Can't choose between burger night and taco Tuesday? This smash burger taco recipe brings you the best of both worlds.
It went viral on social media for good reason. It's savory, crunchy, and impossible to resist!
Imagine the sizzle of a juicy burger patty and the crunch of fresh lettuce. It’s drizzled with the tang of a special sauce, all wrapped up in a crunchy tortilla.
Once you try these smash burger tacos, you'll never go back to the standard ground beef filling again.
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What is a Smash Burger Taco?
A smash burger taco is a creative fusion of a traditional smash burger and a taco.
The thin, crisp burger patty is served in a soft taco shell instead of a bun. And the smash burger comes from the cooking technique.
A ball of ground meat is smashed onto a hot griddle to form a thin patty. This process results in a burger with a crispy, caramelized exterior and a juicy interior.
It's nestled inside a flour tortilla with cheese, sauce, and fillings.
Ingredients
Here's what you need to make this delicious recipe:
- Special Sauce – A combination of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, relish, and hot sauce. This sauce adds a tangy, creamy, and slightly spicy element to the tacos.
- Ground Round – This beef is lean yet flavorful, perfect for burger patties.
- Seasoning – Include Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the flavors of the meat.
- Flour Tortillas – The base of your tacos. They have a mild flavor and soft texture that complements the other ingredients.
- American Cheese – It adds a creamy, slightly tangy taste to your tacos.
- Iceberg Lettuce – This lettuce provides a crunchy texture and a refreshing, light taste.
- Onion – It adds a sharp flavor and a bit of crunch to contrast the smooth textures of the other ingredients.
How to Make a Smash Burger Taco
Making these tacos couldn't be easier! Simply follow these steps:
1. MIX the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, relish, and hot sauce. Set aside.
2. PREHEAT a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Lightly grease with cooking oil.
3. DIVIDE the beef into six portions, roll gently into balls, then place in the skillet (work in batches). Immediately top with a tortilla.
4. PRESS on top of the tortilla using a spatula or burger press so the meat spreads to roughly the size of the tortilla. Cook for 2–3 minutes until browned.
5. FLIP the taco over so the beef side is up and the tortilla is on the heat. Season the beef with the salt and pepper, then add one slice of cheese on top. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until the tortilla is golden and lightly crispy.
6. REMOVE the tacos from the heat and add the toppings and burger sauce. Serve hot and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Smash Burger Tacos
Want to make your tacos even more delectable? Follow these tips and tricks:
- Quality matters. Start with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Use fresh ground beef with an excellent fat ratio for juicier patties.
- Don't skimp on the seasoning. The salt and pepper in the meat enhance the flavors.
- Get your skillet hot. A hot skillet is critical to achieving a nice sear on your smash burgers. It provides a great texture and flavor.
- Go easy on the meat. Handle the ground beef as little as possible. Overworking can make the burgers tough.
- Smash once, not twice. Only smash your burger once right after it hits the skillet. Doing so helps create a crispy, seared crust.
- Make your tortillas toasty. Warm tortillas are softer and taste better. You can do this in the oven, on the stove, or even on the grill.
- Don't wait! The tacos are best served immediately while everything is still warm and the tortillas are soft.
Variations
You can explore several variations to mix up your smash burger tacos. Here are some ideas:
Protein Swaps:
- Turkey Smash Tacos. Replace the ground round with ground turkey. Turkey is a leaner option and can provide a different flavor profile.
- Black Bean Smash Tacos. Substitute the ground round with smashed black beans for a vegetarian alternative. Be sure to season them well!
Cheese Variations:
Try using different types of cheese, like Sharp Cheddar and Pepper Jack, for a more robust flavor.
Tortilla Alternatives:
- Whole Grain Tacos. Use whole-grain tortillas instead of flour for an added fiber boost.
- Lettuce Wraps. You can use large lettuce leaves instead of tortillas for a low-carb alternative.
Topping Twists:
- Add sliced avocados or a dollop of guacamole. They give a creamy texture and added flavor.
- Add a tangy twist. Try pickled red onions or jalapenos.
- Use a mix of colorful bell peppers. They make a vibrant and healthy topping.
- Substitute the iceberg lettuce. Try spinach or arugula for a different leafy green option.
Sauce Swaps:
- Try using BBQ sauce. It brings a smoky flavor.
- For a spicier alternative, create a chipotle mayo. Blend chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with mayonnaise.
- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce. You can also add a squeeze of fresh lime for an extra tangy flavor.
Remember, the best part of cooking is making it your own! Feel free to experiment with different flavors and ingredients to suit your preferences.
Serving Suggestions
Smash burger tacos are a fun and flavorful main course. But you can pair them with various side dishes to create a satisfying meal. Here are some ideas:
How to Store and Reheat
If you have leftover smash burger tacos, here's how to keep them fresh:
To Store: Wrap the smash burger taco in foil and refrigerate.
To Reheat: When reheating smash burger tacos, warm them up in an oven at 350 F. They should take 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
To Meal Prep: Deconstruct your tacos for the best results. Store the components separately in air-tight containers in the refrigerator.
- Patties and Cheese: Store the leftover patties with the melted cheese in an airtight container. They can last in the fridge for about 3-4 days.
- Sauce: The special sauce can be refrigerated in a separate air-tight container for up to a week.
- Tortillas: Keep them in their original packaging or transfer them to a sealable plastic bag or air-tight container. They can last for about a week in the pantry.
- Lettuce and Onion: Store these in separate air-tight containers in the crisper drawer of your fridge. They should stay fresh for about a week.
Smash Burger Taco (Viral Recipe)
4
servings10
minutes10
minutes508
kcalThis viral smash burger taco recipe is so irresistible! Two favorite dishes come together in a mashup that's totally over the top!
Ingredients
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon relish
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 pound ground beef
6 (6 inch) flour tortillas
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 slices cheese, such as American or cheddar
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1/4 cup diced onion
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, relish, and hot sauce. Set aside.
- Heat a griddle or a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little oil and heat until shimmering.
- Divide the ground beef into 6 loose portions (2 1/2 ounces each). Working in batches, place the meat portions on the hot skillet. Immediately cover with a tortilla, then press the top with a spatula or burger press until the meat is roughly the same size as the tortilla.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes, press again firmly, then flip so the tortilla is on the heat. Season with salt and pepper and top the browned beef with a slice of cheese.
- Cook for 1-2 more minutes or until the tortilla is golden and lightly crisp.
- Remove the tacos from the heat and repeat with the remaining meat and tortillas.
- Top the tacos with toppings and a drizzle of the burger sauce. Fold into taco shapes, serve hot, and enjoy!
9 Comments
This is a great lunch idea!
Interesting! Love that it’s on a tortilla! Less carbs.
Great for a quick meal! Thanks for the side dish suggestions.
I’m confused on the flipping process. It appears that you use one pan. The meat is fried and is it then flipped over so the rest of the meat is cooked and then the taco is placed on the meat leaving the taco uncooked. If you flip it at this point then all the grease from the eat gets on the taco and only one side of the taco is cooked Can this recipe be rewritten clarifying the process as it looks like a good recipe.
Hi Kathryn!
You’re right – that was a bit confusing.
I’ve re-worded the method to (hopefully) make it more clear.
Hope this helps 🙂
Approximately how much beef is needed for this recipe??
Hi Martha, you’ll want to use 1 pound of ground beef for this recipe. I hope you enjoy the tacos!
Do you flip the burger then top with tortilla? Or do you top the raw side with the tortilla and then flip to cook the burger through the tortilla?
Hi Mark, great question! When you flip the burger, you want to flip the patty by itself onto the tortilla. Then, when it’s cooked and the tortilla is browned, you fold it in half and serve it like a taco.