These Smash Burger Tacos are based on the viral TikTok recipe plus lots of fun variations. You’ll find gluten-free and dairy-free options +5 different flavors, so you’ll never get bored with smash tacos. From In-N-Out style to chorizo plus Banh Mi and a Caesarroni Smash, these tacos have a little something for everyone!
Ever since I saw the viral Smashburger tacos, I knew they were something we would love making for simple dinners. From there it was only natural to start creating fun new flavors.
I started with some of our favorites, like Banh Mi, and changed the classic Big Mac to an In-N-Out style.
Then I came across the viral Caesaroni sandwich from a sandwich shop in Toronto. They make a pepperoni pizza sandwich loaded up with Caesar salad, and I knew that was going to be my next smash taco flavor.
From there I ended up making a Chorizo & Gyro version as well for a total of 5 different smash burgers to enjoy year round.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground beef – 85/15 or 80/20 lean ground beef works well for this recipe. I don’t like to go too lean so the smash tacos don’t stick.
- Onions – raw diced onions can be used for a ‘Big Mac’ flavor. But for the classic ‘animal style’ In-and-Out burger we caramelized the onions.
- Toppings – sliced pickles, tomatoes, and lettuce are all classics. We often use romaine lettuce and finely shred it. But iceberg is nice and crunchy too. Also if you can get locally grown iceberg lettuce, it’s a whole new experience compared to what I’ve always had from the store.
- Cheddar—the classic smash taco uses American cheese, but we like to use Tillamook sliced cheddar. It takes a touch longer to melt, but there aren’t any additives. We actually love American cheese, but we choose not to eat it at home because it contains a lot of processed ingredients.
- Secret sauce – or Big Mac sauce both taste great on classic smash tacos. The other sauces, along with the different burger toppings, are listed below in the recipe card.
- Big Mac – to make these Big Mac tacos rather than In-and-Out, used diced raw onions, crispy strips of bacon, and add sweet pickle relish to taste to the secret sauce along with a touch of yellow mustard to mimic special sauce.
How to make this recipe step by step
Step 1: To make the In-N-Out Smashburger step-by-step we’re going to start by dicing up the onion.
Ingredients and instructions for the other flavors are listed below in the recipe card.
Step 2: Cook the diced onion over medium to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until it is caramelized, about 30 minutes.
My favorite tip for caramelized onions is to cook at least a double batch, or a quadruple batch if you have a big enough pan and freeze the extra for another time that way you only have to cook onions for 30 minutes once to enjoy them many times.
Step 3: I like to smash the ground beef onto the tortillas by hand and spread a thin layer of mustard as they do at In-N-Out. Season lightly with a sprinkle of sea salt and pepper over the beef.
Step 4: Sear the tacos over medium-high heat, beef side down, on a preheated griddle or skillet. When the beef is browned, flip the tacos over and add cheese.
Turn the heat to cover the tacos and let the cheese melt.
Step 5: From there add all the toppings. For In-N-Out, we add the caramelized onions, lettuce, pickles, sliced tomatoes, and, of course, the secret sauce.
Ways to serve this
- Serve these tacos with any extra toppings at the table plus any extra sauce
- Add some of my Instant Pot Crispy Potatoes, or Grilled Potato Slices for that classic burger and fries flavor, or in the heat of it with your favorite potato salad
- End the meal with a scoop of something summery, like my Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, Peach Sorbet, or Honey Ice Cream.
FAQ’s
You can use your hands to evenly pat out the ground beef. You can also put the beef directly on the griddle and use a cast-iron skillet or burger press to smash the tortilla down. Personally, I find it easier for myself to do it by hand.
Yes you can use corn tortillas, but be careful because they do break easily. We love the corn flavor especially with the In and Out burger and the Chorizo version.
Storing leftovers
- To store – Any uncooked leftovers can be stored separately in airtight containers and refrigerated for up to three days. if you have leftover cooked smash tacos, you can store them in the fridge overnight. But they are a combination of soggy and tough the next day. We prefer to make them one at a time, as many as we want, rather than have leftovers.
- Make ahead – the burger sauce can be made ahead, and some of the veggies can be prepped 2 to 3 days in advance for the other burger flavors.
Tips & Tricks
- Be sure that the griddle is very hot, even lightly smoking, gives you a good sear on the meat. Also, your griddle must be properly seasoned or lightly oiled to make sure these don’t stick.
- If you’re using gluten-free or almond flour tortillas, take care when turning the smash burger tacos, as they are more fragile.
Dietary Options & Substitutions
- Dairy-free – for dairy-free taco options, you can omit the cheese or use your favorite dairy-free cheese instead in the five variations. You can also use my vegan queso with anything that has a Mexican flavor like the chorizo.
More Burger Recipe Inspiration
I really hope you enjoy these Smash Burger Tacos + 5 fun flavors! If you do get a chance to make this recipe, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
Smash Burger Tacos
INGREDIENTS
- 2 medium onions - 1/4" dice
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 6 8-inch tortillas - regular, gluten free, or almond flour
- 1 pound ground beef - 85/15 or 80/20
- 12 slices cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp sea salt - and pepper to taste
- 3 cups finely shredded lettuce - romaine or iceberg
- 1.5 cups sliced tomatoes - 2-3
- 1/2 cup sliced pickles
Secret Sauce:
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise - I use avocado oil mayo
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish - optional, can be omitted
- 1/2 tsp white wine vinegar
INSTRUCTIONS
- Start by sautéing the diced onions in the avocado oil over medium-low heat until caramelized, stirring as needed, about 30 minutes.
- While the onions cook, prep the rest of the smash burger taco ingredients, and stir together the secret sauce.
- When the onions are done, portion the ground beef into 6 pieces and smash it evenly onto each tortilla in a thin layer.
- Smear the mustard evenly over each taco and season with sea salt and pepper.
- Preheat a griddle, Blackstone griddle, or skillets over medium-high heat until shimmering. Make sure the surface is lightly oiled, then place the smash burger tacos meat side down.
- Let the tacos cook undisturbed until they loosen from the griddle and are easy to flip. Top each taco with 2 slices of cheddar cheese. Cover to melt. You can also place the tacos on a cookie sheet and melt the cheese in an oven preheated to 350ºF.
- Serve the tacos topped with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and secret sauce.