Craving McDonalds? I’ve got you! These Air Fried Big Mac Smash Tacos will cover your cravings in less than 30 minutes.
Quicker than the drive-thru and made with only good-for-you ingredients, they are the perfect handheld snack, lunch, or easy dinner. Everyone I’ve made these for has loved them and begged me for the recipe; you’ve got to try them.
If you love these Big Mac smashed tacos, I’m pretty sure you’ll love these Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos, my Smash Burger Quesadillas and my Loaded Smashed Potatoes, too!
WHAT IS A BIG MAC SMASH TACO
A Big Mac mash taco is basically a viral food mash-up that includes a smash burger and a taco. It’s made by smashing ground beef straight onto a tortilla and cooking it until crispy.
It then gets topped with the usual suspects: Lettuce, pickles, cheese, Big Mac style sauce etc.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
I mean, who doesn’t love a recipe that brings together the iconic Big Mac flavors into a handheld taco? It’s a really fun recipe to make and serve to friends and family – plus, it’s a quick, under 30 minute meal.
I love knowing exactly what’s going into my recipes. This is also a “lighter” copycat version because it’s made in the air fryer.
The cheese is warm and melty, the beef and tortillas bring the crispy, soft textures, and the whole thing is just really delicious. Total comfort food.
I love making this as a quick lunch, an easy weeknight dinner, or a homey snack when those fast food cravings hit.
INGREDIENTS
For the perfect juicy/crispy balance, I like to use 80/20 ground beef. For the toppings, I go for a classic crunchy lettuce like iceberg and make sure my pickles are diced small so every bite gets a little tangy taste.
I go for a cheese like cheddar that tastes rich and melts easily – sliced cheese works really well and I like that it melts evenly.
I prefer using soft taco-sized tortillas that crisp up nicely in the pan while still folding easily. This just makes my Air Fried Big Mac Smash Tacos really easy to hold and eat.
Check out the recipe card below for the full ingredient and quantity list.
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
Make the sauce
Start off by making your sauce. Add all the Big Mac Smash Tacos sauce ingredients into a small bowl. Whisk them together until they’re silky and smooth.
Build the tacos
Add 2-3 tablespoons of ground beef to each tortilla. Spread the meat out in an even layer right up to the edges. Season with some salt and pepper.
Cook the Big Mac Smash Tacos
Place the tacos in the basket of your preheated air fryer. Cook them in batches for 4 minutes each.
Layer on cheese
Once the 4 minutes is up, layer a slice of cheese on top of each taco and air fry it for 1 more minute.
Add toppings
Top your cooked Big Mac smashed tacos with lettuce, tomato, onion, and the pickles. Drizzle over your sauce, garnish with some sesame seeds if you like and serve.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS
You can definitely switch up the base recipe – these are a few variations of these Big Mac Smash Tacos I’ve tried:
- Ground beef: Switch out the ground beef for turkey, ground chicken or some plant based mince if you want a vegetarian version.
- Cheddar cheese swap: You could make your Big Mac Smash Tacos with pepper jack for a spicy version.
- Flour tortillas: You can make a gluten free version with your favorite brand of gluten free tortillas.
- Big Mac Sauce: If you’re a little short on time, use a store bought sauce.
- Toppings: Jalapeños work really well in your Big Mac smashed tacos and swapping out lettuce for shredded cabbage adds crunch!
STORAGE AND MAKE AHEAD
If you have any leftover Big Mac Smash Tacos (I doubt you will), you can store them for up to 3 days. Pack them into an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator.
To reheat them, use the air fryer or heat them up in a skillet until warm and crispy again.
I don’t recommend freezing the leftovers. Big Mac copycat sauce and toppings can be stored separately.
You can prep the sauce and toppings ahead but otherwise, these are best made fresh.
SERVING AND PAIRING
I always serve my Big Mac Smash Tacos fresh and hot, straight out if the air fryer. They’re delicious with good sides. It’s also fun to setup a build-your-own station if you’re scaling these up for a crowd of friends:
Here are my favorite sites to pair with this Air fried big mac smashed tacos recipe:
- Fries and ketchup
- Potato or sweet potato wedges
- Crunchy and simple salads
- Coleslaw
- Salsa
- Guac!
TIPS AND PROBLEM-SOLVING
Tortillas not crispy: Make sure you aren’t overcrowding the air fryer. Cook your tortillas in batches rather.
- The beef shrinks: Spread it right out to edges of the tortilla before cooking the air fryer smash tacos.
- Cheese isn’t melty: Yikes! Ok, so try air frying it for an extra 30 seconds.
- Do you want more crunch? Toast the tortillas for an extra minute before adding more toppings to your Big Mac smashed tacos.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes you can! Use a skillet over medium heat and press the beef onto the tortilla for 3-4 minutes on one side and a minute on the second side.
I like to only add my sauce and toppings right before serving smash burger air fryer tacos.
Yes – just use low carb tortillas instead of flour tortillas.
An 80/20 beef blend is best in my opinion for Big Mac smashed tacos.
OTHER HANDHELD RECIPES TO TRY
Crispy Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime
Egg Roll Recipe Carnitas Egg Rolls
Air-Fried Big Mac Smash Tacos
Ingredients
For the Tacos
- 1 lb ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce shredded
- 1 large tomato diced
- 1 white onion diced
- 1 cup dill pickles diced
- 8 slices cheddar cheese
- 8 flour tortillas (taco-sized)
- Sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
For the Big Mac Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Begin by preheating the air fryer to 390°F (198°C).
- In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the Big Mac sauce. Whisk until well combined.
- On a clean work surface, lay out the tortillas.
- Place 2-3 tablespoons of ground beef onto each tortilla.
- Using your hands or a spatula, spread the beef evenly around the tortilla until it just reaches the edges.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper then place in the preheated air-fryer for 4 minutes, ensuring the tacos don’t overlap. You’ll likely need to do this in batches.
- After 4 minutes, place a slice of cheddar cheese on top of the beef and air-fry for another minute.
- Once all of the tacos are cooked, top the beef with shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced onion, and diced dill pickles.
- Drizzle each taco with the prepared Big Mac Sauce.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds on top for garnish if desired and serve immediately.
