- Spread beef to the tortilla edge; it shrinks as it cooks and creates the prized lacy crust.
- Use a thin sturdy spatula to scrape up every browned bit before flipping.
Friday night energyDinner · American Mexican
Smash Burger Pickle Tacos
Lacy edged beef smashed directly onto tortillas with melty cheddar, burger sauce, lettuce, and sharp pickles.
Trend signalSocial smash formatWhy it is trending · Delish viral recipe roundup ↗MoodRecipe developed this original version after tracking the wider social food format. It is not a transcription of the linked recipe.
25 minutesEasy difficulty36g protein
Why it fits
It collapses two takeout cravings into one fast, crispy, hands on dinner.
01 Gather
Ingredients
Makes 2 generous servings
- 1 lb 85% lean ground beef
- 8 small flour tortillas
- 8 slices cheddar
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- ½ cup sliced pickles
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp mustard
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
02 Make
The good part
- 01
Mix mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, paprika, and 1 tablespoon pickle brine.
- 02
Press a thin layer of beef over one side of each tortilla and season.
- 03
Cook beef side down in a hot dry skillet for 2 to 3 minutes until deeply browned; flip, add cheese, cover, and cook 1 minute.
- 04
Top with lettuce, pickles, and sauce, then fold and serve hot.
03 Know before you cook
Small details, better dinner.
Practical notes for getting the texture right, adapting the ingredients, and saving what is left.
- Ground turkey works, but brush the skillet lightly with oil.
- Plant based ground can be used if its package directions support direct skillet cooking.
Refrigerate cooked beef tortillas for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet and add cold toppings only after warming.
Recipe imagery is an original digital editorial illustration of the named dish. See our publishing and imagery standards.
Per serving, approximately
620 calories36g protein4g fiber
Nutrition is an estimate and may vary with brands and portions.04 The kitchen edit
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Salad spinner
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