Smash Burger Chicken Tacos

These crispy smash burger chicken tacos are a weeknight dinner game-changer: ground chicken gets pressed thin onto tortillas and pan-fried. They’re an easy healthy meal that comes together in under 30 minutes!

Here’s my new favorite weeknight dinner: I’m obsessed, my kids love it, and you are going to love it too (I hope!): smash burger tacos! Funny story: Alex made these the other night in twenty minutes, before our 9-year-old’s soccer practice, while our 3-year-old was having a major melt down. Somehow, our son still made it to soccer on time! Big win.

I saw this Tiktok trend and figured I could make a Mediterranean diet-inspired version: I used ground chicken instead of beef and whisked together a quick Greek yogurt “salsa special sauce” to spoon over the top. The seasonings I used give it a huge burst of flavor, and it’s such a fun concept for a quick and easy dinner. I’ve already made these 4 times!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s fast. Start to finish, you’re looking at 20 to 30 minutes!
It’s so delicious. The crispy exterior and the burst of savory filling makes these absolutely irresistible.
It’s a lighter spin on a viral favorite. Ground chicken and a Greek yogurt sauce keep things a bit lighter but just as delicious.

What Is a Smash Burger Taco, Anyway?

A smash burger taco is a taco that uses ground beef that’s pressed onto a tortilla and then seared directly on a griddle, which makes a nice thin, crispy burger while the tortilla toasts. It’s then typically topped with cheese, pickles, and special sauce. It became a Tiktok trend in 2023 after Brad Prose of Chilis and Smoke posted the idea (here’s his original smash burger recipe).

Though it’s a recent fad, the idea has existed for years and has roots in Mexican culture: read more about the history of the smash burger taco.

Here’s a pic I snapped on my phone on a real weeknight!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here are a few notes on the ingredients needed:

Ground chicken: It’s leaner than ground beef, but it tastes great here!
The spice blend: Cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and oregano build a warm, smoky, taco-shop flavor. (As a swap, a couple tablespoons of a taco seasoning works.)
Tortillas: I like using small 6-inch tortillas. Flour is my favorite and is easy to bend into a taco shape, but you can also use corn (which crisps more) or a corn and flour blend.
Cheese: Mild cheddar (or a mix) is great; Alex and I also used smoked cheddar and it was incredible.
Greek yogurt salsa special sauce: My riff on burger special sauce has Greek yogurt, a little olive oil mayo, mild salsa, and a hit of Cholula.
Fresh toppings: Chopped lettuce, tomato, and quick pickled red onions are what I like to use!

Tips For How To Make Them

The full measurements and timing are in the recipe card below, but here’s the gist:

I like to use a cookie scoop to portion the chicken onto each tortilla. Once it’s on the grill, press firmly spread it into a thin, even layer.
Cook 2 minutes until it is cooked through. Lay it chicken-side down in an oiled pan over medium heat, and press it thin. Cook until the edges crisp and the chicken is cooked through.
Flip and melt. Turn the taco, sprinkle on cheese, and give it about 30 seconds to melt. You don’t want it to get too crispy, otherwise it won’t bend into a taco shape. Bend it right off the grill so it stays that way as a it cools.

Easy Ways to Serve Smash Burger Tacos

These are a full meal on their own, but if you’re rounding out taco night, here are some super simple ideas:

A pile of cilantro lime slaw to keep things light and bright
A scoop of refried beans for a heartier plate.
My best simple guacamole and chips, because why not?
A spoon of black bean and corn salsa for color and freshness.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Seasoned chicken: Mix the chicken with the spices up to a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge.
The sauce: The Greek yogurt sauce lasts up to 1 week refrigerated.
Leftover cooked tacos: If you have leftovers you can refrigerate them: reheat in a dry skillet over medium heat to bring back some of the crispness.

Dietary Notes

This smash burger tacos recipe is gluten-free with corn tortillas and Mediterranean diet friendly.