Description
Buffalo Chicken Smash Burger Tacos combine spicy buffalo chicken patties with a creamy ranch slaw, all served on soft or crispy tortillas. This quick and flavorful recipe makes a perfect weeknight meal that’s juicy, zesty, and packed with satisfying textures and balanced flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Buffalo Chicken Smash Burger Tacos
- 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, as needed
For the Ranch Slaw
- 3 cups shredded cabbage (green or red)
- ½ cup grated carrots
- ¼–⅓ cup ranch dressing (Greek yogurt ranch preferred)
- 1 tbsp dill relish
Instructions
- Prepare the Ranch Slaw: In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, grated carrots, ranch dressing, and dill relish. Toss well until fully coated, then refrigerate to chill while you cook the chicken.
- Mix the Chicken: In a separate bowl, mix the ground chicken with buffalo wing sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Himalayan salt, and black pepper. Stir gently until just combined to keep the mixture tender.
- Heat the Pan: Preheat a griddle or a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and lightly coat it with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
- Form and Smash Patties: Divide the chicken mixture into loose balls, one for each taco. Place each ball directly onto a taco tortilla and immediately smash it flat using a spatula or a flat-bottomed object.
- Cook the Patties: Let the smashed chicken patties cook for 3–4 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, forming crispy edges with a juicy center.
- Warm the Tortillas: Lower the heat, lightly oil the tortillas if desired, and warm them in the pan by flipping them on the tortilla side. Cook until soft and pliable or crispy to your liking.
- Assemble Tacos: Place the cooked chicken patty on a warmed tortilla, top with a generous spoonful of ranch slaw, and drizzle with additional Greek yogurt ranch dressing or buffalo sauce to taste.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the Buffalo Chicken Smash Burger Tacos warm for the best spicy and creamy flavor contrast.
Notes
- You can swap ranch dressing for blue cheese dressing or use lettuce wraps instead of tortillas for a low-carb option.
- For a dairy-free version, use plant-based ranch dressing alternatives.
- Add sliced pickled jalapeños or a drizzle of hot honey for extra spicy-sweet flavor.
- Try adding cheese slices like sharp cheddar or crumbled blue cheese on the patties right before finishing cooking for a cheesy twist.
- Prepare the slaw a few hours ahead to allow flavors to meld and save time at serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: buffalo chicken smash burger tacos, buffalo smash tacos, chicken tacos, spicy chicken tacos, ranch slaw tacos
