Smashburger Tacos Recipe with Bacon Jam! The Best Cheeseburger Tacos Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 pieces Flour Tortillas (small street‑style tortillas, about 6‑inch diameter)
• 1 pound Ground Beef (80% lean / 20% fat for juicy smash burgers)
• 8 ounces Bacon (cut into ~¼‑inch strips, then coarsely chopped)
• 2 pieces Medium Onion (thinly sliced then diced fine for the jam)
• 3 tablespoons Brown Sugar (helps caramelize the onions)
• 0.5 cup Water (added gradually to achieve jam consistency)
• 1.5 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar (adds acidity to the bacon jam)
• 1 tablespoon Mad Cow Beef Rub (seasoning blend for the jam and burger)
• 4 slices American Cheese (creates the crispy cheese skirt)
• 0.5 cup Shredded Cheese (melts on top of the patty to glue tortilla)
• 0.33 cup Mayonnaise (base for the burger sauce)
• 1 tablespoon Barbecue Sauce (adds smoky sweetness to the sauce)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce (umami boost for the sauce)
• 1 tablespoon Pickle Juice (thins the sauce and adds tang)

Instructions

1. Prep Bacon and Onions

   Slice the bacon into ~¼‑inch strips, then coarsely chop. Thinly slice the onions and dice them finely.

   Time: PT10M

2. Render Bacon

   Place a cold cast‑iron skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon strips and cook slowly until the fat renders and the bacon begins to foam, about 5 minutes.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: medium

3. Caramelize Onions

   Remove the rendered bacon and set aside. In the same skillet add the diced onions, 3 Tbsp brown sugar, 1/3 cup water, 1.5 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, and 1 Tbsp Mad Cow beef rub. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, browned, and fragrant, about 15 minutes. Add a splash more water if the mixture looks dry.

   Time: PT15M

   Temperature: medium

4. Finish Bacon Jam

   Return the cooked bacon to the skillet, stir to combine, and add a little more water if needed. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a jam‑like consistency, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: medium

5. Light the Grill and Heat Plancha

   Using a chimney starter, light charcoal and fill the kettle about three‑quarters full. Arrange coals in a horseshoe shape, place the plancha on the grill, and let it preheat until very hot (≈400°F).

   Time: PT15M

   Temperature: high

6. Form Burger Balls

   Divide the 1 lb ground beef into 4 equal portions (≈4 oz each) and roll each into a loose ball. Lightly season the outside of each ball with Mad Cow beef rub.

   Time: PT5M

7. Smash and Cook Burgers

   Place a beef ball on the hot plancha, immediately smash it flat with a metal spatula until very thin. Cook 1 minute, then flip. Immediately sprinkle shredded cheese on the cooked side, place a tortilla on top, and press gently to glue the tortilla to the patty.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: high

8. Create the Cheese Skirt

   On the plancha, melt an American cheese slice until just bubbly. Lay a tortilla on the melted cheese, press lightly, then flip the tortilla so the cheese‑coated side contacts the grill. Close the grill lid for a few seconds to crisp the cheese crust.

   Time: PT3M

   Temperature: high

9. Mix Burger Sauce

   In a small bowl combine 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp barbecue sauce, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1 Tbsp pickle juice. Stir until smooth.

   Time: PT2M

10. Assemble Tacos

    Spread a generous drizzle of the burger sauce onto each cheese‑skirted tortilla, place the smashed burger with melted cheese on top, then spoon warm bacon jam over the patty. Let rest 2 minutes before serving.

    Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

700

Protein

35 g

Carbohydrates

45 g

Fat

40 g

Fiber

2 g