Street Corn Smash Burger Tacos Recipe

Introduction

These Street Corn Smash Burger Tacos combine the bold flavors of charred corn and creamy jalapeño sauce with juicy smashed burgers cooked right inside soft flour tortillas. This fun and flavorful twist on tacos is perfect for a casual dinner or a crowd-pleasing meal.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground hamburger (80/20)
• 6 flour taco-sized tortillas
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3/4 cup cilantro leaves (large stems removed)
• 1/2 cup pickled jalapeños
• 2 tablespoons juice from pickled jalapeños
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 heaping tablespoon dry ranch seasoning (Hidden Valley or similar)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup buttermilk (optional)
• 5-6 ears of corn (husked and removed from the cob)
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 lime, juiced and zested
• 1/3 cup sliced scallions
• 1/3 cup grated cotija cheese
• 1/4 cup cilantro, minced (large stems removed)
• 1 jalapeño, diced
• 1/2-1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2-1 teaspoon Tajín
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

1. Step 1: Prepare the street corn topping by heating olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn and cook, stirring frequently, until it starts to char and develop color, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, lime juice and zest, minced garlic, Tajín, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well to form a sauce, then add the charred corn, cilantro, scallions, diced jalapeño, and cotija cheese. Stir until fully combined. Set aside and top with additional cotija, Tajín, and chili powder as desired.
3. Step 3: For the creamy jalapeño sauce, purée cilantro leaves, pickled jalapeños, and jalapeño juice in a food processor or blender until finely minced, scraping down the sides as needed.
4. Step 4: In a mixing bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Add the cilantro-jalapeño purée and stir until combined. Adjust consistency by adding buttermilk a splash at a time, if desired. Add lime juice and mix again.
5. Step 5: Divide the ground hamburger into six 3.5-ounce portions. Place each portion onto a 6-inch flour tortilla and press firmly to spread the meat into a thin, even layer, slightly overlapping the tortilla edges to account for shrinkage during cooking. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Step 6: Heat a griddle or large skillet over high heat. Place the meat-side down tortilla onto the hot surface and press firmly with a spatula or burger press. Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until the burger forms a crust. Flip carefully and cook the other side for another 1-2 minutes.
7. Step 7: Remove the smash burger tacos from the skillet. Top each with a generous scoop of the street corn topping, a drizzle of creamy jalapeño sauce, and an optional sprinkle of cotija or queso fresco cheese. Serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

• Use fresh or frozen corn if fresh ears are not available; just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• For extra heat, add more diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the creamy jalapeño sauce.
• Swap flour tortillas for corn tortillas for a gluten-free option, but be gentle when pressing the meat.
• To make the burgers easier to flip, use a wide spatula and cook on a well-heated surface to develop a solid crust.

Storage

Store any leftover toppings and sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Smash burger tacos are best enjoyed fresh, but cooked burgers can be refrigerated and reheated in a skillet or oven until warmed through. Avoid reheating assembled tacos to keep the tortillas from getting soggy.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the street corn topping ahead of time?

Yes, the street corn topping can be prepared up to two days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Just give it a good stir before serving.

What if I don’t have buttermilk for the creamy sauce?

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can thin the creamy jalapeño sauce with a little milk or water as needed, or omit it entirely for a thicker texture.

Street Corn Smash Burger Tacos Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 68 reviews

These Street Corn Smash Burger Tacos combine juicy pressed burger patties cooked right on flour tortillas with a charred street corn topping and a creamy jalapeno sauce. This flavorful fusion recipe blends classic smash burger technique with Mexican-inspired toppings for an indulgent and satisfying taco experience perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.

• Author: Dana
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 tacos 1x
• Category: Tacos
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Mexican-American Fusion

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Smash Burgers

• 1.5 lbs ground hamburger (80/20)
• 6 flour taco-sized tortillas
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Street Corn Topping

• 5–6 ears of corn, husked and removed from the cob
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 lime, juiced and zested
• 1/3 cup sliced scallions
• 1/3 cup grated cojita cheese
• 1/4 cup cilantro, minced (stems removed)
• 1 jalapeno, diced
• 1/2 – 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 – 1 tsp Tajin seasoning
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Creamy Jalapeno Sauce

• 3/4 cup cilantro leaves (large stems removed)
• 1/2 cup pickled Jalapenos
• 2 tablespoons juice from pickled Jalapenos
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 heaping tablespoon dry ranch seasoning (Hidden Valley or similar)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup buttermilk (optional, to thin sauce)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Street Corn Topping: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn kernels and cook, stirring frequently, until the corn chars and develops color, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
2. Mix the Corn Sauce: In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, lime juice and zest, minced garlic, Tajin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well, then fold in the cooked corn, cilantro, scallions, diced jalapeno, and grated cojita cheese until thoroughly mixed. Optionally sprinkle with additional cojita cheese, Tajin, and chili powder for garnish.
3. Make the Creamy Jalapeno Sauce: Using a food processor or blender, purée cilantro leaves with pickled jalapenos and their juice until very finely minced, scraping sides as necessary. In a separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Add the cilantro-jalapeno purée, stir to combine, then add fresh lime juice. Thin the sauce gradually with buttermilk if needed until desired consistency is reached.
4. Form the Smash Burgers: Divide ground beef into six 3.5-ounce portions. Place each portion onto a 6-inch flour tortilla and press evenly into a thin layer slightly overlapping the tortilla edges to account for shrinkage during cooking. Season the burger surface with salt and pepper.
5. Cook the Smash Burgers: Heat a griddle or large skillet to high heat. Place each tortilla burger side down on the skillet. Press firmly on the burgers with a spatula or burger press and cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until the bottom is browned and crispy. Carefully scrape beneath the burger and flip the entire tortilla. Cook the other side for an additional 1-2 minutes.
6. Assemble the Tacos: Remove cooked smash burgers from the skillet. Top each with a generous scoop of the prepared street corn topping, a drizzle of creamy jalapeno sauce, and a sprinkle of cojita or queso fresco cheese if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

• Pressing the burger thin on the tortilla ensures a crispy, flavorful crust while keeping the tortilla intact as a base.
• Adjust the level of chili powder, Tajin, and jalapeno according to your spice tolerance.
• Using buttermilk in the creamy sauce is optional but helps achieve a thinner, pourable consistency.
• For an even smokier corn flavor, try charring the corn over a grill instead of pan-searing.
• Make sure to use fresh lime juice for the best brightness in both the corn topping and sauce.
• Serve with additional hot sauce on the side for extra heat.

Keywords: smash burger tacos, street corn topping, creamy jalapeno sauce, Mexican fusion tacos, quick weeknight tacos