Smashed Burger Tacos

You’ve probably heard about smashed burgers. They swept the globe a few years as keen barbecuers started pressing their beef patties firmly down against a hot flat top grill or pan, to make sizzling squashed burgers with delectably crunchy crusts and a high ratio of crisp to juice. So popular have they become that people are starting to experiment with them even more. I heard you can make them with tortillas instead of a burger bun, for Smashed Burger Tacos. And of course, I had to give them a try…

What Is a Smashed Burger?

A smashed burger is a burger patty that is pressed very firmly against the hot pan during cooking, in order to crush it flat into an irregular pancake shape. Regular burgers are usually shaped before grilling and then flipped half way through. Smashed burgers are often only cooked on one side, often with the burger bun placed on top. This method of cooking yields a very crisp crust to one side of the burger, with lots of flavor from the Maillard reaction in the pan.

Smashed burger tacos use a tortilla in place of the burger bun, frying the tortilla as well until crispy. The tortilla with its meat filling is then folded into a taco shape.

How to Make Smashed Burger Tacos

When making regular burgers, I usually like to keep the mix quite simple. But here, because it’s tacos, we’re going for a Mexican vibe. I’ve thrown in some garlic and onion and a handful of spices to jazz up the flavor a little – nothing especially surprising there. But there are three secret components to my Mexican burger patty mix – or at least more unusual components – that I think make quite a significant difference:

1. Use a mixture of finely ground beef and coarser ground beef. This will give your burgers a more interesting texture while ensuring that they still hold together.
2. Pickled jalapeños. They add acidity along with spice and heat. I usually like a dash of Worcestershire sauce in my regular burger patties for a subtle boost of salt and sour. Pickled jalapeños do the same thing, but with a distinctively Latin American taste.
3. Add some ground coffee. You’re going to fall into one of two camps reading this. The first camp has used coffee in savory recipes before and is nodding their head sagely. But if you’re in the second camp, you’re almost certainly saying: “WT actual F is she thinking?!” Trust me. It doesn’t make your burger taste like coffee. It adds a rich, roasted aroma and a little gritty texture. It’s so good that I would call it a game changer in the smashed burger world.

Mixing and Shaping

This is easy, and made even easier by the fact that you don’t want to mix too much. If you handle the meat too much, it will start to get a little bouncier in texture which is not usually considered desirable. So: mince the garlic and jalapeños and slice the onions finely. Put them in a bowl with both meats, plus the coffee, paprika and cumin, and scrunch with your hands just until everything is well-mixed together. Divide into eight roughly equal portions and roll each one into a ball. If you’re not cooking immediately, you can leave these in the refrigerator for up to a few hours.

Frying Smashed Burger Tacos

This is the fun bit! If you don’t have a flat top grill, you’ll need a heavy, cast iron pan. And you’ll need some implements for squashing, pressing, and smashing that burger taco! As you can see from the pictures below, I used a variety of different stainless steel tools, from a potato masher to a spatula.

Start by getting your pan really hot, and add a splash of oil. Add one of the beef patty balls and place a tortilla on top. Use your strong implement to press down really firmly, smashing the burger patty completely flat under the tortilla. Fry for just a couple of minutes, then flip. Add the cheese, and fold the tortilla in half. Carry on frying, flipping once or twice, so the tortilla browns and crisps, the cheese melts, and the ground meat has the chance to completely cook through.

What to Serve with Smashed Burger Tacos

With most tacos, you add extra fillings. These are a little different. Because of the way they’re cooked, you can’t really open them back up to put anything more inside. But that doesn’t stop you adding things on the side!

I personally enjoy a squeeze of lime juice over the taco, some fresh chopped lettuce, and maybe some green bell peppers. And because it’s Mexico, guacamole and sour cream are always welcome. But really, smashed burger tacos are like any kind of burger. Only you know how you like yours! Feel free to serve with tomatoes, mayonnaise, a fried egg, some smoky bacon, dill pickles – whatever you like on a burger, you’ll like here, too.

And More…

Looking for more burger recipes? I’ve got a few…

• Turkey Burgers with Cranberry Coleslaw
• Vegetarian Barley Burgers
• Air-Fryer Chicken Burgers
• Pork Burgers with BBQ Sauce
• Grilled Jerk Chicken Sandwiches

Conclusion

Have you been looking for your next fast food mash-up to make at home? Definitely give my smashed burger tacos a try. They take everything that’s great about smashed burgers and mix it with the best things about tacos. Pair with guacamole, lettuce, cheese, or whatever you most enjoy in your burgers. And don’t skip the coffee…