Smash Burger Tacos (Printable)
Juicy smashed beef on warm tortillas with melted cheddar, crisp toppings, and tangy burger sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef & Seasoning
01 - 1.1 lbs ground beef, 80/20 blend
02 - 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
03 - 1 tsp black pepper
04 - 1/2 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 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
10 - 1/4 cup dill pickles, thinly sliced
→ Burger Sauce
11 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tbsp ketchup
13 - 1 tbsp yellow mustard
14 - 1 tbsp finely diced pickles
15 - 1 tsp white vinegar
16 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
17 - Pinch of sugar
# How to Make It:
01 - In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, finely diced pickles, white vinegar, smoked paprika, and a pinch of sugar. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate until ready to use.
02 - Divide the ground beef into 8 equal portions and gently roll each into a loose ball 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 any beef.
04 - Place 2 beef balls on the hot skillet per batch. Lay a flour tortilla directly over each ball and press down firmly with a sturdy spatula, spreading the beef thin across the underside of the tortilla with the beef side in contact with the pan.
05 - Sprinkle kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder evenly over the exposed beef. Cook for 2 minutes, pressing down occasionally, until the edges of the beef turn crisp and deeply browned.
06 - Flip each taco so the tortilla side contacts the pan. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the beef and cook for 1 additional minute until the tortilla is golden and the cheese is fully melted.
07 - Cook the remaining beef balls and tortillas in batches following the same smash, season, flip, and melt process.
08 - Top each finished taco with shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomato, finely diced red onion, sliced dill pickles, and a generous drizzle of the reserved burger sauce.
09 - Transfer tacos to a serving platter and enjoy right away while the tortillas are still crisp and the cheese is hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The beef and tortilla cook together in one seamless move so there is zero fussy assembly
- That burger sauce hits every flavor note a regular taco sauce simply cannot reach
- They come together in thirty minutes flat which makes them a weeknight weapon
02 -
- A metal spatula gives you the firm press and clean scrape that a flimsy plastic one never will
- Do not crowd the pan because the beef needs direct contact with hot metal to develop that caramelized crust
03 -
- American cheese melts faster and creamier than cheddar if you want that classic diner burger pull
- Sautéed onions tucked under the cheese layer will change your life in ways I cannot fully explain