Smash Burger Tacos With Burger Sauce

Name: Smash Burger Tacos With Burger Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef; 5 small Corn or flour tortillas; 1 tablespoon taco seasoning; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 1 cup shredded cheddar; 1 1/4 cups shredded lettuce; 1 small red onion (very thinly sliced); 2/3 cup freshly diced tomatoes; 1/2 cup Baby Pickles (halved); ½ cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoon ketchup; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon gherkin pickle brine or pickle relish; Kosher salt & black pepper (to taste)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These Smash Burger Tacos are crispy, cheesy and packed with all the flavors of a classic burger in taco form! They’re so easy to make, ready in under 30 minutes, and perfect for customizing with all your favorite burger toppings.

What Are Smash Burger Tacos?

Smash burger tacos combine the best parts of a smash burger and a taco. A thin layer of seasoned ground beef is pressed directly onto a tortilla and cooked until crispy. The taco is then topped with melted cheese, fresh toppings, and a creamy burger sauce for a fun twist on a classic cheeseburger.

The Best of Both Worlds

As a certified nutrition coach and mom of five, I’m always looking for fun dinner ideas that don’t take a lot of effort but still get everyone excited for dinner. These smash burger tacos are one of those recipes. They have all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger but come together much faster, and my kids absolutely love loading them up with their favorite toppings.

I love that these require minimal prep and cook super quickly so dinner can be ready in under 30 minutes. I like to lay out the toppings in bowls so everyone can add their own which means dinner goes down well with no complaints! Serve alongside a fresh garden salad or some grilled veggies and you’ll have the perfect weeknight meal with no stress.

Recipe Overview

Skill Level

Intermediate

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

A Few Key Ingredients

Below are the key ingredients you’ll need to make Smash Burger Tacos. The full quantities can be found in the recipe card further down the post.

Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef to keep these light but you can use 20% fat for a juicier taco. Don’t overwork the meat when you’re mixing in the seasonings or it can become tough.

Tortillas: Use small, taco-sized tortillas here. There’s no need to warm the tortillas before covering them with the beef, they’ll soften up and get nice crispy edges when you fry them. Use corn tortillas to make the recipe gluten-free.

Cheddar cheese: Shredding the cheese yourself is best as pre-shredded cheese won’t melt as evenly. Feel free to use a different cheese of choice here like Monterey Jack or Oaxaca, if you like.

Quick tip!

Once you’ve added the cheese cover the skillet with a lid. This will help the cheese melt faster.

Homemade burger sauce: A simple mixture of mayo, ketchup, pickle relish and mustard. It tastes just like Big Mac sauce! You can use yogurt in place of mayo for a lighter sauce.

Toppings: Keep things classic with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles or switch things up and add your go-to burger or taco toppings instead.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using Too Much Meat: A thin layer creates the best smash burger texture.
Skipping the Press: Pressing the beef firmly onto the tortilla helps it stick while cooking.
Flipping Too Early: Wait until the beef develops a nice crust.
Overloading the Toppings: Too many toppings can make the tacos difficult to fold and eat.

My Top Tips for Perfect Tacos

These tacos are so quick to make and use all the usual burger ingredients you’d expect. There are a few quick tips I have that’ll guarantee your tacos are a smashing success!

Smash the beef onto the tortillas before cooking. This way the meat will stick to the tortilla perfectly.
Get your skillet HOT before adding the tacos. This will help the meat caramelize and prevent it sticking to the pan.
Use small tortillas (street taco sized). Larger tortillas can become soggy and are harder to flip.
Drizzle on homemade burger sauce after cooking. This adds a ton of flavor and keeps things moist while adding that classic burger taste.

How to Make Smash Burger Tacos

Step 1. In a bowl, mix ground beef with taco seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

Step 2. In a small bowl, stir together mayo, ketchup, Dijon, pickle relish (or brine), salt, and pepper. Set aside.

seasoning ground beef and adding it to tortilla.

Step 3. Take a small handful of seasoned beef and press a thin layer directly onto one side of each tortilla (about 2 to 3 tbsp per tortilla).

Step 4. Heat a skillet over medium heat.

Step 5. Cooking one by one, place tortillas, meat side down, into the pan. Press lightly with a spatula and cook 3 to 4 minutes until the meat is browned and crispy.

cooking the smash burger taco on a pan and adding shredded cheese.

Step 6. Flip the tacos so the tortilla side is down and immediately sprinkle cheese over the cooked meat.

Step 7. Cook 1 more minute until cheese melts and tortilla crisps slightly.

Step 8. Remove from the pan and add toppings, plus a drizzle of burger sauce.

Step 9. Fold and enjoy while hot and crispy.

adding toppings to the smash burger tacos.

Recipe Notes

Gluten-free: Use gluten-free corn tortillas. Make sure that your taco seasoning is also gluten-free.

Different protein: You can use ground chicken or turkey in place of the beef mince.

Storage: Store leftover tacos (without the toppings or burger sauce) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The burger sauce can be stored separately in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Reheating: Place in a warm skillet over a medium heat, meat side facing up, and cover with a lid. Heat until warmed through then serve with the toppings and sauce.

Best Toppings for Smash Burger Tacos

Pickles
Avocado
Jalapeños
Crispy bacon
Caramelized onions
Sliced red onion or pickled red onions
Tomatoes and Lettuce
Burger sauce like IN-N Out sauce, BBQ sauce, or Hot sauce

Flour Tortillas vs Corn Tortillas

Both work well in this recipe. Flour tortillas are softer, easier to fold, and less likely to crack. Corn tortillas provide more traditional taco flavor and become extra crispy when cooked. Use whichever you prefer.

Variations

Bacon Cheeseburger Smash Tacos: Add crispy bacon. I don’t consume port so I always go for turkey based bacon.
Make it spicy: Add jalapeños and hot sauce.
Big Mac Style Smash Tacos: Use shredded lettuce, pickles, onions, and extra burger sauce.
BBQ Smash Burger Tacos: Swap some of the sauce for barbecue sauce.
Turkey Smash Burger Tacos: Use ground turkey instead of beef.

Smash burger tacos with lettuce and pickles on a wooden board.

Questions I Get Asked a Lot

What kind of tortillas are best?

I like to use small flour tortillas which stand up to the beef-smashing without tearing. You can use small corn tortillas but they’re usually more fragile so you just have to be a bit more careful when spreading on the beef.

Do I need a burger press?

No! The beef is spread onto the tortilla using a spoon but you can also use the bottom of a heavy skillet to press the meat on if you like.

What Is the Best Ground Beef for Smash Burger Tacos?

An 85/15 or 90/10 ground beef works well. Since you’re using lean ground beef, your recipe will be a little lighter while still staying juicy.

Can I Make the Burger Sauce Ahead of Time?

Yes. The sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

Can I Cook These on a Blackstone?

Absolutely. A Blackstone or flat-top griddle is one of the best ways to make smash burger tacos.