Beef Kebab Smash Tacos are the viral smash taco trend with a Middle Eastern twist! Kebab spiced ground beef is smashed onto tortillas and pan seared until crispy. Then topped with fresh veggies, pickles and a homemade creamy garlic sauce. It's an easy 30 minute dinner the whole family will love.
Beef Kebab Smash Tacos Recipe
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Smash tacos took over the internet, and we couldn't resist putting our own spin on them. If you've ever grabbed a kebab from your favorite late-night shawarma spot, these will taste so familiar. But now you can skip the takeout and make them right in your own kitchen in about 30 minutes.
These are a weeknight win in our house! Everyone builds their own tacos with their favorite toppings. It's a family favorite. They're so fun to serve for game day or a casual get-together with friends. If you love our Greek Gyros Smash Tacos you need to add these to your rotation next!
What are Beef Kebab Smash Tacos
Smash tacos are made by spreading a thin layer of raw ground meat directly onto a tortilla, then placing it meat side down in a hot pan and smashing it flat. The meat gets crispy and caramelized while the tortilla toasts up golden brown. Our kebab version uses ground beef seasoned with all the classic Middle Eastern spices. The tacos are topped with fresh and pickled veggies and a drizzle of homemade garlic sauce. They are one of the easiest weeknight dinners you can make.
What to Serve with
- Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
- Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
- Dill Pickle Chopped Salad
- Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Loaded Baked Potato Slices
Ingredients
Smash Taco Ingredients
- Ground Beef - we recommend lean ground beef so the tacos don't get overly greasy. You can swap for ground lamb, a beef and lamb mix, or ground chicken.
- Spices - garlic powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, onion powder, salt and pepper give the meat that classic kebab flavor.
- Fresh Parsley - adds a fresh, bright flavor to the kebab meat. Chop it very finely so it mixes into the meat evenly.
- Tortillas - small flour tortillas are perfect because you can cook 3-4 at a time in a frying pan. You can also use street taco corn tortillas.
- Toppings - diced tomatoes, pickles, diced red onion and pickled turnips (the bright pink pickles you find at Middle Eastern shawarma shops).
Garlic Sauce Ingredients
- Yogurt - we love to make our garlic sauce with a combination of yogurt and mayonnaise to keep it healthy. The yogurt adds the perfect creamy texture and pop of tangy flavor.
- Mayonnaise - this gives the sauce an extra rich and creamy texture. If you prefer you can omit the mayonnaise and use only yogurt for the sauce.
- Garlic - we recommend fresh garlic. Chopped garlic from a jar or garlic powder will not give you the same great flavor as fresh garlic. Use a handheld grater to shred the garlic or very finely mince the garlic.
- Lemon Juice - this gives the garlic sauce a hint of lemon flavor that pairs perfect with the kebabs and salad.
- Salt
How to Make Beef Kebab Smash Tacos
Full Printable Recipe at Bottom of page
- Prepare the garlic sauce by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well and refrigerate, covered or in an airtight container.
- In a large bowl add ground beef, parsley, garlic powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, onion powder, cinnamon (optional), salt and pepper. Mix well until everything is combined.
- Evenly distribute the beef mixture on top of the tortillas. Use a fork or spoon to smash the mixture onto the tortilla into a smooth even layer. Be sure to spread the mixture right to the edges of the tortilla because it will shrink slightly when cooking.
- Heat a frying pan on medium-high heat. Spray lightly with cooking oil or drizzle a small amount of oil on the pan. Working in batches, place the 3-4 tortillas meat side down onto the preheated pan and gently press to smash them. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the meat is browned and edges crispy.
- Flip the tacos over onto tortilla side and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes (meat should be 160℉ internal temperature) or until you see the edges and bottom of the tortilla turn golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer the tacos to a sheet pan lined with a wire rack and keep in the oven on the keep warm setting while you cook the remaining tacos. Repeat until all tacos are cooked.
- Transfer the tacos to a serving platter and top with your desired toppings and a drizzle of garlic sauce. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Tacos
- Spread It Thin - spread the meat in a thin, even layer all the way to the edges of the tortilla. A thin layer cooks through quickly and gets those crispy, caramelized edges.
- Get the Pan Hot - make sure the pan is fully preheated before adding the tacos. This helps the meat sear and stick to the tortilla so it doesn't fall off when you flip it.
- Flavor Variations - you can use any of your favorite shawarma toppings such as shredded lettuce, cucumber, hot sauce, tahini or a sprinkle of sumac on top. Swap the beef for ground lamb for an even richer flavor.
FAQ
Microwave - the tortilla will no longer be crispy but you can microwave leftover tacos for 45 seconds.
Air Fryer - reheat meat side up in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-5 minutes.
Stove Top - for crispy leftover tacos, reheat in a lightly oiled frying pan on medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side.
Oven - preheat oven to 350°F. Place the tacos on a sheet pan (with or without a wire rack) and bake for 6-7 minutes (meat side up) or until warmed through.
Store leftover cooked and cooled smash tacos in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also stack them in a Ziploc bag in the fridge.
Yes! You can freeze fully cooked and cooled tacos. Place them in a freezer safe air tight container or Ziploc bag with pieces of parchment paper or foil between the layers to prevent sticking. You can reheat from frozen using the above reheating steps and adding 3-4 minutes or allow them to thaw and reheat using the above steps.
Yes! Prepare the seasoned beef meat mixture and toppings ahead of time and store in the fridge. Just before cooking smash the meat mixture on the tortillas and then cook the tacos.
Use gluten free tortillas.
Use dairy free mayonnaise and yogurt to make the garlic sauce.
More Easy Dinners
- Sheet Pan Chicken Kebab Dinner
- Sheet Pan Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme
- Sushi Bake Cups
- Thai Sweet Chili Shrimp Sheet Pan
- Sheet Pan Chicken Kebab Wraps
Enjoy!
- Sab
Beef Kebab Smash Tacos
Ingredients
- 12 mini tortillas (or 8 small, flour or corn)
Beef Kebab Mixture
- 1 lb lean ground beef (sub chicken)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Toppings
- Tomatoes (diced)
- Pickles
- Red onion (thinly sliced)
- Pickled turnips
Garlic Sauce
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- 3 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 4 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the garlic sauce by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well and refrigerate, covered or in an airtight container.
- In a large bowl add ground beef, parsley, garlic powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, onion powder, cinnamon (optional), salt and pepper. Mix well until everything is combined.
- Evenly distribute the beef mixture on top of the tortillas. Use a fork or spoon to smash the mixture onto the tortilla into a smooth even layer. Be sure to spread the mixture right to the edges of the tortilla because it will shrink slightly when cooking.
- Heat a frying pan on medium-high heat. Spray lightly with cooking oil or drizzle a small amount of oil on the pan. Working in batches, place the 3-4 tortillas meat side down onto the preheated pan and gently press to smash them. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the meat is browned and edges crispy.
- Flip the tacos over onto tortilla side and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes (meat should be 160℉ internal temperature) or until you see the edges and bottom of the tortilla turn golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer the tacos to a sheet pan lined with a wire rack and keep in the oven on the keep warm setting while you cook the remaining tacos. Repeat until all tacos are cooked.
- Transfer the tacos to a serving platter and top with your desired toppings and a drizzle of garlic sauce. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Tony says
These were amazing. Super quick and easy to make. No need for takeout anymore 🤩