Smashed Burger Tacos

These Smashed Burger Tacos combine the best of two worlds: the juicy, crispy-edged perfection of a smashed burger with the handheld ease of a taco. Seasoned ground beef gets pressed thin on a screaming-hot skillet until the edges are perfectly caramelized, then loaded into warm tortillas with all your favorite toppings. This is one of those meals that takes 20 minutes but tastes like you spent way longer on it.

Why You will Love This Recipe

Ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish

Crispy, caramelized beef edges that melt in your mouth

Endlessly customizable with your favorite taco toppings

Kid-friendly and perfect for weeknight dinners

Uses simple pantry staples you probably already have

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 4 servings (8 tacos)

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend works best)

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Salt and black pepper to taste

4 slices American cheese, halved

8 small flour or corn tortillas

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

For the Toppings

1 cup shredded lettuce

1 medium tomato, diced

1/2 cup diced white onion

Pickled jalapenos to taste

Ketchup and mustard

Your favorite hot sauce

Instructions

Divide the ground beef into 8 equal portions and roll each into a ball about the size of a golf ball. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Drizzle Worcestershire sauce over the balls and gently mix.

Heat a large cast iron skillet or flat griddle over high heat until smoking hot. Add a thin layer of vegetable oil.

Place the beef balls on the skillet, spacing them apart. Using a sturdy spatula or burger press, smash each ball flat until very thin, about 1/4 inch thick. Season the tops with a little more salt.

ply browned and crispy. Flip each patty and immediately place a half slice of American cheese on top. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese is melted.

While the beef cooks, warm your tortillas in a dry skillet or directly over a gas flame for about 30 seconds per side.

Place one smashed patty on each warm tortilla. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, diced onion, pickled jalapenos, and your sauces of choice. Serve immediately.

Kelvin Tips

The key to great smashed burger tacos is a screaming-hot skillet. If your pan is not hot enough, the beef will steam instead of sear and you will miss out on those crispy caramelized edges.

Do not move or press the patties again after the initial smash. Let the Maillard reaction do its thing.

For extra flavor, toast your tortillas in the rendered beef fat from the skillet instead of using a dry pan.

American cheese is the classic choice because it melts so smoothly, but pepper jack or cheddar also work great.

Try adding a smear of special sauce on the tortilla: mix equal parts mayo and ketchup with a splash of pickle juice and a pinch of garlic powder.

Nutrition Facts (per serving, 2 tacos)

Calories: 520

Protein: 32g

Fat: 28g

Carbohydrates: 34g

Fiber: 2g

Sodium: 680mg