Description
Smashed Cheeseburger Tacos are a quick and family-friendly twist on the classic cheeseburger, transforming juicy smashed beef patties into crispy taco-style wraps. Perfect for a fast and fun dinner, this recipe combines ground beef with melted cheddar cheese and optional Big Mac-style sauce, wrapped in soft tortillas for a meal that even picky eaters will love.
Ingredients
For the Burger Tacos
- 1 pound ground beef
- 6 taco size flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Seasoning of choice (such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder)
- Oil for greasing the cooking surface (about 2 tablespoons)
Optional Big Mac Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 2 tablespoons pickle relish
Toppings
- Shredded lettuce
- Tomato, sliced or diced
- Pickles
Instructions
- Make the Sauce (Optional): In a small bowl, thoroughly mix together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish. This sauce adds a tangy and creamy flavor similar to Big Mac sauce but can be skipped or replaced with your favorite burger condiments.
- Preheat Cooking Surface: Heat a Blackstone griddle, cast iron skillet, or regular pan over medium-high heat until hot enough to sizzle.
- Prepare Beef on Tortillas: Divide the raw ground beef into six equal portions. Place each portion onto a flour tortilla and press down firmly to create a thin, even layer covering the whole tortilla surface. Sprinkle your preferred seasoning evenly over the beef.
- Grease Pan: Lightly grease your cooking surface with about 2 tablespoons of oil or enough to prevent sticking depending on pan type and beef fat content.
- Cook Beef Tacos Beef-Side Down: Place the tortillas on the hot pan with the beef side down. Cook for about 2 minutes until the beef starts to brown and crisp up.
- Flip and Add Cheese: Carefully flip each tortilla so the beef is on top. Immediately sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the beef. Cook for another 1-3 minutes, monitoring closely to avoid tortilla burning. The cheese will melt and the tortilla will become crisp.
- Remove and Add Toppings: Take the tacos off the heat and add your choice of shredded lettuce, tomato slices, and pickles. Optionally, add the prepared Big Mac sauce or other condiments.
- Serve: Fold the tacos and serve immediately, enjoying the combination of crispy, cheesy beef with fresh toppings.
Notes
- The beef cooks quickly despite being raw on the tortilla because it is smashed very thin.
- Smash the beef to the edges of the tortillas as it shrinks during cooking.
- A Blackstone griddle or cast iron skillet is ideal for a crispy sear, but a non-stick pan works as well.
- Corn tortillas can be used but may not hold together as well as flour tortillas.
- Shredded cheese melts faster than sliced; covering the tacos with a lid for the last minute helps melt cheese quicker.
- Leftover tacos reheat well in an air fryer at 390°F for about 5 minutes.
- Try this recipe with ground sausage and top with scrambled eggs and salsa for a breakfast taco variation.
