Description
These Street Corn Smash Burger Tacos combine the bold flavors of juicy smashed beef patties cooked right on the tortilla with a creamy, smoky street corn topping. This Mexican-American fusion recipe delivers crispy, cheesy, and tangy tacos perfect for an irresistible main course that’s quick to prepare and full of vibrant textures and tastes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef and Tacos
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 small flour tortillas
- 1 tablespoon butter or oil for the pan
For the Street Corn Mixture
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/3 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons chopped red onion
Instructions
- Char the Corn: Heat a dry skillet over medium-high heat and add the frozen corn. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the corn is slightly charred. Remove from heat and transfer the corn to a bowl to cool.
- Prepare the Street Corn Mixture: To the cooled corn, add mayonnaise, sour cream, chili powder, smoked paprika, lime juice, cotija cheese, and half of the chopped cilantro. Mix thoroughly to combine all the flavors. Set aside.
- Form the Beef Balls: Divide the ground beef into 6 equal portions and gently shape each into loose balls. Season each ball evenly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Heat the Skillet and Tortillas: Warm a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Place one tortilla directly onto the hot surface to warm it slightly.
- Smash and Cook the Beef: Place a beef ball on top of the tortilla in the skillet. Immediately use a heavy spatula or burger press to smash the beef flat against the tortilla, forming a crispy-edged patty. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the bottom is browned and crisp.
- Flip and Finish Cooking: Carefully flip the smashed beef and tortilla together, cooking for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until the tortilla is golden and the beef is cooked through. Remove the taco from the skillet and repeat the process with the remaining tortillas and beef balls.
- Assemble Tacos: Spoon a generous amount of the prepared street corn mixture over each cooked taco. Sprinkle extra crumbled cotija cheese, chopped red onion, and remaining cilantro on top for garnish.
- Serve: Serve the tacos hot with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the top. Enjoy immediately to keep the tortillas crispy and the flavors at their best.
Notes
- For an extra kick of heat, add a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce or sprinkle with diced jalapeños.
- These tacos are best served immediately to enjoy the crispy texture of the tortillas and the fresh flavors.
- If preferred, fresh corn can be grilled and used instead of frozen corn for the street corn mixture.
- Use a heavy spatula or burger press to achieve the signature crispy edges on the smashed beef patties.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
