Smash burger tacos – totally worth the hype and then some! This viral food trend lives up to every bit of its buzz. In this easy recipe, juicy ground beef is smashed directly into a tortilla, crisped to perfection, and then topped with classic burger fixings for the ultimate taco-burger hybrid. Think: all the best parts of a cheeseburger + taco night in one handheld bite.
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This recipe is…
Taco, meet burger. Burger, meet taco. You’re about to be besties. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and layered with your favorite toppings, this fun recipe is about to be your new weeknight favorite.
More Taco Recipes to Try
If you’re anything like us, tacos are a food group. Try these next:
…Or, if you’re still in a burger mood, give this Big Mac Salad a try — it’s protein-packed, veggie-forward, and topped with the best homemade burger sauce ever.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- So easy – No need to shape patties! The beef cooks right into the tortilla in one skillet for easy prep and cleanup.
- Family-friendly – Everyone loves burgers and tacos. This one’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
- Customizable – Make it gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free… whatever your fam needs.
Smash Burger Taco Ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients for this taco recipe: ground beef, tortillas, and any toppings you love. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and swaps) below.
- Ground beef – we recommend 85/15 for the perfect fat-to-protein ratio, but any ground meat works (think: turkey, chicken, or pork).
- Tortillas – flour tortillas or grain-free alternatives like Siete’s cassava flour tortillas work best for smash tacos. (Corn tends to crack.)
- Burger sauce – while you can buy already made burger sauce at the store, I highly recommend making your own. This homemade burger sauce is the best.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations and Modifications
- Make it dairy-free – skip the cheese or use your favorite plant-based meltable slices.
- Make it gluten-free – use gluten-free flour tortillas. Mission makes a great one!
- Make it grain-free – we love Siete Cassava Grain Free Flour Tortillas for a delicious, crispy result.
How to Make Smash Burger Tacos
This viral taco recipe comes together in under 20 minutes. Here’s how to make smash burger tacos:
Step 1: In a large skillet over high heat, add the olive oil. Once the pan is hot, place one of the pieces of ground beef on the skillet.
Step 2: Top with a tortilla and smash the beef beneath the tortilla until it spreads out to the edges of the tortilla (it will shrink as it cooks, try to get it as thin as possible). Cook over medium-high heat for 4 minutes, then flip the tortilla and burger together so the beef is now facing up.
Step 3: Sprinkle the top of the cooked burger with salt and add a slice of cheese (if using). Let cook another 3 minutes, until the tortilla is golden and crispy.
Step 4: Plate with a spoonful of the burger sauce, sprinkle of lettuce, and some fresh tomato. Fold and enjoy!
Recipe Tip
Start with a hot pan! This helps create the signature crispy edges on both the burger and tortilla that make these tacos so addictive.
How to Serve
You can top your smash tacos just like you would your favorite cheeseburger. Some of our favorite toppings include:
- Burger sauce
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Crumbled bacon
- Spicy jalapeno ranch
- Pickles
- Onions – pickled red onions, caramelized onions, or diced white onion
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayonnaise
How to Store and Reheat
To store: Let leftover tacos cool completely. Store meat-filled tortillas in an airtight container, and keep toppings separate to maintain freshness.
To reheat:
- Fastest method: Microwave for 30–45 seconds, uncovered.
- Best method: Reheat the unfolded taco in a hot skillet for 2-3 minutes per side until crispy.
Frequently Asked Questions
We used 8-inch tortillas, but any soft tortilla between 6–8 inches will work well.
Eat a few of these hybrid tacos on their own (they’re filling and delicious!) or make some potato wedges or an arugula salad to serve alongside.
Smash burger tacos are the internet-famous food mashup we didn’t know we needed — and now can’t stop making. With a short ingredient list, easy method, and endless topping options, these are the perfect dinner to shake up your weeknight routine or impress guests at your next cookout.
More Burger Recipes
If you tried this Smash Burger Tacos or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Smash Burger Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, portioned into 4 pieces
- 4 tortillas
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 4 tablespoons burger sauce, for garnish
- 1 cup shredded lettuce, for garnish
- 1 tomato, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet over high heat, add the olive oil.
- Once the pan is hot, place one of the pieces of ground beef on the skillet. Top with a tortilla and smash the beef beneath the tortilla until it spreads out to the edges of the tortilla (it will shrink as it cooks, try to get it as thin as possible). Cook over medium/high heat for 4 minutes then flip the beef and tortilla as one.
- Sprinkle the top of the cooked burger with sea salt and then place a piece of cheese (if you want cheese) over the beef. Cook for an additional 3 minutes.
- Plate with a spoonful of the burger sauce, sprinkle of lettuce, and some fresh tomato. Fold, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
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- Make it dairy-free – to make this recipe dairy-free, nix the cheese altogether or grab a dairy-free equivalent.
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- Make it gluten-free – grab gluten-free flour tortillas to make this recipe gluten-free. Mission makes a yummy variation!
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- Make it grain-free – we used Siete Cassava Grain Free Flour Tortillas for these tacos to make them totally grain-free. They worked great and were absolutely delicious!
Nutrition
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Cassy Joy Garcia
Recipe Developer
Brandi Schilhab
Copywriter
Jessica Gaertner
Photographer
This was a huge hit with my family, I made extra but we had no leftovers!
What’s the difference between these and Big Mac Tacos?
Really good meal!
Yay! We are so happy you think so, Matthew!