Smash Burger Tacos (Printable)

Crispy beef patties on warm tortillas with melted cheese and zesty sauce

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef

01 - 1.1 lbs ground beef (80/20 blend)
02 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Tacos & Cheese

03 - 8 small flour tortillas (6 inch street taco size)
04 - 8 slices American cheese or cheddar

→ Toppings

05 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
06 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 8-12 dill pickle chips

→ Smash Burger Sauce

09 - 4 tbsp mayonnaise
10 - 2 tbsp ketchup
11 - 2 tsp yellow mustard
12 - 1 tbsp finely chopped pickles or relish
13 - ½ tsp garlic powder
14 - ½ tsp onion powder
15 - ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
16 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth and fully combined. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
02 - Divide ground beef into 8 equal portions, approximately 2 oz each. Roll into balls and season lightly with salt and pepper on all sides.
03 - Place a large cast iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and allow it to become thoroughly hot, approximately 3-5 minutes. Proper heat ensures optimal searing and crispy edges.
04 - Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, place 2-3 beef balls onto the hot surface. Immediately place a tortilla directly on top of each ball and press down firmly with a sturdy spatula or burger press, flattening the beef to match the tortilla size. Cook for 2-3 minutes until deeply browned and edges are crispy.
05 - Carefully flip each assembly so the tortilla contacts the cooking surface. Place a cheese slice on each beef patty. Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until the tortilla is golden and toasted, and the cheese is completely melted.
06 - Remove cooked tacos to a platter and repeat the cooking process with remaining beef balls and tortillas until all are cooked.
07 - Top each taco with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced red onion, and pickle chips. Drizzle generously with the prepared smash burger sauce. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crispy lacey edges of smashed beef fused to warm tortillas create this incredible texture thats part burger part taco entirely magical
  • Everything cooks in one pan in under 20 minutes making it perfect for those nights when you want something special but do not have hours to spend
  • The homemade sauce pulls it all together with that familiar fast food flavor but way better than anything you could pick up at a drive thru
02 -
  • Do not overcrowd your pan or the beef will steam instead of sear and you will lose that crispy texture that makes these special
  • Let the pan heat back up between batches if you are cooking in rounds otherwise later batches will not get that proper crust
03 -
  • Cook with your exhaust fan on high because the rendering fat creates a lot of delicious but potent smoke
  • If your cheese is not melting quickly enough tent the pan loosely with foil for just 30 seconds to trap some heat

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