Smash Burger Tacos
A mash up of smash burgers and tacos, these Smash Burger Tacos are perfect for every burger lover! These are super easy to make, especially on a Blackstone Grill or any type of griddle, and are a huge crowd pleaser.
We recently got a Blackstone griddle, after hearing so much about how great they were. My brother raves about cooking breakfast on his and my dad loves a good steak or burger on his. So far we've done a lot of stir fries, fried rice, breakfast, and smash burgers, but what I was really dying to make was Smash Burger Tacos.
These are definitely the favorite thing we've made on our griddle so far. They're basically like Big Mac Tacos! And best yet? They're incredible easy to make! The burger mixture is super simple and the Special Sauce can be made in advance.
Looking for a good side dish? Check out my Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, or Mexican Street Corn Dip!
Ingredients
Ground Beef - I used 80/20 ground beef but you could use 85/15. I wouldn't go any leaner than 85/15.
Worcestershire - this adds a savory flavor to the burger patties.
Mayonnaise - this is the base of the burger sauce.
Yellow Mustard - this adds tang to the burger sauce.
Diced Pickles and Pickle Brine - this will create a distinct burger sauce flavor.
Paprika and Onion Powder - these dried spices give the burger sauce flavor.
Tortillas - I think flour tortillas are best in smash burger tacos. I used fajita-sized tortillas.
Variations
Different Cheese - I think a slice of American cheese would work nicely on these tacos. You could really use any type of cheese that you like to use on burgers. For a more classic burger, I would stick to American or cheddar. In addition, you can use shredded cheese or a slice of cheese.
Corn Tortillas - If you prefer corn tortillas to flour, those will also work in this recipe. In addition, you can use gluten-free tortillas or low-carb tortillas if that is what you prefer.
Pickle Relish - instead of dicing the pickles yourself, you can use dill or sweet pickle relish. I prefer dill pickles but I have seen special sauce/Big Mac sauce recipes use sweet pickle relish, too.
Other Toppings - Really, you can use any of your favorite burger toppings. In addition to the ones I've listed, you could add diced white onions, pickled red onions, caramelized onions, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, and diced or sliced tomatoes would all make delicious smash burger taco toppings. In addition, you could add ketchup and mustard to the tacos in addition to or in place of the burger sauce.
Step by Step Instructions
Photo 1. Make the burger sauce. In a medium bowl, add the mayo, diced pickles, pickle brine, mustard, onion powder, and paprika to a bowl.
Photo 2. Mix until well combined.
Photo 3. Make the burgers. In a large bowl, add the ground beef, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper (to taste). Mix until just combined, being careful not to overtax.
Photo 4. Form into seven 2.5 ounce balls.
Photo 5. Place the burger balls onto a plate or in a Tupperware. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Photo 6. Preheat a griddle to high heat. You really want the griddle to be hot. Add the burger balls to the hot griddle.
Photo 7. Place a tortilla on top of the burger balls and, with a burger press, press down firmly to flatten the burgers as thin as possible. Let it cook for 2 minutes and then press down firmly again to release some of the fat. Cook another 2 minutes.
Photo 8. Using a large metal spatula, flip the burger/tortillas so the beef side is up.
Photo 9. Add the cheese and cook for another 1-2 minutes. You can cover your griddle at this point to help melt the cheese.
Photo 10. Now assemble, first, spread some burger sauce on the burger.
Photo 11. Sprinkle with some diced pickles.
Photo 12. Sprinkle with some shredded lettuce. Fold into a taco and enjoy!
Expert Tips
Use a Burger Press - Using a spatula will just not get these smash burgers as flat as is necessary. Believe, me, I've tried! I use this burger press and we love it.
No Griddle? No Problem. If you don't have a griddle, you can use a large skillet to make these. You will not be able to do them all at once, but you can do them in shifts.
Make For a Crowd. This recipe is easily
Recipe FAQs
I have not tried this, but I think you probably could use ground turkey. I would not recommend using the super-lean ground turkey, as these smash burger tacos do need some fat to crisp up.
Yes, they can! This is why it is important to cook these on high heat, so they cook fast and don't get the tortillas soggy.
In my experience, these are best eaten the day-of.
I recommend using 80/20 but you could use 85/15 if you prefer. I wouldn't use anything leaner than that.
Other Burger Recipes to Consider...
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
Smash Burger Tacos
Ingredients
Smash Tacos
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Burger Sauce
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoon chopped dill pickles
- 1 tablespoon pickle brine
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Other:
- 6 flour tortillas
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Chopped or sliced dill pickles
Instructions
Prepare Burger Mix
- In a medium bowl, add the ground beef, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper.
- With your hands or a wooden spoon, mix until just combined. Be careful not to overtax .
- Form into seven 2.5 ounce balls. Place on a plate and cover. Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.
Make Burger Sauce
- In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, chopped pickles, pickle brine, mustard, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Refrigerate until ready to use.
Cook Smash Tacos
- Preheat a griddle (we use a Blackstone grill) to high heat. It is important to have high heat, to ensure the burger gets crispy.
- Add burger ball and top with a tortilla. With a burger press, press down very firmly to get the burger as thin as possible.
- Cook for 2 minutes and then press again to get some of the fat to release.
- Cook another 2-3 minutes. Then, with a steel spatula, forcefully scrape underneath the burger and flip.
- Add cheese on top of the burger side and cook the tortilla until browned, about 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from the grill and spread with a generous spoonful of burger sauce. Sprinkle lettuce and chopped pickles and fold into a taco.
- Enjoy!
