Smash Burger Tacos

These smash burger tacos might literally be my absolute favorite thing to make these days! 

Yes, we're combining two of the best food groups—burgers and tacos—to create this smash burger taco masterpiece.

I promise you: if you make these at your next BBQ, your guests will be begging for the recipe!

How To Make Smash Burger Tacos

The process for these smash burger tacos is pretty much the same as our regular smash burgers.

Except, when we smash the burger down on the griddle, we're using the tortilla to press down, and letting it cook on top of the burger while it sears.

This process allows the tortilla to soak in all the yummy burger juices, and when we flip it over, it gets a nice little crisp on the outside, like in the picture below.

Then you just top with American cheese, and your favorite burger toppings!

It all comes together in about two minutes, and I have to say: I think I like these even better than regular smash burgers and smoked burgers!

The Ingredients

• Ground beef (1 pound). We use a 75/25 blend, but 80/20 works fine too. 
• American cheese (8 slices). The perfect cheese for smash burgers.
• Flour tortillas (8 tortillas). We used the "La Banderita" brand, and they were great. Make sure you buy taco-size tortillas, not quesadilla-size, and make sure you get flour (not corn).
• Burger sauce (1/2 cup). We made our homemade burger sauce.
• Dill pickles (16 slices). We use the hamburger sliced ones. 
• Lettuce (1/4 cup). Finely shredded.
• White onion (1/2 onion). Finely chopped.
• Beef tallow (1 tbsp). To grease up the skillet and add even more beef flavor to the tacos. If you don't have beef tallow, then you can use canola oil.

The Directions

1. Form your ground beef into rounded, meatball-shaped patties, 2 ounces each.

2. Heat up a cast iron skillet, or cast iron griddle (we use this one from Camp Chef), over medium-high heat. Add your beef tallow and allow it to sizzle.

3. When your pan is nice and hot, add your beef.

4. Immediately place a tortilla on top of the beef patty, and smash it down with a burger press. Allow the meat to cook and form a nice sear, about 1-2 minutes.

5. Scrape and flip the patty (and tortilla) over, and immediately add a slice of the American cheese. Allow it to cook for 30-60 more seconds, making sure not to let the tortilla burn!

6. Remove from the griddle, and add your burger sauce and toppings. Allow it to cool for a minute, then serve and ENJOY!

Cooking Tips

• Have everything ready to go. These smash burger tacos cook fast. Make sure you have everything laid out and prepared before putting the beef on the griddle.
• Use flour tortillas. You can use corn if you prefer, but the meat adheres to the flour tortillas much better, and they're easier to fold.
• Smash burger toppings. You can use whichever toppings you prefer! We really like homemade burger sauce, pickle chips, and white onion.

Recommended Tools

• Cast iron griddle. This reversible cast iron skillet is perfect for smash burgers, and is big enough to cook 6-8 burgers at once.
• Burger press. I use this burger press from Cuisinart—it makes it super easy to get a nice "smash" on the burgers.