Smash Burger Tacos (Printer View)

Juicy patties seared on tortillas, topped with cheese, lettuce, pickles, and tangy sauce for quick, flavorful meals.

# Components:

→ 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

# Method:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, dill 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 to flatten, spreading beef thinly and evenly across one side of each tortilla.
03 - Season the beef layer generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
04 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and brush lightly with neutral oil.
05 - Working in batches if necessary, place tortillas beef-side down in the skillet. Press gently with a spatula to ensure complete contact. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until beef achieves a well-seared, golden-brown crust.
06 - Flip each taco so the tortilla rests on the cooking surface. Immediately top the beef side with a slice of American cheese. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until cheese melts completely and tortilla warms through.
07 - Transfer cooked tacos to serving plates. 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 caramelized, crispy beef edges taste like you've been cooking all day when you've barely been cooking at all.
  • Everything comes together in under twenty minutes, which means weeknight dinners stop feeling like a burden.
  • The homemade sauce transforms these from simple into something restaurant-quality that people actually remember.
02 -
  • If you flip too early, the beef won't have those crispy, caramelized edges—wait the full 2 to 3 minutes even if you're impatient, because that's where the flavor lives.
  • The cheese goes on immediately after flipping while the beef is still hot; any delay means it won't melt into those beautiful pockets where the beef browned.
03 -
  • Use a heavy skillet or griddle that retains heat well—a thin pan will cool down too much when you add the tortillas and you'll lose that beautiful sear.
  • Don't skip pressing down with your spatula; that pressure is what creates the crust, not just time and heat.
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