These Smash Tacos are the easiest and tastiest way to make tacos for everyday dinners or parties! Seasoned ground beef cooks right on a tortilla, pan fried until crispy, then topped with your favorite taco toppings!
Why We Love These Smash Tacos!
Because who doesn’t love tacos of any kind? Of course we love making traditional tacos, too, but these Smash Tacos are a whole new level of fun.
- Easy to make: Hands down the easiest way to make tacos! No need to make taco meat ahead of time, it all cooks in one skillet.
- Fun for parties: Set out a toppings bar and let everyone add their favorite taco toppings.
- Customizable: Not only can you customize the toppings, you can swap out the ground beef for ground chicken or turkey.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Check out the photo here to give you an idea of what you’ll need to make smash tacos. Ingredients listed below the photo with substitutions if applicable. For the full ingredient list, scroll to the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Flour tortillas: Small (fajita size) tortillas work best. If using a larger tortilla, you’ll likely only be able to cook one taco at a time.
- Ground beef: We like to use a lean ground beef so that there’s not as much grease in the skillet. You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Taco seasoning: Grab a packet or make your own! We often have our all purpose seasoning on hand, so that works too.
- Lettuce: Considered a topping, but even if you don’t like any other taco toppings, you can’t go wrong with crunchy lettuce.
- Salsa: Not needed to make smash tacos, but we like it for topping. You can also use pico de gallo or diced tomatoes.
- Sour cream: Not needed to make smash tacos, but delicious as a topping.
How To Make Smash Tacos
Photos with brief instructions here for a visual aide. For complete instructions, scroll to the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Prepare tortillas: Spread a thin layer of ground beef onto each tortilla. Season with taco seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Cook: Cook the tacos meat side down in a skillet with oil until brown and crispy. Since the layer of beef is thin, this should only take 2-3 minutes. Flip over and cook for 1 minute to crisp the other side. Remove from the skillet and add desired toppings.
What Kind Of Tortillas Are Best?
Really any kind of tortilla will work, but for this recipe it’s the size that matters. If you use a small tortilla, fajita size is usually 6 inches, you’ll be able to cook more tacos at once. You can make this recipe with a larger tortilla but you might only be able to cook one at a time, which is fine if you’re cooking for one!
Next we can talk flour or corn tortillas. Usually we use flour tortillas for these tacos but corn will work as well. Corn tortillas might tear easier so just keep that in mind when you’re spreading on the ground beef. But it really comes down to a preference in flavor, so use what you like!
How To Serve Smash Tacos
Top these beef tacos with all of your favorite taco toppings! For the basics, you can add lettuce and cheese, but we like to add a whole lot more.
Homemade guacamole is always a good choice, along with sour cream, salsa, diced red onion and cilantro if you’re a fan. These tacos as super flavorful, with juicy beef and a crispy shell so honestly, they’re going to taste good no matter how you serve them.
One of our “musts” for these tacos is drizzling on our creamy salsa dressing. It adds a delicious flavor and brings everything together. Serve some on the side for dipping, too because you won’t be able to get enough of it!
Can You Make Smash Tacos Ahead Of Time?
Once the cooked ground beef sits on the tortilla it will get a little soggy, so we do recommend cooking and serving right away. If you’re making these for a party, you can keep the cooked tacos (no toppings) on a sheet pan in a 325 degree oven until it’s time for dinner.
As far as leftovers go, you can warm them up again in a skillet or in an oven or air fryer for maximum crispiness!
Looking For More Taco Recipes?
PrintWant to save this recipe? Enter your email below and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox!
You'll also sign up to get new recipes in your inbox.
Smash Tacos
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeSmash Tacos are your ticket to easy and fun dinners that everyone loves! Pan fried, seasoned ground beef on a crispy tortilla topped with your favorite taco toppings!
Ingredients
For the tacos:
- Avocado oil
- 6 small flour tortillas (fajita size, 6 inch)
- 1 1/4 pounds ground beef
- 3 teaspoons taco seasoning (or use our homemade fajita seasoning or our all purpose seasoning)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt (you can also add black pepper to taste if you like)
Toppings:
- Chopped lettuce
- Pico de gallo or diced tomatoes
- Diced red onion
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Creamy salsa dressing or try sour cream mixed with taco sauce
- Shredded cheese
Instructions
- Divide the ground beef between the tortillas, spreading out in an even layer leaving a small boarder around the edge. Season the beef with the taco seasoning and salt, and black pepper if desired.
3 teaspoons taco seasoning, 2 teaspoons salt, pepper if desired - Heat up a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of oil to coat the bottom of the skillet in a thin layer. Once the skillet is hot, add as many of the tortillas that will fit in your skillet meat side down. cook for 3 minutes and then flip to the other side and let cook 1 minute longer to crisp the other side of the tortilla.
- Remove the tacos to a board and then repeat with the remaining tacos.
- Top the tacos with lettuce, pico de gallo, red onion and creamy salsa dressing – or you’re favorite taco toppings.
Recipe Notes
Store: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Reheat leftovers in an air fryer, oven or back in a skillet until crispy and warmed through.
If making these ahead of time for a party, keep the cooked tacos (no toppings) on a sheet pan in a 325 degree oven until ready to serve.
- Category: Dinner
- Method: stove top
