Cheeseburger Tacos

If you reach for tortillas more often than you reach for bread, you need to get these cheeseburger tacos on your weekly menu immediately. The recipe combines seasoned ground beef (like you’d find in taco recipes) with cheddar and a burger sauce made from mayo, ketchup, pickle brine and hot sauce. A fluffy flour tortilla holds it all together to make one of the best comfort food mashups.

Cheeseburger tacos can be on the table in less than 30 minutes, but you can also do meal prep with the recipe by making the sauce, grating the cheese, and prepping fresh veggie toppings ahead of time. Experiment by adding some beans to the filling or by using your favorite burger toppings to make it your own.

Ingredients for Cheeseburger Tacos

• Ground beef: You can’t have a cheeseburger without ground beef! I like to buy extra when I shop and freeze it for future meals. You can freeze ground beef for up to four months without its taste or texture being altered, as long as it’s tightly wrapped.
• Spices: Onion powder, salt and pepper season the meat and add savory flavor. You could also add a pinch of red pepper flakes or garlic powder, but there’s no need to heavily season the meat since you’ll still be adding cheese, sauce and toppings.
• Shredded cheddar cheese: Cheddar melts into an even blanket over the cooked meat. We always recommend grating cheese yourself from a block for the best melt and creamy taste, but you can pick up one of the best shredded cheddar cheeses instead if you need a shortcut.
• Sauce: Since every burger needs a signature sauce, you’ll mix mayo, ketchup, dill or sweet pickle juice, and hot pepper sauce together to make a creamy, tangy, spicy topping. Our Test Kitchen has great recommendations for the best hot sauces if you’re looking to really spice things up.
• Flour tortillas: We recommend 6-inch flour tortillas, which are big enough to hold plenty of meat and toppings, but not so big that they’ll fall apart. For a gluten-free option, you can use corn tortillas, but be sure to warm them first so they’re pliable when you fill them.
• Toppings: Finish your cheeseburger tacos with a few traditional burger toppings, such as shredded lettuce, chopped tomato and pickles. Or you can add a few fun taco toppings into the mix. Pickled jalapeno rings and a few big dollops of guacamole would be my choice!

Directions

Step 1: Cook the cheeseburger filling

In a large skillet, cook and crumble the beef over medium heat until it’s no longer pink, six to eight minutes. Drain any grease or liquid, then stir in the onion powder, salt and pepper.

Sprinkle the beef with the cheese. Cover the pan and let the taco filling stand until the cheese is melted.

Step 2: Make the sauce

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle juice and hot pepper sauce.

Step 3: Assemble the tacos

Divide the beef mixture among the tortillas. Top it with lettuce, tomato, pickles and sauce.

Recipe Variations

• Add veggies to the filling: If you usually pile sauteed mushrooms, onions or bell peppers on your burgers, try cooking your favorite veggies with the beef for these tacos.
• Swap the meat: Ground beef gives these tacos a classic burger taste, but you can use ground chicken or turkey for a lighter meal that’s still full of flavor.
• Make it vegetarian: Replace the burger meat with black beans, lentils or a plant-based meat substitute, and you’ll have a vegetarian-friendly cheeseburger taco night.

How to Store Cheeseburger Tacos

While you shouldn’t store assembled cheeseburger tacos (the tortillas will become soggy), you can store the separate components in the refrigerator. Use airtight food storage containers for the meat, sauce and any cut vegetables. Depending on the brand, you can usually store tortillas at room temperature in their original packaging, but I often toss mine in the fridge or freezer to extend their shelf life.

How long do cheeseburger tacos last?

The cooked meat and sauce for cheeseburger tacos last three to four days in the refrigerator. Make sure to take note of the expiration date stamped on uncooked ground beef, and be sure to cook or freeze it before it spoils. Vegetables last longer when they’re whole, so wait to cut the lettuce and tomato until just before serving these tacos.

Cheeseburger Tacos Tips

How do I keep the flour tortillas from falling apart?

Flour tortillas are pretty sturdy, but they can become soggy over time or crack when they’re filled, so it’s helpful to warm or lightly toast them and fill them just before eating. Warming them makes the tortillas more flexible and lightly browns the exterior. My favorite method is to rub a bit of water on the tortilla, then heat it in a dry skillet over medium heat, flipping it frequently.

How do I keep tortillas warm?

You can buy tortilla warmers made from everything from ceramic to bamboo (my mom had a microwave-safe red one when my family was deep into fajita night traditions) to keep tortillas soft and steamy, but even a clean kitchen towel does the job. Warm a stack of tortillas in an oven set to 200ºF or in the microwave, then wrap them up in a towel or place them in a covered basket to trap the heat.

What should I serve with cheeseburger tacos?

You can serve cheeseburger tacos with fun burger sides like oven fries, fried onion rings or creamy coleslaw, or you can lean into the taco part of the dish with Mexican side dishes like corn salad, pico de gallo, or rice and beans. You could even skip the tortillas, set out a huge bowl of mixed greens and tortilla chips and turn this meal into a hearty taco cheeseburger salad.