Krista Gambacorta
May 6, 2026
Difficulty Level: easy
15 min Prep
15 min Cook
30 min Total
4 Servings
If you’re looking for something that delivers the great taste of a smash burger but in something less familiar than a bun, this recipe should be on your to-cook list.
It takes the best parts of that fast-food classic, the smash burger, but folds the delicious meat, cheese, and sauce into a soft taco. The beef is still thin and browned, the cheese is melted right into it, and the sauce, lettuce, and onions give it that familiar burger vibe.
Whether you’re making them for dinner, a snack, or a party, the smash burger taco was a viral hit for a reason. Check out the ingredients and cooking steps below.
Smash Burger Tacos Ingredients
- 1 lb of ground beef, preferably 80/20
- 8 small flour tortillas, about 6 inches each
- 8 slices of American cheese or cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp of kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp of black pepper
- 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp of onion powder
- 1 1/2 cups of shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- Dill pickle chips, optional
- 1 tsp of oil, only if needed for the pan
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise (for sauce)
- 2 tbsp of ketchup (for sauce)
- 1 tbsp of yellow mustard (for sauce)
- 1 tbsp of finely chopped pickles or pickle relish (for sauce)
- 1 tsp of pickle juice (for sauce)
- 1/2 tsp of paprika (for sauce)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder (for sauce)
- 1/4 tsp onion powder (for sauce)
- Extra pinch of black pepper (for sauce)
Smash Burger Tacos Instructions
- Add the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, pickle juice, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper to a small bowl. Stir until smooth and then set aside.
- Add the ground beef to a bowl with the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix gently. Do not overwork the beef.
- Divide the beef into 8 small balls, about 2 oz each.
- Place a large griddle, cast iron skillet, or heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Let it get hot before adding the beef. A hot surface helps the beef brown and form a good crust, which is a key part of smash burger tacos.
- Place one beef ball in the pan and use a burger press, small skillet, or sturdy spatula to press the ball down hard until the beef spreads thinly under it.
- Let it cook for 3 minutes, until the beef is browned and cooked through. Ground beef should reach 160°F for food safety.
- Use a spatula to scrape under the beef, then flip.
- Add one slice of cheese on top of the beef. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Lift the beef and cheese with a spatula. In the pan add a tortilla and place the beef and cheese on top. Let the tortilla is warm and become lightly toasted but still soft enough to fold.
- Remove from the pan and add the burger sauce made earlier, shredded lettuce, red onion, and pickles if using.
Nutrition
Calories: 790cal
Carbohydrate: 38g
Protein: 30g
Fat: 58g
Cholesterol: 120mg
Sodium: 1450mg