Description

Buffalo Chicken Smash Burger Tacos combine the bold, spicy flavor of buffalo chicken with the casual convenience of handheld tacos. Featuring juicy, smashed ground chicken patties cooked to crispy perfection on soft tortillas, topped with a cooling and creamy ranch dill slaw, these tacos are a perfect weeknight meal. Quick to prepare and packed with protein, they offer a satisfying blend of textures and flavors that are both indulgent and health-conscious.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Buffalo Chicken Smash Burgers

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
8 small tortillas (corn or flour)
Cooking spray or oil

For the Ranch Slaw

3 cups shredded cabbage (green or red)
½ cup grated carrots
¼ – ⅓ cup ranch dressing (Greek yogurt preferred)
1 tbsp dill relish

Instructions

Prepare the Ranch Slaw: In a large bowl, combine shredded cabbage, grated carrots, ranch dressing, and dill relish. Toss until all ingredients are fully coated. Cover and refrigerate to chill while you prepare the chicken.
Mix the Chicken: In another bowl, gently mix the ground chicken with buffalo wing sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Himalayan salt, and black pepper. Mix carefully to keep the texture light and tender, avoiding overmixing.
Heat the Cooking Surface: Preheat a griddle or a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly coat the surface with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
Form and Smash Chicken Patties: Divide the chicken mixture into loose balls, one per taco. Place each ball on a tortilla, then transfer onto the hot pan with the chicken side down. Immediately use a spatula or a flat-bottomed cup to smash the ball flat, creating thin patties.
Cook the Chicken Patties: Let the patties cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes until golden-brown and cooked through. The edges should be crispy while the center remains juicy.
Warm and Crisp the Tortillas: Lower the heat and lightly oil the tortillas. Flip them on the skillet, warming until they reach your preferred texture — soft and pliable or crispy and slightly browned.
Assemble the Tacos: Place each cooked chicken patty on a warmed tortilla. Top generously with the chilled ranch slaw. Drizzle with additional Greek yogurt ranch dressing or buffalo sauce, according to taste.
Serve and Enjoy: Serve the tacos warm for best flavor and texture, enjoying the interplay between spicy, creamy, and crunchy elements.

Notes

You can substitute ranch dressing with blue cheese dressing for a richer flavor.
For a dairy-free option, use plant-based ranch alternatives.
Lettuce wraps can replace tortillas to make the recipe low-carb or keto-friendly.
Add a slice of cheddar or crumbled blue cheese on each patty right before removing from the pan to make it cheesy.
For extra heat, drizzle with hot honey or add pickled jalapeños.
Crushed tortilla chips or crispy fried onions make great crunchy toppings.
Mix the chicken gently to avoid dense patties.
Use a wide, flat tool to smash the patties firmly for crispy edges.
Preheat the pan so patties sizzle immediately on contact, forming a golden crust.
Do not overcook chicken; cook until edges crisp and center firms.
Make the slaw ahead of time to allow flavors to meld and save time during dinner.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Frying
Cuisine: American

Keywords: buffalo chicken smash burger tacos, buffalo smash tacos, chicken tacos