Description

These Street Corn Smash Burger Tacos combine juicy smashed hamburger patties cooked on flour tortillas with a smoky, creamy street corn topping and zesty jalapeno sauce. Perfect for taco night, these bold-flavored tacos feature grilled corn mixed with lime, cheese, and spices, alongside flavorful smashed burgers cooked on the stove for a crispy crust.

Ingredients

For the Smash Burgers and Tortillas

1.5 lbs ground hamburger (80/20)
6 flour taco-sized tortillas
Salt and pepper to taste

Street Corn Topping

5-6 ears of corn (husked and removed from the cob)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 garlic clove, minced
1 lime, juiced and zested
1/3 cup sliced scallions
1/3 cup grated cojita cheese
1/4 cup cilantro, minced (large stems removed)
1 jalapeno, diced
1/2-1 tsp chili powder
1/2-1 tsp Tajin
1/4 tsp salt
Additional cojita cheese, chili powder, and Tajin for topping (optional)

Creamy Jalapeno Sauce

3/4 cup cilantro leaves (large stems removed)
1/2 cup pickled jalapenos
2 tablespoons juice from pickled jalapenos
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sour cream
1 heaping tablespoon dry ranch seasoning (e.g., Hidden Valley)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 cup buttermilk (optional, to thin sauce)

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Instructions

Prepare the Street Corn Topping: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn and cook, stirring frequently, until the corn chars and develops some color, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Make the Street Corn Sauce: In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, lime juice and zest, minced garlic, Tajin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to create a flavorful sauce. Add the cooled corn, cilantro, scallions, jalapeno, and grated cojita cheese. Mix thoroughly. Optionally, top with extra cojita cheese, Tajin, and chili powder.
Prepare the Creamy Jalapeno Sauce: In a food processor or blender, purée the cilantro leaves, pickled jalapenos, and 2 tablespoons of their juice until finely minced, scraping down the sides as needed.
Mix the Creamy Sauce Base: In a mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Mix well.
Combine Jalapeno Mixture: Add the puréed jalapeno-cilantro mixture to the mayo-sour cream base. Stir to combine. Add fresh lime juice and thin with buttermilk a little at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Form the Smash Burgers: Divide the ground hamburger into 3.5-ounce portions. Press each portion thinly and evenly onto a 6-inch flour tortilla, slightly overlapping the edges as the meat will shrink when cooked. Season the top side with salt and pepper.
Cook the Smash Burgers on Tortillas: Heat a griddle or large skillet over high heat. Place the tortillas burger-side down on the skillet. Press firmly using a spatula or burger press. Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until browned and crispy. Carefully scrape underneath and flip the tortilla; cook an additional 1-2 minutes on the other side.
Assemble the Tacos: Remove the smash burger tortillas from the skillet. Top each with a scoop of the street corn mixture, a dollop of creamy jalapeno sauce, and a sprinkle of cojita or queso fresco cheese if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use fresh corn for best flavor; frozen corn can be used but may not char as well.
If buttermilk is unavailable, thin the creamy sauce with a little milk or water.
Adjust the amount of chili powder and jalapenos to control spiciness.
Smashed burgers on tortillas deliver a unique texture—avoid making patties too thick for best results.
These tacos are best enjoyed fresh and hot for crispy tortillas and juicy burgers.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Tacos
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Mexican-inspired