Juicy smash-style beef cooked straight onto tortillas, then finished with classic burger toppings and melty cheese sauce. Fast, messy, and insanely good.
⏱ Time
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10–12 minutes
Total: ~20 minutes
🍔 Servings
Makes 6 tacos
🧾 Ingredients
For the Smash Beef
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (80/20 for best juiciness)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder (optional)
For the Tacos
- 6 small flour tortillas (soft taco size)
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1 small tomato, diced
- Pickles (optional but very burger-authentic)
For the Burger Sauce (or Cheese Sauce)
Option 1 – Classic Burger Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
Option 2 – Simple Cheese Sauce (like in the photo)
- ½ cup cheddar cheese sauce
(or melt ½ cup shredded American/cheddar with a splash of milk)
👨🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the Beef
- Divide ground beef into 6 equal balls.
- Season lightly with salt, pepper, and optional spices.
2️⃣ Smash Onto Tortillas
- Press one beef ball directly onto one side of each tortilla.
- Smash thin, covering most of the surface.
- Season the meat side again lightly.
3️⃣ Cook
- Heat a skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
- Place tortillas beef-side down.
- Cook 2–3 minutes until beef is deeply browned and crispy.
- Flip and cook tortilla side for 1–2 minutes until warm and lightly toasted.
4️⃣ Assemble
- Remove from heat.
- Add lettuce, tomato, pickles.
- Drizzle generously with burger sauce or cheese sauce.
5️⃣ Fold & Serve
- Fold like a taco.
- Serve hot and immediately (they’re best juicy and messy 🔥).
🔥 Pro Tips
- Don’t overwork the beef — loose smash = juicier meat.
- Use a cast-iron pan for maximum crust.
- Want it extra cheesy? Add sliced American cheese to the beef right after flipping.
- Make it spicy with jalapeños or hot sauce.