Description
These Buffalo Chicken Smash Burger Tacos are a quick and flavorful weeknight meal featuring spicy buffalo-seasoned ground chicken smashed and cooked directly on tortillas for a crispy, tender texture. Topped with a refreshing cabbage-carrot slaw and creamy ranch dressing, these tacos offer the perfect balance of heat and crunch in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 3 tbsp buffalo wing sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp Himalayan salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Tortillas and Cooking
- 8 small tortillas (corn or flour)
- Cooking spray or oil
Slaw and Toppings
- 3 cups shredded cabbage
- ½ cup grated carrots
- ¼ – ⅓ cup ranch dressing (Greek yogurt preferred)
- 1 tbsp dill relish
Instructions
- Prepare the Slaw: In a bowl, combine shredded cabbage, grated carrots, ranch dressing, and dill relish. Mix well and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use to let flavors meld.
- Mix the Chicken: In another bowl, combine ground chicken with buffalo wing sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Himalayan salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until all ingredients are just combined; avoid overmixing to keep the chicken tender.
- Heat the Pan: Place a griddle or large skillet on medium-high heat and add a small amount of oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Form and Smash Chicken: Divide the chicken mixture into loose balls. Place each ball onto the center of a taco tortilla on the heated pan. Using a spatula, smash each ball flat into a patty shape directly on the tortilla.
- Cook Chicken Patties: Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on one side or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Avoid moving them too early to achieve a nice crust.
- Finish Tortillas: Lower the heat. Lightly oil the top side of the tortillas still on the pan, then flip them over so the tortilla side is down on the pan. Cook to your desired doneness—either soft or crispy.
- Assemble Tacos: Remove the tortillas with cooked chicken from the pan. Top each with a generous portion of the chilled slaw. Drizzle with additional Greek yogurt ranch dressing or more buffalo sauce if desired.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the tacos warm immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For extra heat, add more buffalo sauce or a sprinkle of cayenne pepper to the chicken mixture.
- Use either corn or flour tortillas depending on your preference; thinner tortillas crisp nicely in the pan.
- Chilling the slaw ahead improves its flavor and texture.
- Use Greek yogurt-based ranch for a healthier dip option.
- Make sure not to overmix the ground chicken, which can make the patties dense.
- Adjust cooking times as needed depending on the thickness of the smashed chicken patties.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: buffalo chicken tacos, smash burger tacos, quick weeknight dinner, spicy chicken tacos, chicken taco recipe
