Description
Smashed Cheeseburger Tacos are a creative and delicious twist on classic cheeseburgers, featuring thinly smashed ground beef cooked directly on tortillas for a crispy, flavorful taco experience. This recipe includes optional Big Mac-style sauce and fresh toppings, perfect for a quick, satisfying meal using a skillet or griddle.
Ingredients
For the Burger Tacos
- 1 pound ground beef
- 6 taco size flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Seasoning of choice (e.g., salt, pepper, garlic powder)
- Oil for greasing the cooking surface (about 2 tbsp)
Optional Big Mac Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 2 tbsp pickle relish
Toppings
- Shredded lettuce
- Tomato, diced or sliced
- Pickles, sliced
Instructions
- Make the optional Big Mac Sauce: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish. Mix well and set aside. This sauce adds a classic burger flavor but is optional if you prefer other condiments.
- Preheat the cooking surface: Heat a Blackstone griddle, cast iron skillet, or regular pan over medium-high heat to ensure a hot cooking surface for crispy smashed burgers.
- Prepare the beef on the tortillas: Divide the ground beef into six equal portions. Place each portion evenly onto the center of each tortilla and smash the beef down to cover the entire surface thinly. Sprinkle with your chosen seasoning for added flavor.
- Grease the pan: Lightly oil the pan or griddle with about 2 tablespoons of oil, adjusting according to your pan type and beef fat content to prevent sticking and help crisp the beef.
- Cook the beef side down: Place each tortilla onto the cooking surface with the beef side down. Cook for approximately 2 minutes to allow the beef to begin browning and crisping.
- Flip and add cheese: Carefully flip each tortilla so the beef side is up. Immediately sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of the cooked beef. Continue cooking for 1 to 3 minutes until the cheese melts and the tortilla crisps, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Assemble and serve: Remove the cooked smashed cheeseburger tacos from the heat. Add your choice of shredded lettuce, tomato, pickles, and optional Big Mac sauce. Fold and enjoy these flavorful, crispy tacos immediately.
Notes
- The ground beef cooks quickly as it is smashed thin directly on the tortilla, so no concerns about undercooked meat if following timing.
- Smash beef all the way to the edge of tortillas to accommodate shrinkage during cooking.
- A Blackstone griddle or cast iron skillet is ideal for high direct heat and crispy texture; a non-stick pan is an acceptable substitute.
- You may substitute flour tortillas with corn tortillas, but corn tortillas may not hold together as well.
- Shredded cheese melts faster than sliced cheese; covering the pan for the last minute of cooking helps melt cheese evenly.
- If you have leftovers, reheat them in an air fryer at 390°F for about 5 minutes for best texture.
- Try this concept with ground sausage topped with scrambled eggs and salsa for breakfast tacos.
