Big Mac Smash Burger Tacos (Viral Recipe!)

by Kayla Berman on August 2, 2023 2 comments

Big Mac Smash Burger Tacos are a viral TikTok recipe sensation for good reason! The crispy ground beef smashed burger patties served inside tortillas as tacos are layered with melty cheddar cheese, homemade special sauce, and your favorite burger toppings. This epic favorite food mashup is easy to make, incredibly delicious, and such a happy meal!

Looking for more big mac inspired recipes? Check out my Cheeseburger Big Mac Casserole or Low Carb Burger Salad.

What are Viral Burger Smashed Tacos?

Delicious big mac tacos are the latest trending dish on the world wide web! You couldn’t have scrolled through TikTok in the last few months without a variation of this dish popping up.

Social media went crazy over the popular food mash-up … and I completely understand why! Burgers are amazing. Tacos are amazing. Therefore, smashed burger tacos are double amazing. It’s simple math.

But seriously, they go together insanely better than I would have imagined. They’re like peanut butter and jelly, tomato and basil, chips and dip, or cream cheese on a bagel.

This perfect pairing consists of layers of crispy beef, melty cheese, and homemade special burger sauce enjoyed taco-style in a tortilla. Add some crunchy fresh toppings like bright tomatoes, crispy lettuce, and briny dill pickle slices and you have yourself an epic happy meal.

It is such a fun dinner twist for your next easy weeknight meal or backyard BBQ celebration!

Plus, you know these viral tacos must be good. Things are popular for a reason and foodies on the internet know what they are talking about. That’s why my other social media sensation recipes are bound to be delicious too. Check out my Marry Me Chicken Pasta, Strawberry Yogurt Clusters, Date Snickers Bark, Raw Carrot Ribboned Salad, and Grinder Salad Italian Sandwich next!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Besides being a scrumptious (s)mash-up of two classic dishes, burgers and tacos, this recipe is:

Quick & Easy: It comes together in 20 minutes with only a handful of ingredients, mainly staple condiments. Which means there really is nothing stopping you from making these!
Low Effort / Prep: I absolutely LOVE a recipe that does not require any garlic mincing or onion chopping, which even the easiest ones seem to need these days. But not this one! Everything is pretty much ready-to-go here.
Fun To Make: There are multiple types of recipes in this world. Ones that are quick and easy and get food on the table. And ones that are a little bit of an activity, require some unique steps, and lead to some fun time in the kitchen. Smash burger tacos check both boxes!!

Ingredients & Substitutions

This smashburger tacos recipe has a surprisingly short ingredient list! You’ll need the Big 3 – ground beef, cheese, and tortillas – plus toppings and a handful of staple condiments for the burger sauce.

The best part is that those condiments are most likely already in your fridge, especially during summer grilling season. If they’re not and you don’t feel like buying them all, the solution is simple. Buy a pre-made sauce from the grocery store!

It should be in the condiment section labeled something along the lines of “special” or “secret” sauce. Or just plain old burger sauce.

Taco Smash Burger Ingredients

Ground Beef: I like to use 80/20 ground beef for these beef patties. I think it is the perfect ratio for homemade burgers!
Tortillas: You will need to use either small flour tortillas or corn tortillas in these big mac smash tacos. Flour tortillas hold up a bit better, but both will do the job! Either way, around 6 inch tortillas are the best size.
Cheese: Can’t have a burger without cheese! Feel free to use whichever kind you’d like here. However, I think a slice of American cheese or cheddar cheese are your best options.
Toppings: Now for the fun part! You can use any of your favorite burger toppings here. I used homemade special sauce, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and dill pickles. Read on for more delicious ideas!
Salt & Pepper: Because all a good burger needs is some basic seasoning. We’re letting the beef speak for itself here!!

Big Mac Special Sauce Ingredients

Mayo: Mayo works perfectly here as a thick and creamy base.
Ketchup: Ketchup is its number one side kick. It adds a lovely color and some tomato sweetness!
Dill Pickle Juice: For a vinegary-briny flavor, you’ll add a bit of dill pickle juice. It thins out the sauce too.
Mustard: Yellow mustard adds a bright and strong flavor punch.
Relish: Sweet pickle relish helps add to the tanginess of this tangy sauce! This pickled cucumber condiment adds the perfect sweet and savory taste.

Equipment Needed

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How To Make Smash Burger Tacos

Viral Smash Burger Tacos are a breeze to make! Requiring under 30 minutes from start to finish this fun twist on the regular burger, is as simple as can be.

All you need is a hot griddle to get the perfect crispy tortilla and caramelized crust on the beef. Top it all off with ooey-gooey melty cheese, delicious homemade burger sauce, and your next weeknight dinner will be a smashing success!

Step 1: Prepare special sauce. In a small bowl combine the mayo, ketchup, pickle juice, yellow mustard, and sweet relish. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Optional: You can also add garlic powder and onion powder. Set aside.

Step 2: Prepare burger tacos. Next divide the ground beef into 8 equal portions. They should be 2 oz each. Gently press one portion of the raw beef into each of the tortillas with your fingers. It should be completely flattened, or smashed into the tortilla. Season with salt and black pepper.

Step 3: Sear ground beef. Next heat up a large skillet or griddle, over medium-high heat. Add the tacos, ground beef side down, to the hot surface. The number of tacos you can cook at once will depend on the size of your pan / griddle. Press down on the tortilla side with another pan / skillet, burger press, or any heavy object and cook for about 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Melt cheese. Next flip the taco burgers and place a slice of cheese on top of the beef patty. Continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes to let the cheese melt. Remove from the heat.

Step 5: Serve & enjoy! Add all of your favorite toppings to the big mac tacos. I did burger sauce, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles.

Additional Topping Ideas & Recipe Adaptions

I think the key to any burger or taco, or any taco burger, is in the toppings! They are simply vessels for all the good stuff. So of course, I have plenty of ideas in this category:

Burger Toppings: There are so many more traditional burger toppings you could add to your soft tortilla smash burger. Bacon, red onion, caramelized onions, avocado, garlic aioli, etc.
Taco Toppings: Instead of going down the cheeseburger route with your toppings, you could also go in the other direction with your favorite taco toppings. Perhaps with some pico de gallo, Mexican blend cheese, guacamole, fresh cilantro, or salsa. Sounds SO delicious!
Add Some Heat: If you want your taco smash burgers to have a bit of a kick, top them with some hot sauce of jalapeño slices. You could also do pepper jack cheese!
Get Funky: If you’ve ever been to one of those fancy burger restaurants you know that the toppings can get quite fun and funky. You could follow a similar path here with your smash big mac tacos and add something like a fried egg, pineapple, mac & cheese, maple syrup, peanut butter, or kimchi.

Now I find these smashed tacos to be incredibly delicious as written, but as always there is room for changes and adaptions so that they are perfect for your tastebuds and lifestyle.

Make ‘Em Lighter: If you want to enjoy these tacos but don’t want to feel super bogged down by heavy meat and toppings, do not worry. You can swap in a lighter ground meat like ground turkey or ground chicken. Additionally, light or reduced fat alternatives can be used for the cheese and mayo. You could even use low carb and low calorie tortillas!
Gluten Free: If you have a gluten intolerance or Celiac’s disease these tacos are something you can still enjoy. Just use your favorite gluten free tortillas or corn tortillas!
Dairy Free: Again, dairy free is an easy accommodation here. Skip the cheese or use a vegan slice. Super simple!

Expert Tips

Thoroughly season the lean ground beef with salt and black pepper. Since that’s the only seasoning used here, you’ve gotta do it right!

This smash tacos recipe comes together rather quickly. I recommend preparing all of your ingredients ahead of time – like chopping the toppings and making the homemade big mac sauce – so that the process runs smoothly.

I like to use a stovetop griddle to cook the tacos. This way I can cook multiple at once! Otherwise, your first couple will get cold by the time your last ones are done. If you prepare in big batches, everyone can enjoy perfectly warm and fresh smashed tacos at the same time.

Make sure to add your burgers to a hot pan. This will create the most beautiful sear and juicy texture!

Serving Suggestions

This recipe is perfect to make when your are feeling like your typical dinner or barbecue go-tos are getting a little stale. A little boring! These tacos will shake things up and be a hit with the whole family or any guests you’re serving them too.

Taco Tuesday: I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the weekly holiday! Besides my delicious Fajita Chicken Tacos or Baja Shrimp Tacos of course.
Easy Weeknight Dinner: A super tasty 20 minute dinner with a short ingredient list? It’s a weekday must. Pair with french fries for the kids and Parmesan Smashed Potatoes for the adults.
Burger Taco Bar: I am a sucker for food bars where you throw all the elements on a table and everyone fends for themselves to assemble their perfect meal! For this version, you’ll cook up the smashburger tacos in big batches and add a variety of toppings and condiments to the table. Maybe even leave the cheese off and offer an assortment of cheeses for people to choose from.
Sensational Dessert: For a whole viral food themed evening, serve a social media sensation for dessert. Cottage Cheese Frozen Bark or Chocolate Strawberry Yogurt Clusters!

FAQs

Can I use flour tortillas and corn tortillas?

Yes, you can use both flour tortillas and corn tortillas in this recipe. However, I do believe that flour tortillas are the better option.

The ground beef will stick to them more and they will mimic hamburger buns more closely than corn tortillas will.

Will the tortillas get soggy?

It is entirely possible that the tortillas will get soggy because of the oil and juice from the beef, but I find if cooked properly it is not an issue.

When the burger taco is flipped so the tortilla side is down, the hot surface of the pan will help it get nice and crispy.

Additionally, there are only 2 oz of ground beef per tortilla in this recipe which is a perfect amount. It won’t overpower the tortilla or produce too much oil, which is what could make your tortilla soggy.

How will I know when the meat is done cooking?

The meat cooks perfectly in the instructed time of 2-3 minutes! Since it is such a thin layer of ground beef being cooked on a searing hot pan, it really will not take long at all.

Can I make this smash burger taco recipe without a burger press?

Absolutely! In fact, I make them without one. A burger press can pretty much be replaced with any heavy object. I like to use another skillet or pan.

Additionally, this recipe calls for spreading the raw ground beef right onto the tortilla which is a step that is very useful if you don’t have a burger press. In a classic smash burger, the burger press is what does the smashing. But here we’re kinda skipping the smashing and just pressing the beef into a thin, smashed layer with our fingers.

Can I store leftover smash tacos?

These tacos are not the most ideal recipe to store. They are absolutely best enjoyed hot and fresh off the griddle! The beef will be crisp and caramelized and the cheese wonderfully melted.

However, if you do have any leftovers you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep best for 2-3 days. I would recommend re-heating in a hot pan on the stove!

Related Recipes

Taco Recipes

Burger Recipes

Connect With Me!

If you make this tortilla smash burger recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

Love this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating! I love to see and it helps me continue to develop delicious recipes for this blog.