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Smash Burger Tacos

Easy Smash Burger Tacos

Smash Burger Tacos are a crispy, thin, beautifully crusted beef patty inside a golden tortilla with a zippy burger sauce, cheese, lettuce, and pickles. Ready in 15 minutes.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef 80/20 fat percentage
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 10 cracks fresh black pepper
  • 6 six-inch flour tortillas
  • 6 slices muenster or provolone cheese
  • Shredded lettuce chopped white onion, and dill pickle chips, for topping
  • For the Burger Sauce:
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons minced bread & butter pickles
  • 1 tablespoon pickle brine
  • 10 cracks fresh black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions
 

  • Add all burger sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use; can be made 3 days in advance. Mix the salt and pepper in a bowl and distribute evenly over the top and bottom of the ground beef. Divide and roll the beef into 2 1/2-ounce balls, handling as little as possible so the meat stays tender. Place on a plate and refrigerate until your cooking surface is preheated. Turn your flat top or skillet onto high heat, ungreased, and allow it to get very hot. Place each ball on the hot surface and set a 6-inch tortilla on top. Use a smashing tool to press down very firmly, smashing the meat until it is as thin as it goes. Let cook for 1 minute, then press down again to render some fat. Let cook undisturbed for 2 to 3 minutes. Use a stiff steel spatula to check that the beef is browned and crispy underneath; if not, increase the heat. Once crisp, flip the tacos onto their tortilla side and cook another 2 minutes so the tortilla crisps. Top with cheese, which will melt as the tortilla finishes. Remove, add burger sauce and toppings, then enjoy!

Notes

Use 80/20 beef for the juiciest, crispiest patty; leaner blends turn out drier. The 2 1/2-ounce ball size is ideal — too much meat makes a thick patty that won't bend with the tortilla. The surface must be very hot for a proper crust. No flat top? A cast iron skillet or large pan works great, cooking one or two at a time, and a heavy skillet can double as a smasher. Flour tortillas work best as they're more absorbent and the meat sticks better. Watch closely so the tortillas don't burn. The sauce keeps in the fridge up to 8 days but should not be frozen. Cheddar can replace muenster or provolone; ground turkey or venison can replace beef (leaner result); gluten-free tortillas also work. Leftovers reheat well in the oven.