Viral Smashburger Tacos (With a Mexican Twist)
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The Smashburger Taco trend has taken the world by storm recently, so we had to try them out to see if they live up to the social media hype.
Popularized by Brad Prose from Chiles and Smoke, these tacos combine a classic smash burger and a taco.
Instead of following the smash burger theme, I put a more classic Mexican twist on the trend to lean more into the “taco” than the “burger.”
Smashburger Tacos
Ingredients you’ll need
- Ground beef (80/20)
- Flour tortillas
- Taco seasoning
- White onion
- Cilantro
- Avocado
- Queso fresco
Equipment you’ll need
How to make Smashburger Tacos
The process for making these is super simple. You take a small ball of seasoned ground beef, smash it onto a tortilla, and cook them on the griddle until done.
Top with your favorite taco toppings (or burger toppings), and they’re ready to enjoy.
1. Season
Typically, with a smash burger, people tend to season the meat after the patty has been smashed onto the griddle.
I chose to season my beef before adding it to the tortilla to ensure all the meat was evenly seasoned, as once it’s on the tortilla, you’re only able to season one side.
I added a bit of Malcom Reed’s Grande Gringo taco seasoning to the burger meat and gave it a quick mix until it was well incorporated.
As with all ground beef, be sure not to overwork it otherwise, you’ll end up with a dry, chewy texture.
2. Form the pattie
Divide your seasoned ground beef into eight equal-sized balls (about 2oz each).
Then place each ball in the center of a flour tortilla.
Push the meat down with your hand and spread it out until it covers almost the entire surface of the tortilla.
3. Fire up the griddle
Heat your griddle to medium heat.
Place your tortillas on the griddle with the meat side facing down.
Smash down the tortillas with the back of a spatula or a burger press so the meat gets nice and smashed against the griddle.
You’ll let your tacos cook for 7 to 8 minutes until the meat is almost cooked.
Give them a flip and let them cook for another minute or so to crisp the other side of the tortilla.
4. Serve them up
The original version of this trend leaned into the “smash burger” side of the theme, but I decided to lean more into the “taco” side. I added some diced white onion, chopped cilantro, a bit of fresh avocado, and some crumbled queso fresco on top.
The possibilities are endless, so feel free to have fun and put your own twist on the trend!
More Mexican-themed recipes
Smashburger Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 flour tortillas
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 cup white onion - diced
- ½ cup cilantro - chopped
- 1 avocado - sliced
- ½ cup Queso fresco - crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat your griddle to medium heat.
- In a mixing bowl combine the ground beef and taco seasoning. Mix gently until fully combined, but do not overwork your meat.
- Divide the ground beef into 8 equal balls. Take each ball and place it in the center of a flour tortilla. Push the meat down with your hand and spread it out until it covers almost the entire surface of the tortilla.
- Place your tortillas on the griddle with the meat side facing down. Smash down the tortillas with the back of a spatula or a burger press. Cook for about 7 to 8 minutes until the beef is almost cooked through, then flip them over for 1 more minute to lightly crisp the other side of the tortilla.
- Remove your smash tacos from the griddle and top with the onions, cilantro, avocado, and queso fresco and they’re ready to enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation only. If you’re worried you could always add a side of kale.
About Your Pitmaster
Breanna Stark is a Texas-based competitive pitmaster and barbecue educator. She grew up cooking over charcoal and open flames while camping with her father, sparking a lifelong love of barbecue. Since 2014, she has competed in over 100 IBCA, KCBS, and CBA events, earning recognition for her award-winning chicken and Texas-style barbecue.
Passionate about recipe testing and development to create approachable dishes that help backyard cooks level up their barbecue skills. Breanna shares her expertise with over three million followers on social media.