Have you heard about Smash Tacos? These trendy tacos are all the rage right now, and let me tell you, they’re not just your average food trend. These quirky hand-held delights are unexpectedly delicious – I mean, seriously finger-licking good!
You might think they’re just another media food-fad, but trust me, one bite and you’ll be doing a little happy dance. It’s like enjoying that familiar taste in a whole new form.
Whether you call them Smash Tacos, Smash Burger Tacos, or even Big Mac Tacos, they’re all over Insta and TikTok, and for good reason – they’re taking the world by storm!
I absolutely love tacos! I could eat them every day. I’m always up for trying them in new and interesting ways, especially fusion styles. Fusion-style tacos are like tasty experiments, mixing different flavors and styles to make something new and exciting. I have already great ones like Mediterranean Chicken Tacos and Bulgogi Tacos on GypsyPlate, and have wanted to go the Smash Taco way for a long time.
What are Smash Tacos?
Smash Tacos are a fusion of two iconic fast-food favorites: the Big Mac from McDonald’s and traditional tacos. They brings together the best of both worlds in a way that’s nothing short of amazing!
It’s like the classic burger and trendy taco bumped into each other and decided, “Hey, let’s join forces!”
Smash Burgers have been quite popular for a few years, and some genius somewhere decided to smash the hamburger with tacos instead of in between a bun. And the rest is history!!
This works so well, as the meat is cooked on high heat pressing down on a hot griddle, caramelizing perfectly to golden brown, and creating beautiful flavors. The tacos on top, when flipped, gets crispy and charred. All that’s needed then is to load it with your favorite toppings and a good drizzle of delicious Mac sauce… It’s just too good!
The best part – Actual cook time is just 5 minutes tops… 🙂
Ingredients Needed
- For Mac Sauce – Mayonnaise, ketchup, dijon mustard, sugar, white vinegar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, relish. This sauce is absolutely bomb on any burger.
- For Burgers – Ground beef (or any ground meat of your choice), salt and freshly cracked pepper.
- Tortillas – I prefer Flour tortillas for smash tacos. You can use corn tortillas. Make smaller hamburger balls, as they are smaller in size and more delicate.
- American cheese – It’s not Big Mac Tacos unless it’s American cheese slices. They melt wonderfully. Saying that, use any cheese of your choice.
- Toppings – Today I used shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced dill pickles and diced tomatoes.
Big Mac Taco Recipe
1. Make Mac Sauce: First, I make the Mac Sauce by mixing together all the ingredients in a small bowl. I whisk until everything is well combined, then I cover it and put it in the fridge until I’m ready to use it.
2. Make toppings ready: Next, I get the toppings ready. I dice the tomatoes, shred the lettuce, and chop the pickles before I start making the tacos. Smash tacos come together quickly, so I want everything ready to go before they get cold.
3. Make smash tacos ready: Then, I prepare the smash tacos. I divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions, about 4 ounces each. I roll each portion into a ball and press it onto a tortilla, flattening it with my fingers until it’s flat all the way to the edges. I season them with salt and pepper, making sure they’re all ready before I start cooking.
4. Smash the tacos: To smash the tacos, I heat up a large griddle, Blackstone, or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, I spray it with cooking spray and place the tortillas with the beef side down. Then, I use a press or a large spatula to smash them down. I let them cook for about 3 to 3.5 minutes, until they’re golden brown and caramelized, and then I flip them over.
5. Melt the cheese: Next, I melt the cheese. I lower the heat to medium-low and place one slice of American cheese on top of each beef patty. Then, I cover them with a lid for a minute or so to help the cheese melt and the tortillas brown up and become crispy.
6. Load the tacos with your favorite toppings: Once the tacos are off the heat, I load them up with my favorite toppings. I add shredded lettuce, along with any other toppings I like, and then drizzle on the Mac sauce. Finally, I fold them up like regular tacos and they’re ready to enjoy!
Alpana’s Tips
- Choose the right meat: When it comes to making juicy burgers, I always go for ground beef with an 80/20 fat ratio. Too lean won’t give you that juiciness you’re looking for.
- Perfect the Mac Sauce: The Big Mac sauce is a game-changer. Find the right blend of mayonnaise, mustard, and spices. Experiment until you get that irresistible taste! Original Big Mac sauce does not have ketchup in the mix, but I feel it’s indispensable.
- Preheat the griddle: Before cooking, I make sure to preheat the griddle to the right temperature. Medium-high heat gives the perfect sear every time.
- Lower the heat to medium low after flipping: After flipping the tacos, I lower the heat to medium-low. This prevents the tortillas from getting too charred while allowing enough time for the cheese to melt.
- Use fast-melting cheese: When you flip the tacos, place the cheese on top and cover with a lid to help it melt. You need cheese that melts fast, otherwise the tortillas might burn by the time cheese is melted. That’s why American cheese slices are perfect for the recipe.
- Serve Immediately: Lastly, Big Mac Tacos taste best when served immediately. I try not to let them sit for too long, or they might become soggy. If I’m making a batch for a crowd on a smaller griddle, I keep them warm in the oven at 250°F on a wire rack to keep them crispy.
Smash Burger Tacos, the delightful duo you never knew you needed in your life, but now you’ll wonder how you ever lived without. Try them ASAP!! One bite will surely put a grin on your face.
This recipe is great for a Blackstone griddle, where you can make many tacos at the same time. It’s a favorite to cook with griddle enthusiasts. Check out our other favorite Blackstone Recipes too.
Find out what the rest of the world is raving about. Join the fun and give these smash tacos a try!
Smash Taco, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
More Great Taco Recipes
Ground Turkey Tacos
Tacos Gobernador
Salmon Tacos
Korean Beef Tacos
Steak Tacos
Breakfast Tacos
Chicken Tacos
Ground Beef Tacos
Birria Tacos
Smash Tacos (Big Mac Tacos)
My Smash Burger Tacos with a Big Mac theme are a fun fusion of two of everyone's favorite handheld meals!
Ingredients
Mac Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- 2 Tbsp relish
Smash Tacos
- 1lbs ground beef
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste, freshly cracked
- 4 slices American Cheese
- 4 flour tortillas (regular size)
Serving (see note 1)
- shredded iceberg lettuce
- sliced dill pickles
- diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Mix together all the ingredients for Big Mac sauce in a small bowl. Whisk until well combined. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Make your toppings ready by dicing tomatoes, shredding lettuce and slicing pickles before starting with the tacos.
- Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 4oz each). Roll each portion into a ball.
- Using your fingers, press the ground meat onto the tortilla, making sure you press it flat all the way to the edges, in an even and thin layer. Season them with salt and pepper. Have them all ready before you begin cooking.
- Heat a large griddle, Blackstone, or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, spray with oil.
- Place tortillas on the griddle with the beef side down. Smash them using a press or a large spatula. Cook for 3 to 3.5 minutes, or until until beef is golden brown and caramelized, and then flip.
- Lower the heat to medium low. Place American cheese slices on top of the beef. Cover with a lid for a minute or so, until cheese melts and the tortillas brown up and become crispy. (see note 2)
- Remove from heat, top with lettuce, and other toppings of your choice, along with the prepared sauce. Fold them like tacos and enjoy!
Notes
- Try other optional toppings here like Pico de Gallo, guacamole, diced onion or diced avocado.
- This recipe is great for Blackstone griddle, where you can make many smash tacos at the same time. If you are using a regular griddle or skillet, and making 1-2 tacos at a time, they might get cold before serving. To keep them warm, place them in the oven at 250°F on a cooling rack so that they don't get soggy.
- We use flour tortillas, as they are sturdier, but you can use corn tortillas. They are a little smaller and more delicate, so make smaller ground beef balls.
- You can swap ground beef with ground turkey or any other ground meat of your choice.
- Leftovers: We do not recommend these tacos as leftovers, as they should be enjoyed fresh and crispy. Plan and cook just as many as needed for your friends and family. Chances of them remaining as leftovers is pretty slim as it is.
If you make too many meatballs, no worries. Just refrigerate them on a plate covered in cling wrap until ready to use.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 751Total Fat 49gSaturated Fat 14gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 30gCholesterol 128mgSodium 1248mgCarbohydrates 37gFiber 3gSugar 7gProtein 40g
Nutrition information calculated by Nutritionix.
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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