Smash Burger Tacos (Animal Style)
These smash burger tacos take a standard burger and turn it upside down by smashing crispy beef inside of a golden tortilla. The smashing part is important because more surface area means more flavor! Using the #1 trick this fast food chain uses for every burger, you can enjoy these burgers animal style in just 15 minutes and topped with caramelized onions and In-N-Out special sauce.
Servings: 4
Calories: 369kcal
Ingredients
- 4 street style flour tortillas 6"
Beef Pattie
- 1 pound ground beef divided into 6 balls
- 4 teaspoon yellow mustard
Carmelized Onions
- ½ yellow onion or white, diced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper each
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
- ½ teaspoon soy sauce low sodium if preffered
Toppings
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 8 tablespoon high protein special sauce or thousand island or your favorite burger sauce
- shredded lettuce, diced pickles, diced tomato
Instructions
- Caramelize the ½ yellow onion low and slow (it'll take about 15 minutes) in 1 tablespoon butter. After about 5 minutes, add the ½ teaspoon brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper, and ½ teaspoon soy sauce and continue to cook until translucent and fragrant.
- Portion out 1 pound ground beef into 6 balls (each about 2.5 oz). Heat a heavy bottom skillet or flat top grill over high heat. Place a dollop (about 1 teaspoon per burger ball) of yellow mustard on the griddle, then the ground beef ball on top.
- Smash the ground beef down by placing the tortilla on top and pressing down evenly until the ground beef has spread to the sides of the tortilla. I find it helpful to use a heavy plate or heavy pan to press them down evenly. You can also buy a "smasher" online specifically for this.Cook for 1 minute, then smash again to push any grease out to help the burger keep cooking. Cook another 2-3 minutes until browned and crispy, then flip to the tortilla side. Top each with a slice of cheese and cook for 2 more minutes. These are super thin patties, so this is plenty of time to cook them.
- Remove from the griddle or grill using a metal spatula. You might need to be forceful with scrapping it up if it sticks a bit (which is fine!). Then top with all the good stuff, including the high protein special sauce!
Video
Notes
Tips
- Smash twice: After the beef has cooked for 1 minute, smash again to push out any fat to the edges. This fat then continues to cook the smash burger tacos.
- Use a metal spatula: The beef can stick a bit to the grill or girddle so a metal spatula helps to scrape any of those little stuck bits up.
- Don't grease: We don't want to grease the pan or grill because it prevents that nice and crispy smashed burger from forming.
- Press it thin: The beef should be pressed as thin as possible. I've found it helpful to press the tortilla down using a heavy plate or pan so it presses down evenly.
Nutrition
Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 548mg | Potassium: 436mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 216IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 3mg