Smash Burger Tacos (Printable version)
Juicy smashed beef in warm tortillas topped with cheese, crisp lettuce, and tangy burger sauce.
# What you'll need:
→ Beef & Seasoning
01 - 1.1 lbs ground beef, 80/20 blend
02 - 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
03 - 1 tsp black pepper
04 - ½ 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 - ½ small red onion, finely diced
10 - ¼ cup dill pickles, thinly sliced
→ Burger Sauce
11 - ⅓ cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tbsp ketchup
13 - 1 tbsp yellow mustard
14 - 1 tbsp finely diced pickles
15 - 1 tsp white vinegar
16 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
17 - Pinch of sugar
# Directions:
01 - In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, diced pickles, white vinegar, smoked paprika, and sugar. Stir until fully incorporated, then 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 come to temperature.
04 - Place 2 beef balls on the hot skillet per batch. Lay a flour tortilla directly over each ball and press firmly with a sturdy spatula, spreading the beef thin across the underside of the tortilla with the meat side against the pan.
05 - Distribute kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder evenly over the exposed beef. Cook for 2 minutes, pressing down occasionally, until the edges turn crisp and deeply browned.
06 - Flip each taco so the tortilla makes direct contact with the pan. Scatter 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 using the same technique, working in pairs to maintain even heat.
08 - Layer shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomato, finely diced red onion, and sliced dill pickles over each cheesy beef taco. Finish with a generous drizzle of the reserved burger sauce.
09 - Transfer the tacos to a serving plate and enjoy right away while the tortillas are still crisp and the cheese is hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The beef gets those gorgeous lacy crispy edges that make smash burgers addictive in the first place
- Everything happens in one pan in about thirty minutes flat
- The burger sauce ties the whole American taco fusion thing together like it was always meant to exist
02 -
- A metal spatula gives you way more leverage for the smash than plastic or silicone ever will
- Do not overcrowd the pan because the beef will steam instead of sear and you will lose all the crispness
03 -
- American cheese melts faster and more evenly than cheddar if you are working at high speed
- Wipe the pan between batches with a paper towel to prevent burnt bits from flavoring the next round