Smash Burger Tacos

These smash burger tacos have crispy lace-edged beef, melted American cheese, and all your favorite burger toppings wrapped in a warm tortilla. ♡

The technique is what makes these special. You smash a ball of seasoned beef directly onto a tortilla on a screaming hot griddle. The beef gets paper-thin with crispy, caramelized edges while the tortilla toasts underneath. Add a slice of American cheese while it’s still hot and it melts into every crevice.

Smash, flip, cheese, and dress. Let’s make it together.

Ingredients

Smash Burger Tacos

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
• 8 small flour tortillas (street taco size)
• 8 slices American cheese
• 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
• 1/2 cup diced white onion
• Dill pickle slices
• Seasoning salt and black pepper to taste

For the special sauce:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon pickle relish

Optional add-ins:

• Sliced jalapeños
• Crispy bacon crumbles
• Caramelized onions

How to Make Smash Burger Tacos

1. Mix the sauce. Stir together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish in a small bowl. Set aside.
2. Heat. Get a cast iron skillet or flat griddle screaming hot over high heat. You want it as hot as it goes.
3. Smash. Roll beef into 2 oz balls. Place a tortilla on the hot griddle, set a beef ball on one half, and press down hard with a stiff spatula until paper-thin. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Sear. Cook without moving for 2 to 3 minutes until the edges are deeply caramelized and lacy. Lay a slice of American cheese on the beef. Fold the empty tortilla half over the cheese side.
5. Crisp. Press gently and cook another 30 seconds until the tortilla is golden and toasted on the bottom.
6. Dress. Open the taco and add shredded lettuce, diced onion, pickles, and a drizzle of special sauce.

Tips

• Use 80/20 beef. The fat is what gives you crispy, flavorful edges. Leaner beef won’t caramelize the same way.
• Get your pan as hot as possible. This is not the time for medium heat.
• Use a stiff spatula or a burger press and press hard. The harder you smash, the more surface area you get for browning.
• Don’t move the beef once it’s smashed. Let it build a crust before you attempt to flip.

Variations

• Double smash tacos: Use two 1-oz balls per tortilla and stack them for a double patty version.
• Spicy version: Add sliced jalapeños and swap the special sauce for chipotle mayo.
• BBQ smash tacos: Add a smear of BBQ sauce instead of special sauce and top with crispy onion strings.

FAQ

Smash Burger Tacos

Crispy smashed beef with melted American cheese and special sauce in a toasted flour tortilla.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• - 1 lb ground beef 80/20
• - 8 small flour tortillas street taco size
• - 8 slices American cheese
• - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
• - 1/2 cup diced white onion
• - Dill pickle slices
• - Seasoning salt and black pepper to taste
• - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• - 2 tablespoons ketchup
• - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• - 1 tablespoon pickle relish

Method

 

1. **Mix.** Stir together mayo, ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish for the special sauce.
2. **Heat.** Get a cast iron skillet screaming hot over high heat for at least 5 minutes.
3. **Smash.** Place a tortilla on the griddle, set a 2 oz beef ball on one half, and press paper-thin with a spatula. Season with salt and pepper.
4. **Sear.** Cook 2 to 3 minutes without moving until edges are crispy and lacy. Add cheese, fold tortilla over.
5. **Dress.** Open the taco and top with lettuce, onion, pickles, and special sauce.

Notes

- Use 80/20 beef for the crispiest edges.
- Get the pan as hot as possible before you start.
- Don't move the beef once smashed. Let it build a crust first.

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