Chicken Fajita Smashburger Tacos
Chicken Fajita Smashburger Tacos are a viral dinner recipe that live up to the hype. Inspired by the smashburger taco trend but with a Tex-Mex twist, this version layers juicy seasoned chicken, melty cheese, and sizzling fajita peppers inside a crispy tortilla.
It’s everything you love about a smashburger and a chicken fajita—combined into one irresistible handheld bite. Perfect for a 25-minute weeknight dinner, Taco Tuesday, or serving a group with minimal effort.
Yes, you read that right! This dish combines chicken fajitas with smashburgers to create a one of a kind and delicious dinner. I love how quickly these tacos come together, and they’re packed with flavor!
If you like these, you’ll also probably enjoy my Chicken Fajita Nachos or these super easy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers!
Why You’ll Love It
- Exciting and flavorful: This recipe takes flavors you know and presents them in a fun and unique way for a dinner that will keep things interesting.
- Easy to make: You’ll spend less than 30 minutes altogether to put together these amazing tacos.
- Great to customize: I have some suggested toppings in the recipe card, but you can easily swap in ground beef, adjust the spice level, or use store-bought fajita mix.
- TikTok-style viral dinner with a twist: Combines smashburger tacos with bold chicken fajita flavor.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground chicken – Use lean ground chicken for a lighter, juicy patty. Avoid extra-lean blends (like 99%) so they don’t dry out. You can also substitute with ground turkey or ground beef if preferred.
- Fajita seasoning – A store-bought blend works great here (look near the taco kits at your grocery store), but you can also mix your own with chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and oregano.
- Bell Peppers & Onions – Classic fajita veggies! Slice them thin so they cook quickly. Red, yellow, or orange bell peppers add sweetness, and red onion gives great color and bite.
- Guacamole – A dollop adds creaminess and a cool contrast to the warm spices. You can use store-bought or make a quick homemade guacamole with avocado, lime, garlic, and salt.
- Flour Tortillas – Look for street taco size flour tortillas (like Mission brand) so the patties fit perfectly. If using larger tortillas, form wider patties or trim to fit.
*For a detailed list of instructions, ingredients and measurements, please reference the recipe card down below.
Substitutions/Additions
- Protein swap – Don’t have ground chicken? You can use ground turkey or lean ground beef for a slightly different flavor. Just avoid 99% lean blends so the patties stay juicy.
- Cheese add-on – For that classic smashburger feel, sprinkle some shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend cheese on the patty while it cooks. It’ll melt right into the tortilla.
- Flavor boosters – Add a dash of hot sauce, chipotle mayo, or pickled jalapeños for a little heat. You can also mix chopped cilantro or lime zest into the guac for extra zing.
- For other toppings, add some shredded cheese, chunky salsa, diced tomatoes, or sour cream.
How to Make Smashburger Tacos
Step 1: Season chicken. Combine the ground chicken with half the fajita seasoning. In a separate bowl, season peppers and onions with the rest of the seasoning.
Step 2: Prepare smashburgers. Add a scoop of chicken to each tortilla and spread as flat and even as you can.
Step 3: Saute veggies. Heat oil in a skillet and add veggies. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until slightly caramelized.
Step 4: Cook smashburgers. While the veggies cook, heat oil in another skillet. Add tortillas, chicken side down, and press into the skillet. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, then flip and cook another minute or two.
Storing and Reheating
Storing:
These smashburger tacos are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To prevent sogginess, let them cool completely before sealing, and consider layering parchment paper between them if stacking.
Reheating:
For best results, reheat the tacos in a skillet over medium heat for 2–3 minutes per side until warmed through and crispy. You can also bake them on a sheet pan at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the tortillas rubbery and the filling unevenly heated.
More Easy Taco Recipes
- Oven Chicken Tacos
- Loaded Taco Fries
- Taco Pasta Salad
- Doritos Walking Taco
- One Pot Chicken Taco Soup
If you tried these smashburger tacos or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and tell me how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you, and this helps my business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes!
Chicken Fajita Smashburger Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning
- olive oil
- 2 red bell peppers
- 1 white onion
- 8 small flour tortillas
- 2 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
- 1/2 cup guacamole
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken with half of the fajita seasoning. Mix thoroughly until the seasoning is well incorporated. In another mixing bowl, mix the peppers and onions with the remaining fajita seasoning.1 pound ground chicken, 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning
- Press 2 tbsp of the chicken mixture onto a tortilla, making sure it’s as thin as possible so it cooks quickly. I like to use a cookie dough scooper for this, then spread it out with a knife.
- Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil to a medium-sized pan over medium heat. Add the seasoned sliced red peppers and onion. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened and started to caramelize. Set aside.olive oil, 2 red bell peppers, 1 white onion
- While the vegetables on cooking, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a cast iron or regular skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, place the tortilla in the pan, chicken side down. Smash it into the pan using a burger press or by firmly pressing down on it with a metal spatula. Cook about 4-5 minutes, or until the chicken is browned. Flip and cook another 1-2 minutes to lightly char the tortilla.8 small flour tortillas
- Transfer the cooked chicken tortillas to a serving platter and place a layer of shredded romaine lettuce on top of each one, followed the sautéed vegetables, and a dollop of guacamole.2 1/2 cups shredded lettuce, 1/2 cup guacamole
Notes
- Preheat a flat top on the grill over high heat and grill the chicken tortillas for 4-5 minutes, pressing down using a burger press or a metal spatula . Flip and cook another 1-2 minutes.
- Grill the sliced peppers and onions in a grilling basket or a cast iron pan foil for 4-5 minutes, until softened and slightly charred.
- These smashburger tacos are great to pair with my Homemade Chunky Salsa!
- Storing and reheating leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For best results, reheat in a skillet or oven to maintain crispiness. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the tortillas soggy.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQs
Like the name suggests, this is a kind of burger made by smashing or pressing the burger patty into the grill while it cooks. The result is a thinner patty with a nice crisp exterior.
If you can’t find or don’t want to buy store bought fajita seasoning, make your own with cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and salt to taste. You can also add some cayenne and/or red pepper flakes for added heat.
These tacos are best enjoyed right after cooking, but if you have leftovers you can transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Reheat the tacos in an oiled skillet over medium heat or bake in the oven at 350 for about 10 minutes.
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