Smash Burger Tacos (Printer-friendly)

Juicy beef smashed onto tortillas with melted cheese and fresh toppings

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Mixture

01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder

→ Taco Components

06 - 8 small flour tortillas (5-6 inch street taco size)
07 - 8 slices American cheese or cheddar cheese

→ Fresh Toppings

08 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
09 - 1 medium tomato, diced
10 - ¼ cup diced red onion
11 - ¼ cup sliced pickles
12 - ¼ cup burger sauce

→ Cooking Essentials

13 - 1 tablespoon neutral oil (canola or vegetable oil)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat a large cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat until properly heated.
02 - Mix ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl. Divide mixture into 8 equal balls, approximately 2 oz each.
03 - Lightly oil the preheated skillet. Place one tortilla on the cooking surface and immediately top with a beef ball. Using a spatula or burger press, smash the beef ball flat onto the tortilla until it covers most of the surface area.
04 - Cook for 2-3 minutes until the beef develops a browned crust and becomes crispy at the edges.
05 - Flip the taco so the beef side faces down. Cook for 1 additional minute, then top each with a slice of cheese.
06 - Cover the skillet briefly with a lid or heatproof bowl to melt the cheese. Remove from skillet once melted.
07 - Repeat the cooking process with the remaining tortillas and beef balls.
08 - Top each taco with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, red onion, sliced pickles, and a drizzle of burger sauce. Serve hot immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crispy edges of smashed beef against soft tortillas create this incredible texture contrast nobody sees coming
  • Everything cooks in one pan and comes together in under 30 minutes even on busy weeknights
02 -
  • Don't overcrowd the pan or the beef will steam instead of developing that crispy crust
  • The tortilla should go into the pan first then add the beef ball on top so they fuse together
03 -
  • Work in batches rather than overcrowding the pan
  • Let the pan reheat between batches for consistent results

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