise to feed five people for under $5, this one will actually fill you up. As I previously mentioned, if you’re trying to instill a caloric deficit, I would probably steer clear of this recipe.
To me, this recipe is everything you could want if you’re either maintaining your weight or trying to put on muscle. It is delicious, simple, and packed with a decent number of calories to fuel you for several hours. I personally think this is a great meal idea if you’re running out of ideas.
These quesadillas are particularly good for a high protein lunch or dinner, but they are easier enough to make whenever. I encourage you to give them a try, but if you’re looking for something different, there are several good breakfast choices.
