Smash Burger Tacos (Printable Version)

Crispy smashed beef on toasted tortillas with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickles and a tangy sauce for a fun burger-night twist.

# What You Need:

→ Burger Patties

01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 85/15 blend)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Tacos

04 - 8 small flour tortillas
05 - 4 slices cheddar cheese or American cheese, halved
06 - 1 tablespoon butter (optional, for toasting)

→ Toppings

07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
09 - 1 large tomato, sliced
10 - 1/2 cup sliced pickles
11 - 1/4 cup burger sauce or mayonnaise
12 - Ketchup, to taste
13 - Prepared yellow mustard, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Place a large cast iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and allow it to preheat fully.
02 - Divide ground beef into 8 equal portions, shaping each into a ball approximately 2 ounces each.
03 - Arrange a tortilla on your work surface. Place a beef ball in the center of each tortilla and press with your hand or spatula to flatten the meat so it covers most of the tortilla.
04 - Once the skillet is hot, transfer the tortilla-meat assemblies to the skillet, placing the meat side down. Firmly press down with a large spatula to smash the beef into a thin layer. Season with salt and pepper.
05 - Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until beef is well browned with crisp edges. Flip so tortilla touches the skillet. Top each with half a slice of cheddar cheese. Cook 1 additional minute to toast the tortilla and allow cheese to melt.
06 - Remove from the skillet and repeat with the remaining tortillas and beef until all are cooked.
07 - Top each taco with shredded iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced red onion, tomato slices, and pickles. Drizzle with burger sauce, ketchup, or mustard as desired. Fold each taco and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The crispy beef edges and gooey cheese hug each bite in a way burger buns just can&apost manage.
  • It&aposs shockingly quick—by the time you&apostve set the table, you can already be piling on toppings.
02 -
  • If the skillet isn&apost fully preheated, you&aposll miss out on those golden, crispy beef edges.
  • Trying different cheeses led me to cheddar, but American melts fantastically if you&apose after sheer gooeyness.
03 -
  • Use a heavy, flat spatula for smashing—anything less and you won&apost get that proper crust.
  • Sneak in sautéed mushrooms or jalapeños under the cheese for an easy flavor twist.

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