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Mouthwatering Smash Burger Tacos

Category: Fast and Simple Recipes for Busy Days

Mix up your favorites in one go with these fast smash burger tacos. Just mash ground beef onto the tortillas, hit them with some seasoning, and let the air fryer work its magic for crispy, beefy goodness. More cheese goes on top, melting right in. Load up with all your top burger add-ons—shredded lettuce, salty pickles, and a dollop of burger sauce for classic vibes. Start to finish you’ll have dinner sorted in ten minutes, with meaty, crispy bites every time. Chow down right after cooking for the best texture, no extra steps needed.

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A woman wearing a chef's hat and apron.
Authored By Elisa
Updated on Sun, 25 May 2025 21:45:17 GMT
Loaded burger with tomatoes and melted cheese on top. Bookmark
Loaded burger with tomatoes and melted cheese on top. | recipesbyelisa.com

These Smash Burger Tacos are crazy crunchy, really juicy, and I have a blast making them. Doing dinner during the week has totally changed for me since I started. You get real burger taste, you get to pick them up, and I can't stop at one cuz the crispy air-fried tortillas are just too good. If you're ever torn between tacos and cheeseburgers, they're the perfect fix.

I whipped these up on a whim for a game night, and now my whole crew begs for them at every movie hangout.

Tasty Ingredients

  • Favorite burger toppings: Toss on things like thin pickles, crunchy lettuce, or burger sauce—anything you'd put on your go-to burger works great
  • Cheese slices: I've used American or sharp cheddar (use the real stuff for an awesome melt), and they're both killer
  • Cooking spray: Spritz a little to get tortillas golden and make them come off easy, not stuck
  • Salt: Sprinkle a fine salt to highlight all that beefy flavor—sea salt is perfect for this
  • Ground beef: Higher fat beef is tastier and juicier; around a quarter cup for each keeps the edges crisp
  • Small tortillas: Get them fresh and thin so they really crunch up in the air fryer—skip the thick ones, trust me

Awesome Step-by-Step

Finish and Serve:
Carefully lift out the tacos, add your favorite toppings, fold them up, and dig in while they're hot and gooey
Melt the Cheese:
Lay a cheese slice on top after the beef's cooked through, then stick the basket back in (air fryer off) for about a minute until it melts perfectly
Air Fry the Tacos:
Arrange the tortillas in one layer, beef side up, don't stack, so air moves all around; you might need to do a couple rounds
Cook them at four hundred until they're crispy and the beef’s done—should take about five minutes
Form and Season the Tacos:
Press that burger meat all the way to the edges of each tortilla, about a quarter cup on each, so nothing's bare
Salt it up, spray with a little cooking oil for top-notch crunch
Preheat the Air Fryer:
Crank your air fryer to four hundred and let it get nice and hot for five minutes before cooking
A plate of tasty food with tomatoes and sour cream on the side. Bookmark
A plate of tasty food with tomatoes and sour cream on the side. | recipesbyelisa.com

My kitchen fills up with that amazing sizzle smell when these are crisping, and everyone sneaks over to grab one right as I’m pulling them out. I always pile on the pickles—they cut through the rich beef just right.

Leftover Storage

If you have extras, seal them in a container for only a day—these really are best fresh. Pop them back in the air fryer for a couple minutes to make them crispy again. Skip the microwave—keeps them from getting soggy.

Swaps for Ingredients

Try ground chicken or turkey if you want a lighter bite, but remember, beef is richer. Vegan or dairy-free cheese slices work and still melt up nicely. Any tortilla is fine but flour ones get crispier than corn in this dish.

How to Serve Them

Add some crispy fries or a refreshing slaw on the side to round things out. Top with sriracha mayo for a spicy pop or stick to a classic burger sauce. These are a total hit at parties—let everybody load up their own.

A plate loaded with food, melted cheese, and juicy tomatoes. Bookmark
A plate loaded with food, melted cheese, and juicy tomatoes. | recipesbyelisa.com

Story Behind It

You get classic American burger nostalgia and fun taco vibes all in one. The whole smash burger thing started in old diners, mostly for those crispy edges—here it meets taco night for a playful and tasty mashup of favorites.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recipes

→ Which ground beef should I pick?

Go for 80/20 beef—it’s got just enough fat to keep the tacos juicy and those edges nice and crispy.

→ Is flipping needed in the air fryer?

Skip the flip—just let them cook beef side up and you’ll get a crunchy shell plus tender meat on top.

→ Could I toss in another type of cheese?

For sure! Any sliced or shredded cheese you love works—cheddar, American, pepper jack, you name it.

→ Any way to make these gluten-free?

Swap in gluten-free tortillas and double-check your toppings to keep everything gluten-friendly.

→ What can I pile on these tacos?

Try them with onion, tomato, pickles, fresh lettuce, and a squirt of burger sauce for extra flavor.

→ How about skipping the air fryer?

No problem—just crisp the tortillas and cook the beef in a regular skillet over medium heat instead.

Smash Tacos Fast

Crunchy tortillas meet juicy meat and melty cheese, piled high with all the good burger toppings for a speedy, craveable dinner.

Prep Time
5 minutes
Cooking Time
5 minutes
Total Time Required
10 minutes
Authored By: Elisa

Type of Recipe: Quick & Easy

Skill Level: Easy

Cuisine Type: American

Servings Count: 4 Number of Servings (4 tacos)

Dietary Preferences: ~

Ingredients You'll Need

→ Main Components

Ingredient 01 Nonstick spray for your pan
Ingredient 02 1/2 teaspoon regular salt
Ingredient 03 240 g ground beef, split (about 60 g for each tortilla)
Ingredient 04 4 flour tortillas, small size

→ Optional Toppings

Ingredient 05 Your favorite burger sauce or mayo
Ingredient 06 Pickle slices
Ingredient 07 Some shredded lettuce
Ingredient 08 4 cheddar cheese slices

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 01

Slide tacos onto a plate. Throw on some lettuce, pickles, and any sauce you like. Gently fold them and eat while they're nice and hot.

Step 02

Lay a cheddar slice over each taco and put the basket back in the air fryer (but keep it switched off). Let the leftover heat melt the cheese for about a minute.

Step 03

Lay tortillas flat in the air fryer basket, beef-side facing up. You'll probably have to do this in rounds. Cook at 205°C for 5 minutes till the beef is done and the tortillas look crispy.

Step 04

Spread around 60 g ground beef onto each tortilla. Cover the whole thing, right up to the edges. Sprinkle on salt and spray the meat side with some nonstick spray.

Step 05

Preheat your air fryer at 205°C for about 5 minutes to warm it up.

Extra Tips and Tricks

  1. Put tortillas in just one layer so they all get crispy and cooked evenly.
  2. Tweak toppings or cheese however you like—just go with your favorites.

Must-Have Equipment

  • Air fryer

Allergy Information

Always double-check ingredient lists for allergens and seek advice if you're unsure.
  • Has gluten (in tortillas), dairy (in cheese), and maybe egg or mustard if you pick certain sauces.

Nutritional Information (per portion)

The provided details are purely informational and should not replace professional advice.
  • Calorie Count: 340
  • Fat Amount: 17 grams
  • Carbohydrate Amount: 26 grams
  • Protein Amount: 19 grams