Make your next burger a Taco Burger. Mayonnaise makes everything better, and adding mayonnaise to ground beef returns a deliciously creamy juicy burger. Mix in some taco seasoning and you’ve got a sassy burger that the whole family will love.
What is a Taco Burger? It’s a ground beef taco in burger form.
Taco Seasoning is added to ground beef, and toppings include all of our favorite taco toppings. Shredded cheddar, lettuce and tomato. I’ve chosen to add smashed avocado to the top bun. And rather than pickles, try this taco burger recipe with sliced Pickled Jalapeno Peppers.
This taco burger resembles my Tortilla Burger, minus the tortilla shell.
I take things a step further, this burger becomes even more unique by adding mayonnaise and panko bread crumbs to the burger meat. A trick I learned in Culinary School and have been wanting to try at home. A great addition to any burger recipe to add a creamy texture to the patty.
I’ve never been a big Taco Bell customer, however, I read that they offered a Taco Burger on their menu in the 70’s. I’ve never had a Taco Bell Taco burger, so can’t vouch for the similarities for my recipe.
So if you love a cheeseburger, and love a good old fashioned America style ground beef taco, you’re going to love this Taco burger. They’re quick to prepare, and make a good week-night dinner treat.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground Beef: I always recommend an 80/20% blend. That little bit of extra fat brings flavor a moisture to any burger.
- Cheese, Grated: Use what you’d normally use to make tacos. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Colby.
- Lettuce: We like the cool crispy crunch of Iceberg Lettuce. Romaine or curly leaf green lettuce is also a good choice here.
- Tomatoes, fresh sliced.
- Panko Bread Crumbs are readily found on the baking aisle at your supermarket. A crispy, crunchy bread crumb that I use in so many recipes. Like in these gingery Ground Pork Meatballs.
- Mayonnaise: Mayo, combined with the panko bread crumbs will bring a creamy note to these taco burgers.
- Taco Seasoning: I highly recommend using my recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning. It’s easy and packed with flavor. I add smoked paprika to my recipe for a slight smoky layer of flavor.
- Avocado: Keep this recipe simple by simply smashing avocado with a fork. Seasoned simply with salt, it makes a great topping for this burger. If you want to use guacamole for a topping, check out my recipe for Chunky Guacamole.
Pro Tip: Purchase good quality cheese and grate it yourself. Pre-grated cheese in bags includes additives to keep it from clumping, which will also compromise the melting factor. Grating cheese from a block of cheese will result in a creamier and more consistent melting experience. Plus, it’s less expensive.
Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy
- Step 1: Add ground beef, mayo, taco seasoning and panko bread crumbs to a bowl.
- Step 2: Just as you would making meatloaf, use your hands to gently blend the ingredients together.
- Step 3: Form the meat mixture into 4 hamburger patties.
- Step 4: Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Cook the patties about 5 – 6 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.
- Step 5: While the burgers are cooking, peel, pit and salt the avocado and rough smash it with a fork. To build that burger, place lettuce and a slice of tomato on the bottom bun. Add the taco burger patty and grated cheese. Spread some smashed avocado on the top bun and serve.
Questions You May Have
Absolutely yes. This burger is sturdy enough to withstand those grill grates.
Wrap any uncooked taco burger patties in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer safe zip-lock style bag, or a plastic freezer safe container. They’ll keep for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight then cook.
I make burger patties ahead of time quite often. Form the meat into patties up to 24 hours in advance. Keep on a plate covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
Tips For Success
- Do not use a non-stick skillet to fry taco burger patties. Use a good heavy skillet to get a proper sear on the hamburger patties. Non-stick skillets are notorious for not creating enough heat to get a good crispy sear when frying meats. A carbon steel pan or a cast iron skillet are good pans when frying proteins.
- When mixing the ground beef mix, don’t over work the meat. Doing so will cause the patties to be to dense which will compromise the juicy nature of the burger.
- Of course I’d love if you tried my Homemade Taco Seasoning, it full of very special smoky flavor. But if you need to save time, purchase your favorite taco seasoning brand at the grocery store.
What Sides Go Well With Taco Burgers?
My personal favorite is a baked bean recipe like this one for BBQ Baked Beans On The Grill. Or this easy recipe for Spicy Baked Beans. You can’t go wrong with Old Fashioned Potato Salad or a spicy mac and cheese recipe like this Mexican Mac and Cheese.
More Popular Burger Recipes
And if you’re burger fans like us, don’t miss the most popular hamburger recipe on my site for Bobby Flay’s Texas Burger With Coleslaw. And my category for Hamburger Recipes.
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.
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Super Simple Taco Burger
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground beef 80/20 blend is always recommended for great burger flavor
- 1 Tablespoon Taco seasoning
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
- 4 Hamburger buns
- To build the burger:
- Lettuce Iceberg lettuce works well here.
- Sliced tomato
- Grated Cheese Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack
- 2 Avocado peeled, pitted, smashed with a fork and salted
Instructions
- Place ground beef in a bowl and break up the meat slightly.
- Add the taco seasoning, mayonnaise and bread crumbs and gently mix until ingredients are blended. Shape the meat into 4 burger patties. Pan fry, grill or broil until done, about 5 minutes per side.
- While burgers are cooking, peel, pit, salt and smash the avocado with a fork. A slightly chunky texture is good here.
- To build the burger: place lettuce and a slice of onion on the bottom bun. Top each patty with some grated cheese. Spread smashed avocado on the top bun and serve with slices of pickled jalapenos.
Notes
- Do not use a non-stick skillet to fry taco burger patties. Use a good heavy skillet to get a proper sear on hamburger patties. Non-stick skillets are notorious for not creating enough heat to get a good crispy sear when frying meats. A carbon steel pan or a cast iron skillet are good pans when frying proteins.
- When mixing the ground beef mix, don’t over work the meat. Doing so will cause the patties to be to dense which will compromise the juicy nature of the burger.
- Of course I’d love if you tried my Homemade Taco Seasoning, it full of very special smoky flavor. But if you need to save time, purchase your favorite taco seasoning brand at the grocery store.
Nutrition
Super Simple Taco Burger … it’s What’s For Burger Night
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
Sounds like a great burger and I like the addition of mayo to the meat. While they make for good pics, we aren’t fans of the burgers that look like slightly flattened meatballs. I’ll make the burgers but I’ll make three per pound and know they will be delicious.
What a brilliant idea! This is the perfect way to change up Taco Tuesday!