The Best Smash Burger Taco

Smash burger tacos had their moment all over social media—and, true to form, I showed up fashionably late. But honestly? This is one trend that’s absolutely worth circling back to. The idea is kind of genius: all the crave-worthy flavors of a juicy burger, tucked into a tortilla. And if you go the low-carb route like I do, it’s an easy way to keep things a little lighter without sacrificing that “burger night” satisfaction.

Now, I’ve tried the traditional smash burger taco method before—the one where you press raw ground beef directly onto the tortilla and cook it all together. Maybe it works for some people, but for me? Not so much. The tortilla soaked up all that grease and turned into a soft, gummy mess. Definitely not the vibe I was going for.

This version, though? Total game changer. You cook the burger patty first—just like you normally would—then layer it onto the tortilla. Simple shift, big payoff. The tortilla stays intact, the texture is spot on, and you still get all those delicious burger flavors in every bite.

And let’s talk about the real star of the show: the sauce. It pulls everything together in the best way—creamy, tangy, a little punchy. I made it even better by using Grillo's Pickles, which bring that bold, garlicky crunch that takes these tacos over the top. If you’re a pickle person, don’t skip them—they make a difference.

Late to the trend or not, this is one recipe that’s worth giving it a shot.

The Best Smash Burger Taco

Recipe from The Wooden Skillet

Makes 6 burger / tacos

Burger Sauce:

• ½ cup mayo
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon dill pickles, chopped
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon pickle juice
• ½ teaspoon soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon rice vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Smash Burger Tacos:

• 1 pound ground beef, 80/20
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 6 slices American cheese
• 6 flour tortillas, street taco size (note street size taco shells - this is important)
• shredded lettuce
• burger pickles
• optional other toppings: bacon, white onions

Make Burger Sauce: Add Burger Sauce ingredients to a small bowl, stir to combine. Set aside.

Prep Burger Balls: Add 1 pound ground beef, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper to bowl. Mix to combine. Divide into 6 equal-sized balls. Set aside.

Prep Other Ingredients: Make sure you have your tortillas and cheese, salt + pepper ready to bring to your pan. Also make sure your other toppings are ready to go (shredded lettuce, burger pickles). The cook time goes super fast so having everything prepped is a must!

Preheat your pan (or flat top griddle) to a medium-high heat. Place ballsin the pan. Using a burger press, slowly press down on each ball to flatten until the patties are flattened as much as you possibly can. This will take 15-20 seconds per patty. Let sit and cook for the next 40-60 seconds. You want it there long enough to get a crust on the burger. Depending on how thick your smash burger is, this time may vary. Once you have a crust, flip and and let the other side get a crust too. 

When the burger is almost done, put the cheese on for it to melt. Transfer to plate.

Put the burger on a tortilla and then build your taco/burger. Add shredded lettuce, burger sauce, and pickles. Feel free to also add bacon and thin white onion if you want. Enjoy!