Smashed Cheeseburger Tacos

Smashed cheeseburger tacos with crispy-edged beef patties folded into buttery flour tortillas and topped with melted American cheese. Each taco is built like a burger—then stacked with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and special sauce.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Mexican-American Fusion

Calories: 570

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Smashed burger filling

1.5 lb ground beef (80/20)
8 small flour tortillas
8 American cheese slices
0.25 cup butter, melted
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomatoes
Diced onions
Pickles, chopped
Special sauce (mayo, ketchup, mustard mixed)
Salt and pepper

Equipment

1 Cast iron skillet

Method

Prep the patties

Form the ground beef into 8 small balls and season with salt and pepper.

Smash and melt

Heat a griddle or large skillet over high heat and brush the small flour tortillas with melted butter.
Place the tortillas on the griddle and put a beef ball on each, then smash flat with a heavy spatula.
Cook for 3-4 minutes until the beef develops a crispy crust.
Flip the tortilla and beef together, keeping the patty flat against the surface.
Immediately top with American cheese and cook for 1-2 minutes until melted.

Fold and finish

Remove from heat and fold each cheesy patty like a taco.
Fill with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced onions, chopped pickles, and special sauce.

Notes

For the crispiest edges, press the beef firmly but briefly during the smash and avoid moving the patties while they cook to form crust. Refrigerate assembled tacos in an airtight container for up to 2 days; rewarm in a skillet to re-crisp the tortilla, then re-add toppings and sauce if needed. Freezing is not recommended because tortillas and cheese toppings lose texture. If you want a lighter option, use 90/10 ground beef and reduce the amount of melted butter brushing on the tortillas.