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cowboy butter smashed beef tortilla melts 2026 03 28 122738 683x1024 1

Cowboy Butter Smashed Beef Tortilla Melts

Delicious and simple tortilla melts filled with savory beef, melted cheese, and cowboy butter, perfect for a quick dinner or snack.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Cowboy Butter
  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped chives
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Melts
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 4 large flour tortillas
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 tablespoon butter for the skillet for frying

Method
 

Prepare the Cowboy Butter
  1. In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with minced garlic, parsley, chives, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, paprika, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir until everything is well combined.
Cook the Beef
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until it turns brown, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess grease if necessary.
  2. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and 1 tablespoon of the cowboy butter mixture into the cooked beef. Remove the skillet from heat.
Assemble the Tortilla Melts
  1. Lay the tortillas flat on a clean surface. Sprinkle cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese over one half of each tortilla.
  2. Divide the beef mixture evenly over the cheese, then sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
  3. Fold each tortilla over into a half-moon shape and press down gently.
Cook the Tortilla Melts
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the tortilla melts for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and crisp and the cheese has melted. You may need to work in batches.
  2. Once cooked, brush the hot tortilla melts with the remaining cowboy butter. Let them rest for 1 minute, then slice into wedges and serve warm.

Notes

Serve these tortilla melts warm, cut into wedges. They make a great appetizer or main dish. You can pair them with salsa, guacamole, or sour cream for dipping. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet on low heat until warmed through. Make sure the skillet is hot before cooking for crispy texture. Feel free to customize cheese types and add veggies for extra flavor. For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with black beans or additional veggies.