Can I make the burger sauce ahead of time?

Absolutely! In fact, I recommend making the burger sauce at least 30 to 60 minutes before serving. This resting time allows the flavors to meld together, making the sauce even more delicious. You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

What size tortillas should I use?

The recipe calls for 6-inch flour tortillas, which are perfect for holding the smash burger without falling apart. If you want smaller tacos, you can swap in street taco-sized tortillas—just adjust the amount of beef you spread on each accordingly. You’ll likely get about eight smaller tacos using the smaller tortillas.

Can I substitute the cheese?

Definitely! While American cheese melts beautifully and lends a classic burger flavor, you’re free to experiment. Cheeses like cheddar, pepper jack, or even a melty mozzarella can work depending on your taste preference.

Is a griddle necessary to make these tacos?

Using a griddle is ideal because you can cook multiple tacos at once, speeding up the process. However, a heavy skillet or cast iron pan works just fine—you might just need to cook the tacos in batches.

Spicy Smash Burger Tacos: Flavorful & Quick Dinner

Name: Spicy Smash Burger Tacos Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup mayonnaise; 4 tablespoons pickle relish; 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/2 tablespoon white vinegar; 1 1/4 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 4 Flour tortillas, 6 inches in size; 1 pound lean ground beef; Salt and pepper, both to taste; 1 tablespoon neutral oil (vegetable, canola, or avocado); 4 slices American Cheese (or your preferred cheese on a burger); 1 small onion, diced; Dill pickle chips, as desired; Shredded iceberg lettuce, as desired

Description

These Smash Burger Tacos combine the juicy, caramelized goodness of classic smash burgers with the convenience and fun of tacos. Featuring a homemade tangy burger sauce, melted American cheese, pickles, onions, and shredded iceberg lettuce wrapped in soft flour tortillas, these tacos are a perfect fusion of flavors and textures that can be prepared quickly for a delicious meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Burger Sauce / Big Mac Sauce:

1 cup mayonnaise
4 tablespoons pickle relish
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 tablespoon white vinegar
1 1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Tacos:

4 Flour tortillas, 6 inches in size
1 pound lean ground beef
Salt and pepper, both to taste
1 tablespoon neutral oil (vegetable, canola, or avocado)
4 slices American Cheese (or your preferred cheese on a burger)
1 small onion, diced
Dill pickle chips, as desired
Shredded iceberg lettuce, as desired

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Instructions

Portion the Beef: Begin by dividing the ground beef into 4 equal portions to ensure even sized patties for the tacos.
Prepare Tortillas and Meat: Place a flour tortilla on your clean work surface. Evenly spread one portion of the ground beef over the entire tortilla surface, making sure it covers completely.
Season the Meat: Sprinkle a generous amount of salt and pepper over the meat-covered tortilla to taste.
Heat the Cooking Surface: Preheat a skillet or griddle on medium-high heat. Lightly coat the surface with the neutral oil to prevent sticking.
Cook the Patty: Place the tortilla with the meat side down onto the hot skillet or griddle. Apply gentle pressure with a spatula briefly to form a thin, even patty.
Develop the Crust: Cook the patty for 3 minutes or until a golden-brown crust forms on the bottom side.
Flip and Add Cheese: Carefully flip the patty tortilla, then place a slice of American cheese on the cooked side to melt.
Finish Cooking: Continue to cook for another 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crisped to your liking, but avoid charring.
Remove from Heat: Take the smash taco burger off the heat and set aside to assemble.
Repeat for Remaining Tacos: Cook the remaining portions in the same way, adjusting the number cooked at once depending on pan size.
Assemble the Tacos: Spread burger sauce on each cooked smash burger taco, then top with shredded iceberg lettuce, diced onions, and dill pickle chips.
Serve and Enjoy: Serve the assembled smash burger tacos immediately hot and enjoy this delicious fusion meal.

Notes

The burger sauce can be made a day ahead and tastes better if it rests for 30 to 60 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Using 6-inch fajita tortillas is recommended; if using smaller street taco tortillas, adjust the meat quantity accordingly to yield about 8 smaller tacos.
You may substitute the burger sauce with your favorite condiments such as ketchup, mustard, or plain mayonnaise.
A griddle works best to cook multiple tacos simultaneously; a skillet may limit you to 1 or 2 tacos at a time.
Store any leftover sauce refrigerated for up to 5 days.
The sauce recipe makes a large batch; feel free to halve it if not using for all tacos.
American cheese is traditional but feel free to use your preferred cheese type for variation.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (1 taco)
Calories: 520 kcal
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 720 mg
Fat: 38 g
Saturated Fat: 12 g
Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
Trans Fat: 0.5 g
Carbohydrates: 22 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 28 g
Cholesterol: 85 mg