Ingredients
Scale
For the Burgers and Toppings
- 1 lb 80/20 ground beef
- Small tortillas (corn or flour), 8-10 pieces
- 4–6 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup fresh lettuce, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup pickles, diced or sliced
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Butter or oil, 2 tablespoons
For the Special Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Finely chop the lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and garlic powder to create the special sauce. Set aside to make assembly quick and easy.
- Shape and Smash the Beef: Divide the ground beef into small, golf ball-sized portions. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with butter or oil. Place the beef balls on the skillet and firmly smash each down with a spatula to about 1/4-inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the Patties: Let the patties cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes to form a crispy crust. Flip each patty and immediately add a slice of cheddar cheese on top. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese melts and the burger is cooked through.
- Warm the Tortillas: While cooking the patties, warm the tortillas in a separate pan or directly on the stove over low heat until soft and pliable to prevent tearing during assembly.
- Assemble the Tacos: Place a cheesy smashed burger patty on each tortilla. Top with chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, pickles, and drizzle generously with the special sauce. Serve immediately for the best experience.
Notes
- Use a heavy spatula to press firmly and evenly to get perfect smashed burgers with crispy edges.
- Cook patties in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan and ensure a good crust.
- Use fresh, soft tortillas to prevent tearing when assembling and eating the tacos.
- Let patties rest briefly after cooking to lock in juices before assembling the tacos.
- Adjust the special sauce ingredients to suit your preferred spice and tanginess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Pan-frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
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