Smash Burger Tacos (Print Version)

Tender seared beef on warm tortillas topped with melty cheese, crisp lettuce, and tangy sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Taco Base

01 - 4 flour tortillas, 6-inch diameter
02 - 1 pound lean ground beef
03 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
04 - 1 tablespoon neutral oil
05 - 4 slices American cheese

→ Fresh Toppings

06 - 1/2 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
07 - 1/4 cup diced onion
08 - 8 to 12 dill pickle chips

→ Homemade Burger Sauce

09 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
10 - 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
11 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 teaspoon sugar
13 - 1 teaspoon white vinegar
14 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
15 - 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
16 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

# How To Make It:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, pickle relish, Dijon mustard, sugar, white vinegar, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder until smooth. Set aside.
02 - Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions of approximately 4 ounces each. Place each portion onto a flour tortilla and press firmly to flatten, spreading beef thinly and evenly across one side of each tortilla.
03 - Season the flattened beef with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
04 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Brush lightly with neutral oil.
05 - Place tortillas beef-side down in the heated skillet, working in batches if necessary. Press down gently with a spatula to ensure good contact. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until beef is well-seared with a deep brown crust.
06 - Flip each taco so the tortilla is on the bottom. Immediately top the beef side with a cheese slice. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until cheese is fully melted and tortilla is warmed through.
07 - Transfer cooked tacos to a serving plate. Repeat searing and melting process with remaining tacos.
08 - Spread a spoonful of burger sauce on each taco. Top with shredded lettuce, diced onion, and dill pickle chips. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Those crispy, caramelized beef edges are honestly addictive—you'll be sneaking bites while cooking.
  • The homemade burger sauce is tangy and complex in a way that makes you realize why people obsess over special sauce.
  • Your whole family eats dinner in under 30 minutes, and everyone feels like they got something special.
02 -
  • Don't flip too early—that 2 to 3 minutes of searing time is when the magic happens, when the beef develops that crispy, caramelized crust that makes people close their eyes when they bite into it.
  • Lean ground beef is your friend here; fattier beef will release too much liquid and steam rather than sear, losing all that textural contrast you're after.
  • The tortilla should be at room temperature when you start; cold tortillas are harder to press thin and more likely to crack.
03 -
  • Make your sauce up to a week ahead and store it in the fridge; the flavors only get better as they meld together.
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, set up a taco assembly line with sauce, lettuce, onion, and pickles in separate bowls so people can customize as you hand them hot tacos fresh from the pan.
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