Smash Burger Tacos
Smash burger tacos press seasoned beef onto flour tortillas on a hot griddle until lacy and crisp, then flip for melty cheese—Big Mac vibes in taco form. Viral, cookable, and weeknight-fast when you cook ground beef to 160°F.
🛒Ingredients
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- 6 small flour tortillas (street-taco or soft taco size)
- 6 slices American cheese
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- Toppings: shredded lettuce, diced onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard, mayo
- Optional special sauce: 1/4 cup mayo + 1 tablespoon ketchup + 1 teaspoon pickle relish
🔧Kitchen Tools Needed
- Flat-top griddle or large skillet
- Stiff spatula
- Instant-read thermometer
- Mixing bowl for sauce
📝Instructions
- 1
Divide beef into 6 loose balls. Preheat a griddle or large skillet over medium-high; lightly oil.
- 2
Place a beef ball on the skillet and immediately set a tortilla on top. Smash firmly so the beef spreads thin under the tortilla. Season beef edges with salt and pepper.
- 3
Cook 2–3 minutes until the beef is deeply browned. Flip so the tortilla side is down. Add cheese on the beef. Cook 1–2 minutes until the tortilla crisps and beef reaches 160°F.
- 4
Repeat with remaining tacos. Spread special sauce on the beef, add lettuce, onion, and pickles.
- 5
Serve immediately while crisp.
- 6
Hold cooked tacos briefly in a 200°F oven if batching; do not stack or they steam.
🥗Nutrition Information
⚡Calories per serving: 390
🏷️Recipe Tags
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Corn or flour tortillas?
Flour tortillas flex and crisp without cracking. Corn tends to break when smashed.
Safe temperature?
Ground beef must hit 160°F. Thin smash layers cook quickly—check the thickest spot.
Can I use turkey?
Yes—smash ground turkey the same way and cook to 165°F. Add a little oil because turkey is leaner.
How do I get crispy edges?
Hot pan, loose meat, hard smash, and do not move until a crust forms.
Make special sauce ahead?
Mix up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate.
