The Easiest Smash Burger Taco Recipe
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Get the best of both worlds with this easy smash burger taco recipe! If tacos and burgers had a baby, this would be it – think juicy, crispy-edged beef patties and gooey, melty cheese smashed right into soft, golden tortillas, then topped with fresh veggies and a delicious creamy sauce. Easily adaptable to any diet, these tacos are the ultimate comfort food fix you didn’t know you needed.
Tacos? Yes please! I love tacos a lot and if you’ve been following my blog, you know I’ve shared a number of unique variations here like beef heart tacos, ground beef taco skillet, and slow cooker taco soup.
One of my absolute favorite recipes to date is smash burger taco. It’s like enjoying Taco Tuesday and burger night all in one delicious dish!
It’s easy as it is tasty, and I love how you can easily make it your own to adapt to your diet and lifestyle. Smash burger tacos are perfect for busy weeknights, game day spreads, weekend cravings, or whenever you need a low-effort, high-reward dish to impress family and friends. Once you try these, regular tacos and burgers just won’t cut it.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: Ready in about 40 minutes with just a handful of basic, affordable ingredients you probably already have at home.
- Comfort food win: Combines the best of juicy smash burgers and crispy tacos in one easy-to-make meal.
- Easy cleanup: These are made right on the stovetop – no grill or fryer needed – so cleanup is a breeze.
- Adaptable: From tortillas to toppings, you can easily tweak this recipe to suit your mood, diet, or what you have on hand.
- Made for a crowd: A batch serves a crowd, great for family dinners or a small group. Easily double the recipe to serve more!
- Fun to serve: These are a conversation starter – perfect for casual entertaining or shaking up your meal routine.
How to Make Smash Burger Taco
Experience a fun twist on smash burgers with this easy from-scratch recipe! The process is pretty straightforward – just prep and cook the burger patties, whip up the sauce, assemble the tacos, and serve. It’s a crave-worthy, comforting dinner you can make in less than an hour!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
For the smash burgers:
- Ground beef: I like using 80/20 ground beef because the fat content gives you that perfect balance of crispy edges and juicy centers.
- Salt and ground black pepper
- Small tortillas: Use whatever tortillas you like or have on hand – corn, flour, or even a low-carb option. Try whole grain or almond flour tortillas to boost fiber or cut down on carbs.
- Mozzarella cheese: I recommend shredding the cheese yourself because it melts better compared to the pre-shredded kind.
- Cooking oil
For the sauce:
- Mayonnaise: Store-bought for ease, but you can also make homemade by blending an egg yolk with a neutral oil for a fresher, more natural taste.
- Dill pickle relish: Drain excess liquid to prevent a runny sauce.
- Dijon mustard: Dijon works great on its own, but mixing in some coarse grain mustard adds extra depth of flavor and a nice bit of texture.
- White vinegar
- Spices and seasonings: We will use paprika powder, onion powder and garlic powder.
For toppings:
- Iceberg lettuce: Iceberg is the classic choice for burgers, but feel free to use your favorite.
- Onions
Step-By-Step Instructions
Making a hearty, trend-worthy dinner has never been this easy. Follow 5 simple steps and you can start enjoying these lip-smacking delicious smash burger tacos!
Step 1: Make the patties
Season the ground beef with salt and pepper. Then, divide it into 8 equal portions and shape them into balls. Arrange each meatball over a tortilla and use your fingers to flatten it out into a thin patty that covers most of the tortilla’s surface.
Step 2: Cook the burgers
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and add a small amount of cooking oil to prevent sticking. Next, place a tortilla in the skillet with the meat side down. Cook the burger on one side for about 2 minutes until the beef begins to brown.
Step 3: Add the cheese
Flip the tortilla and burger over and immediately sprinkle a portion of shredded mozzarella cheese over the cooking beef patty. Cover with a lid and continue cooking for another 2 minutes or until the burger is cooked to your desired level of doneness and cheese is melted.
Remove the smash burger from the skillet and set it aside. Repeat this process with the remaining meat and tortilla pairs.
Step 4: Whip up the sauce
Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Mix well, then set the sauce aside.
Step 5: Assemble and serve
Once all are cooked, assemble the tacos by layering onion, sauce, and lettuce over the cooked meat and cheese. Fold the tortilla in half, creating a taco shape and serve immediately.
Substitutions
This recipe requires pantry staples, but is still super easy to adapt to what you want or need, so no worries if you’re missing an ingredient or two. Here are my recommended substitutions!
- Ground beef: Use ground turkey or chicken, or plant-based ground “meat” for lighter or vegetarian versions.
- Small tortillas: Feel free to use store-bought low-carb or keto tortillas if that’s what you prefer. Cauliflower tortillas or keto-friendly flatbreads also work great and still deliver on flavor.
- Mozzarella cheese: Substitute with low-fat mozzarella, cheddar, or Colby Jack.
- Mayonnaise: Use Greek yogurt for a tangier, higher-protein alternative.
- Dill pickle relish: Replace with finely chopped pickles, cornichons, or cucumber relish.
- Dijon mustard: Use yellow mustard for milder flavor or spicy brown for a kick.
- White vinegar: Apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and rice vinegar are good swaps.
Expert Tips
- Smash while it’s cold: Smash the beef before placing it on the pan while it’s still cold. This helps it hold its shape and ensures a thinner, crispier patty.
- Use parchment for pressing: If you’re using a burger press or spatula, place parchment paper over the beef before smashing to prevent sticking and keep things neat.
- Layer cheese strategically: Add the cheese just after flipping the patty so it melts perfectly. Covering the pan briefly helps speed up melting without drying out the beef.
- Toast the tortillas: After the patties cook, give the tortillas a quick toast in the leftover beef drippings for extra flavor and crunch.
- Make your sauce early: This is optional, but making the sauce an hour (or a day) in advance lets the flavors meld for a more cohesive and tangy finish.
- Don’t overload toppings: Less is more – too many toppings can overpower the beef and make the taco messy to eat. Stick to crisp lettuce, onions, and just enough sauce for balance.
How to Store This Recipe
To store leftover smash burger tacos, let everything cool completely, then separate the components for best texture. Keep the cooked burger patties and tortillas in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Store the sauce and toppings like lettuce and onions separately to keep them fresh and crisp. When ready to eat, reheat the patties and tortillas in a skillet or oven, then assemble with fresh toppings and sauce for the best taste and texture.
What to Serve with Smash Burger Taco
Pair with easy sides like crispy sweet potato fries, air-fried pickles, or a classic coleslaw for added crunch. For a fast food vibe, serve them with a side of oven-baked French fries or onion rings. And if you’re keeping it low-carb, go for roasted veggies or a portion of your favorite salad to round out the meal without weighing it down.
More Easy Lunch Recipes To Try
- Carnivore burger
- Low-carb tostadas
- Tuna melt quesadilla
- Spinach salmon burgers
- Mexican-style ground beef lettuce wraps
Smash Burger Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
For the Smash Burgers:
- 1 pounds ground beef
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
- 8 small tortillas flour or low-carb alternative
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Cooking oil for frying
For the Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup dill pickle relish
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon paprika powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
For Toppings:
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- ¼ cup onions chopped
Instructions
- Season the ground beef with salt and pepper. Then, divide it into 8 equal portions and shape them into balls. Arrange each meatball over a tortilla and use your fingers to flatten it out into a thin patty that covers most of the tortilla’s surface.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and add a small amount of cooking oil to prevent sticking.
- Place a tortilla in the skillet with the meat side down. Cook the burger on one side for about 2 minutes until the beef begins to brown.
- Flip the tortilla and burger over and immediately sprinkle a portion of shredded mozzarella cheese over the cooking beef patty.
- Cover with a lid and continue cooking for another 2 minutes or until the burger is cooked to your desired level of doneness and cheese is melted.
- Remove the smash burger from the skillet and set it aside. Repeat this process with the remaining meat and tortilla pairs.
- Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Mix well, then set the sauce aside.
- Once all are cooked, assemble the tacos by layering onion, sauce, and lettuce over the cooked meat and cheese. Fold the tortilla in half, creating a taco shape and serve immediately.
Notes
- Smash the beef before placing it on the pan while it’s still cold to help hold its shape and ensure a thinner, crispier patty.
- If you’re using a burger press or spatula, place parchment paper over the beef before smashing to prevent sticking and keep things neat.
- Add the cheese just after flipping the patty so it melts perfectly.
- After the patties cook, give the tortillas a quick toast in the leftover beef drippings for extra flavor and crunch.
- This is optional, but making the sauce an hour (or a day) in advance lets the flavors meld better.
- Less is more – too many toppings can overpower the beef and make the taco messy to eat. Stick to crisp lettuce, onions, and just enough sauce for balance.
Nutrition & Macros
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information.
