Smash Burger Tacos (Print Version)
Crispy smashed beef with melted cheddar, fresh toppings, and zesty sauce in warm tortillas.
# Ingredient List:
→ Beef & Seasoning
01 - 1.1 lbs ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
02 - 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
03 - 1 tsp black pepper
04 - ½ tsp garlic powder
→ Tacos
05 - 8 small flour tortillas
06 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
07 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
08 - 1 large tomato, diced
09 - ½ small red onion, finely diced
10 - ¼ cup dill pickles, thinly sliced
→ Burger Sauce
11 - ⅓ cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tbsp ketchup
13 - 1 tbsp yellow mustard
14 - 1 tbsp finely diced pickles
15 - 1 tsp white vinegar
16 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
17 - Pinch of sugar
# Directions:
01 - In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, diced pickles, vinegar, smoked paprika, and sugar. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate until ready to use.
02 - Divide the ground beef into 8 equal portions and roll gently into loose balls without overworking the meat.
03 - Set a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and allow it to get thoroughly hot before adding beef.
04 - Place 2 beef balls on the hot skillet per batch. Set a tortilla over each beef ball and press down firmly with a sturdy spatula until the beef spreads thin across the underside of the tortilla, with the beef side directly against the pan.
05 - Sprinkle kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder evenly over the exposed beef surface.
06 - Cook for 2 minutes, pressing down occasionally, until the beef edges are crisp. Flip so the tortilla side contacts the pan, then sprinkle shredded cheddar on top of the beef. Cook 1 additional minute until tortillas are golden brown and cheese is fully melted.
07 - Cook the remaining beef balls and tortillas in batches following the same smash-and-flip technique.
08 - Top each tortilla with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, red onion, sliced dill pickles, and a generous drizzle of the prepared burger sauce.
09 - Plate the tacos and serve right away while the beef edges are still hot and crispy.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It delivers every craveable burger quality, crispy edges and melted cheese, but in a handheld taco format that feels way more fun.
- The whole thing comes together in thirty minutes flat, which means weeknight dinners just got dangerously exciting.
02 -
- A metal spatula gives you much better leverage for smashing than plastic or silicone, which tend to flex and leave the beef uneven.
- Do not overcrowd the pan because dropping the temperature even slightly will cost you the crispy edges entirely.
03 -
- Let the skillet reheat between batches rather than plowing through all eight at once, because the first batch will always be the crispiest.
- American cheese melts faster and creamier than cheddar if you want that classic diner burger gooeyness.