Get ready to try the viral recipe that has taken the internet by storm! The Smash Burger Quesadilla, also known as the Viral Smash Burger Tacos, is a genius combination of two beloved comfort foods. This is the ultimate Easy Dinner Idea, featuring a thin layer of seasoned ground beef that is smashed directly onto a tortilla and cooked until crispy, then loaded with melty cheese and all your favorite burger toppings. It’s a fun, quick, and incredibly delicious meal that delivers all the satisfying flavor of a great smash burger in a fraction of the time.
Why You’ll Be Obsessed with This Smash Burger Recipe
This isn’t just a trend; it’s a truly fantastic way to make a quick and satisfying meal.
- Incredibly Quick and Easy: The entire cooking process for each quesadilla takes just a few minutes, making it perfect for a busy weeknight.
- The Perfect Crispy Texture: Smashing the beef thinly onto the tortilla and cooking it in a hot pan creates an amazing crispy beef texture that is absolutely irresistible.
- Endlessly Customizable: You can use any combination of cheese and burger toppings you love to make it your own.
- Fun to Make and Eat: There’s something incredibly satisfying about smashing the burger and flipping the whole thing. It’s a fun meal for the whole family.
Your Simple Ingredient Checklist
The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity.
The Ingredient Lineup (per quesadilla):
- Ground Beef: About 3-4 ounces of ground beef (80/20 is a great choice for flavor).
- Tortilla: 1 large flour tortilla.
- Cheese: 1-2 slices of American cheese (or your favorite melting cheese).
- Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- For the “Burger Sauce”: Mayonnaise, ketchup, and relish.
- Toppings: Shredded lettuce, diced pickles, and thinly sliced onion.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Get ready for the easiest, most delicious burger-quesadilla hybrid ever.
Part 1: Prep and Smash
- Prepare Your Toppings: Finely shred your lettuce and dice your pickles and onions. In a small bowl, mix together your burger sauce (a simple mix is 2 parts mayo to 1 part ketchup with a little relish).
- Form the Meat: Gently form about 3-4 ounces of ground beef into a loose ball. Do not pack it tightly.
- The Smash: Heat a large, flat-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Place the ball of ground beef in the center of the hot, dry skillet. Place the flour tortilla directly on top of the meatball.
- Press Firmly: Using a firm spatula or the bottom of another pan, press down firmly on the tortilla, smashing the beef into a very thin, even layer that covers the surface of the tortilla.
Part 2: Cook and Assemble
- Cook the Beef: Let the beef cook for about 3-4 minutes, until you see the edges getting brown and crispy and the meat is cooked through.
- Flip: Carefully slide your spatula under the tortilla and flip the entire thing over, so the tortilla side is now down on the skillet.
- Add Cheese: Immediately place your slices of cheese on top of the crispy beef layer and let them melt, which should take about 1 minute.
- Fold and Serve: Slide the Smash Burger Quesadilla from the pan onto a plate. Add your desired toppings like the burger sauce, lettuce, pickles, and onion to one half, and fold the other half over. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the best kind of ground beef for this Smash Burger Recipe? For the best flavor and a nice, crispy texture, an 80/20 ground beef is ideal. The higher fat content helps to create those delicious, crispy edges as it cooks. A leaner ground beef will also work, but it may not be quite as juicy.
2. Why don’t I need to oil the pan first? The fat in the ground beef will render out as it cooks, which is all you need to perfectly toast the tortilla and create a non-stick surface. Starting with a dry, hot pan is key to getting the best crust on the beef.
3. Can I use corn tortillas instead of flour? While this recipe became famous as one of the best Viral Smash Burger Tacos using flour tortillas, you can try it with corn tortillas. Just be aware that corn tortillas are more delicate and may be more prone to tearing when you flip them.
4. Can I make these ahead of time? This is a recipe that is definitely best enjoyed fresh and hot, right out of the skillet. The magic is in the crispy texture of the beef and the toasted tortilla. If you make them ahead of time, the tortilla will become soft. However, you can prep all of your toppings in advance to make the assembly process even faster.
The Ultimate Smash Burger Quesadilla: The Viral Sensation
Equipment
- Large skillet Flat-bottomed, heavy pan works best.
- Firm spatula or pan bottom For smashing beef thin.
- Small bowl For mixing burger sauce.
Ingredients
- 3-4 oz ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1 large flour tortilla
- 1-2 slices American cheese (or preferred melting cheese)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Garlic powder, to taste
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp relish
- ¼ cup shredded lettuce
- 2 tbsp diced pickles
- 2 tbsp thinly sliced onion
Instructions
- Prepare toppings: shred lettuce, dice pickles and onion. In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, ketchup, and relish for the burger sauce.
- Form a loose ball with 3–4 oz ground beef. Do not pack tightly.
- Heat a dry skillet over medium-high. Place beef ball in center, then place tortilla on top. Using a spatula or pan bottom, press firmly to smash beef thin across tortilla.
- Cook 3–4 minutes until edges are crispy and beef is cooked through. Carefully flip so tortilla side is down.
- Add cheese slices on top of beef layer. Let melt for about 1 minute.
- Remove from skillet. Spread burger sauce, add lettuce, pickles, and onion to one half. Fold tortilla and serve hot.