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If you love the viral smash tacos but crave bigger flavor, you'll want to try these Mexican Smash Burger Tacos.
I started making them after the trend took over my feed, but I wanted a version that tasted more like the food I grew up with here in South Texas – savory, punchy, and just a little spicy.
The twist that makes these special? I mix chorizo into the beef and smash the meat directly onto the tortilla so they cook together in one step. The edges get crisp, the chorizo adds incredible flavor, and everything happens fast in a single skillet.
Top them with a quick spicy smash sauce and dinner is ready in about 20 minutes. And if you want a gluten-free option, I've included a simple technique for using corn tortillas that works perfectly.
These can be enjoyed on game day, Cinco de Mayo, or for a weeknight family dinner! It has become one of our favorite Ground Beef Recipes!
Table of Contents
- 🔍 Recipe at a Glance
- What’s A Smash Burger Taco?
- How Is This Recipe Different?
- What You’ll Need
- Equipment
- Ingredients
- 🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
- Can I Use Corn Tortillas? (Gluten-Free Option)
- How To Make Smash Burger Tacos
- Recipe Tips
- Variations
- What To Serve With Smash Burger Tacos
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- More Recipes
- Recipe
- Reviews
🔍 Recipe at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| 🔪 Prep Time: | 15 minutes |
| 🔥 Cook Time: | 5 minutes |
| ⏲️ Total Time: | 25 minutes |
| 🍽️ Servings: | 6 |
| ⚡Main Ingredients: | Ground beef, chorizo, tortillas, queso, spicy smash sauce |
| 🌮 Tortilla Options: | Flour tortillas or gluten-free corn tortillas (see guide below) |
| 🌟Skill Level: | Easy |
What’s A Smash Burger Taco?
It’s a combination of smash burgers, similar to the popular burger chain hamburgers and tacos, and is based on a viral TikTok video that spread like wildfire across all social media. It transforms a smash burger recipe into a taco. For example, instead of a hamburger bun, it uses a tortilla.
These viral smash burger tacos are like taco burgers, but these are definitely more tacos than burgers. However, they are not your typical taco either. These taco burgers have a crispy tortilla. I guess you could call these smashed tacos or smashed taco burgers, or cheeseburger tacos.
Have you ever had a burger from the popular chain Smashburger? They have thin meat patties because they are “smashed” on the hot griddle and served with a delicious homemade burger sauce.
How Is This Recipe Different?
This Smashburger Taco recipe is different; it’s more taco than burger because it is a more Tex-Mex version. Below are a few of the differences.
- Flavor – To add a more Tex-Mex flavor to the meat, I combine chorizo with ground beef.
- Toppings – Instead of sliced cheese, I use prepared queso. Instead of plain tomatoes, I use pico de gallo with tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and cilantro. Instead of stopping there, I add guacamole and a spiced sour cream. Of course, you can always use your favorite toppings.
- Sauce – The Smashburger taco, or Big Mac Taco as some call it, has a special sauce, like the delicious Big Mac sauce. Instead of this sauce, I use a spiced sour cream to give it a more Mexican flavor.
- Overall, this Smashburger Taco recipe is more Tex-Mex than the original!
What You’ll Need
Equipment
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Ingredients
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
- Flour Tortillas -Use high quality flour tortillas.
Want to use Corn Tortillas? You absolutely can! Check out the “Can I Use Corn Tortillas?” section below for the specific technique (pressing before cooking) to keep them from cracking. - Ground Beef – Use a pound of 80/20 ground beef because you’ll need the extra fat in this recipe for the burger to hold together. I don’t recommend lean ground beef or ground turkey for this recipe.
- Ground Chorizo – You’ll need a 1/2 cup of ground chorizo to give it that extra Mexican flavor. However, don’t change the ratio between the beef and chorizo, or else the burger patty may fall apart.
- Garlic Powder – Add garlic powder to the meat mixture. If you want to add a little more kick, add about 1/2 teaspoon of my Homemade Taco Seasoning to the meat mixture.
- Salt & Pepper – To taste.
- Toppings:
- Queso – Instead of a slice of cheese, I use queso to give it a more Tex-Mex style. I recommend making my Skillet Queso, but you could use store-bought. You want melty cheese over the hamburger patty.
- Shredded Lettuce – or you can use your favorite burger toppings instead.
- Guacamole – You can use a dollop of homemade guacamole or store-bought.
- Pico De Gallo – with fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and cilantro, this adds a fresh kick to the tacos.
- Sour Cream
- Salsa – I think homemade salsa adds the best flavor, but use your favorite.
- Paprika or Chipotle Powder – See the recipe card below for specific measurements.
See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list with quantities.
Can I Use Corn Tortillas? (Gluten-Free Option)
Yes! While flour tortillas are the standard for smash tacos because the meat sticks to them easily, you can absolutely use corn tortillas to make this recipe gluten-free.
Corn tortillas are more delicate, so the "smash in the pan" method can cause them to crack. Here's the simple technique that works beautifully:
Press Before You Pan
Take a ball of the chorizo-beef mixture and press it firmly onto a fresh or slightly warmed corn tortilla before placing it in the skillet.
Spread It Thin
Use your fingers to press the meat almost to the edges. This helps the meat bond to the tortilla.
Cook Meat-Side Down
Place the tortilla meat-side down on a hot skillet. Since it's already attached, there's no need to smash it, just let it sear and crisp up naturally.
This method keeps the tortilla intact while giving you the same crispy edges and great flavor.
How To Make Smash Burger Tacos
Combine the beef, chorizo, and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Divide the mixture evenly and roll it into eight equal-sized balls.
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and spray it with cooking spray.
Place a meat ball in the center of a flour tortilla and press down lightly so it sticks.
Carefully place the tortilla meat-side down on the hot skillet.
Smash the meat flat using a spatula and cook for about 3 minutes.
Flip the taco so the tortilla side is down on the skillet and the thin burger patty is on top. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the tortilla is crisp and the meat is cooked through.
Remove from the skillet and fold the tortilla in half.
Heat the queso in the microwave according to the package directions.
Add queso, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, and guacamole to the tacos.
Combine the sour cream, salsa, and paprika or chipotle, and drizzle over the tacos.
Serve the tacos flat or folded - your choice!
Recipe Tips
- Smash It! Use something heavy, like a burger press, or press hard with a spatula until the hamburger is smashed thin. Press the burger flat onto the tortilla with your palm before placing it in the pan.
- Fast! The hamburger patty is super thin and will cook quickly. Cook for 3 minutes, then flip and continue cooking for another 2 to 3 minutes.
- Flat or Folded! You can serve these flat, or if eating as a taco, fold as soon as it comes out of the pan if you want it to be a taco shape.
- Saucy! The sauce for these smash tacos is not the typical smash burger sauce. It is a spicy cream sauce. If you want it a bit spicy, add the chipotle powder or some chili powder.
Variations
- Standard Smashburger Taco – Use ground beef only, sliced cheese (either American cheese or cheddar cheese), yellow mustard, shredded lettuce, and plain tomatoes.
- Dill Pickle Smashburger Taco – Follow the standard version above, but top the burger with chopped dill pickles or dill pickle relish. Of course, if you prefer sweet relish, use sweet pickle relish.
- Mac & Cheese Smashburger Taco – Top the burger with your favorite mac & cheese!
What To Serve With Smash Burger Tacos
- Chips and Queso
- Chips and Salsa
- Mexican Rice
- Refried Beans
- French Fries
- Onion Rings
- Sweet Potato Chips
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
These Smashburger Tacos are best enjoyed hot off the grill. Leftovers could get soggy. However, if you have leftovers, place the tacos in airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Yes! You can place the beef patty on the flour tortilla before placing it on the grill. Then, you can use a metal spatula to press it down on the grill.
If you follow the instructions, there is less of a chance that the tortillas get soggy. For example, don’t put too much meat on each tortilla. The meat patty should be thin and cooked quickly. When you flip the burger and the tortilla is on the grill and the meat patty facing up, don’t take it off the grill until the tortilla gets nice and crispy.
More Recipes
- Ground Beef Tacos
- Taco Sloppy Joes
- Grilled Onion Bacon Cheeseburger
- Beef Empanadas
- Potato and Chorizo Empanadas
- Taco Stuffed Potatoes
- Taco Lasagna
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Recipe
Mexican Smash Burger Tacos with Chorizo and Spicy Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef 80/20
- 1/2 cup chorizo
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
- 1/2 cup queso
- 1/2 cup shredded lettuce
- 1/2 cup pico de gallo
- 1/2 cup guacamole
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons salsa
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika or chipotle powder
Instructions
- Combine the beef, chorizo, and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Divide the mixture evenly and roll it into eight equal-sized balls.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and spray it with cooking spray.
- Place a meat ball in the center of a flour tortilla and press down lightly so it sticks. Carefully place the tortilla meat-side down on the hot skillet.
- Smash the meat flat using a spatula and cook for about 3 minutes.
- Flip the taco so the tortilla side is down on the skillet and the thin burger patty is on top. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the tortilla is crisp and the meat is cooked through.
- Remove from the skillet and fold the tortilla in half.
- Heat the queso in the microwave according to the package directions.
- Add queso, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, and guacamole to the tacos.
- Combine the sour cream, salsa, and paprika or chipotle, and drizzle over the tacos.
- Serve the tacos flat or folded - your choice!
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