Air Fryer Smash Burger Tacos Recipe: A Crispy Twist

Recipe and photos by Abbie Guerrero , food blogger and creator of Savvy with Abbie. All photos original.

Air Fryer Smash Burger Tacos Recipe

Looking for a fun and easy twist on taco night? Try this Crispy Viral Smash Burger Taco Recipe made in the air fryer for a crispy, cheesy, and flavorful meal the whole family will love. This simple yet delicious smash burger taco is packed with ground beef, melted cheese, and your favorite taco toppings, all wrapped in a crispy tortilla. 

Whether you're a fan of air fryer recipes or just love trying viral food trends, this recipe will quickly become a weeknight favorite. Perfect for busy families, it combines the best of a smash burger and taco into one irresistible dish!

Try the viral Smash Burger Taco made in the Air Fryer! Crispy tortilla, flavorful ground beef, and cheesy toppings for a quick, delicious meal.

Viral Smash Burger Taco with a crispy air fryer shell, filled with flavorful ground beef and lettuce, ready to serve.

  • Total cook time: 10–15 minutes
  • Family-friendly: Yes, our family of 3 loved this recipe
  • Difficulty level: Easy
  • Serving size: 4 servings
  • Serving suggestions: Serve with a side of ketchup and top with your favorite toppings

Why This Recipe Works

The air fryer is perfect for this recipe because it gives the tortilla that golden, crispy texture without the need for excess oil. Unlike traditional frying, the air fryer circulates heat around the taco, creating an evenly cooked, crispy shell with a perfectly browned crust. The ground beef gets juicy and flavorful, while the melted cheese adds a rich, cheesy layer that perfectly complements the crunch of the tortilla. It’s the ideal method for getting that crispy outer layer with a deliciously tender inside.

What Makes a Smash Burger Taco Unique?

A smash burger taco combines the best parts of both a smash burger and a taco. The ground beef is flattened like a burger patty but cooked directly in a tortilla, making it a crispy, crunchy shell filled with juicy beef. The heat from the air fryer ensures the beef cooks through, while the tortilla crisps up perfectly, giving you that satisfying crunch in every bite. This recipe is ideal for taco lovers looking for something outside of the usual ground beef taco.

Lessons Learned From My Kitchen

When I first tried making these smash burger tacos, I attempted to cook them on the stove. Unfortunately, both times the tortilla got soggy or the beef didn’t cook properly. That’s when I decided to give the air fryer a shot after seeing a similar recipe on MyFitnessPal. It was a total game-changer! 

The crispy tortilla combined with the cooked ground beef and melted cheese created the perfect crunch and flavor that the whole family devoured. This recipe is simple to follow, quick, and packs a punch of delicious flavors.

Crispy Taco Shell Tips

This might look different than the other tacos you’ve seen because mine is super crispy. I cooked it a little longer than most recipes to avoid a soggy tortilla. If you like yours less crispy and more browned, experiment with a shorter air fryer time and adjust based on your texture preference.

For reference, I used the Gourmia Air Fryer for this recipe.

If You Make This Smash Burger Taco

If you enjoy Air Fryer recipes, you may also like:

All of the Ingredients for the Smash Burger Taco

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Topping Suggestions for Smash Burger Taco

  • Shredded lettuce
  • Sour cream
  • Taco sauce
  • Pico de gallo
  • Tomatoes
  • Pickles
  • Mayonnaise
  • Mustard
  • Guacamole
  • Shredded cheese

How to Make the Perfect Smash Burger Taco in Your Air Fryer (Step-by-Step)

✓ Step #1: Add beef patty to tortilla – Spread out the ground beef in a medium-sized tortilla (take a beef patty, flatten it as if you were making a burger patty, and press it right into the tortilla raw, almost to the edges).

✓ Step #2: Preheat your air fryer – Preheat your Air Fryer at 400 degrees.

✓ Step #3: Cook for 9 minutes – Once ready, add the tortilla and ground beef to the Air Fryer, ground beef side up, and cook for 9 minutes.

Note: If your air fryer runs a bit hotter or cooler, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly. Keep an eye on the tortilla to ensure it gets crispy while the beef cooks through completely.

✓ Step #4: Top with cheese – Top with shredded cheese and cook it for one more minute.

✓ Step #5: Add your favorite toppings – Add your toppings and serve.

Note: Want a Big Mac twist? Add a drizzle of my Homemade Big Mac Sauce for an extra burst of tangy, creamy flavor.

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Let me know how crispy yours turned out!

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