Greek Smash Tacos

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These Greek smash tacos combine everything I love about a Greek gyro with the crispy texture of smash tacos. Seasoned beef is smashed onto tortillas and pan-fried until golden and crisp, then topped with a fresh cucumber tomato salsa, creamy tzatziki, feta cheese, red onion, and a handful of crispy shoestring fries.

Tacos filled with meat, tomato, cucumber, red onion, feta, white sauce, and shoestring fries.

What Are Greek Smash Tacos?

Greek smash tacos are inspired by the smash burger taco trend. Instead of burger seasoning, the meat is flavored with my own Greek-inspired mix of herbs and spices like oregano, parsley, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon. The meat is pressed directly onto the tortilla before cooking, and the result is a crispy tortilla and a deeply browned, flavorful meaty crust.

To finish them off, they’re topped with classic Greek-inspired ingredients, including cucumber, tomatoes, feta, tzatziki, red onion, and crispy fries, kind of similar to what you’d find tucked into a gyro.

My gyros only ever have the meat, tomato, and onion with tzatziki, but in Greece, I had them served with fries inside!

Recipe Testing Notes

I have tested Smash Tacos many times using both Beyond Beef and regular ground beef. Both versions work well. Spreading the meat in a very thin layer helps it cook quickly and develop better browning. It’s even quicker if you do them on a flat grill like my Blackstone Big Mac Quesadillas because you can do many at a time.

The crispy fries ended up being the ingredient that tied everything together. They add texture and make the tacos feel much more like a Greek gyro. I used a mandoline to slice potatoes into very thin shoestring strips before frying them until crisp.

The cucumber tomato salsa also helps balance the richness of the meat and tzatziki. It’s simple, fresh, and adds brightness to every bite.

Ingredients

See the recipe card for exact amounts.

Beyond Beef or Ground Beef: I prefer Beyond Beef, but either option works well. Use whichever you prefer.
Tortillas: Small tortillas work best because they’re easy to flip and hold together once the meat is cooked. Corn tortillas are quite typical of tacos (that’s the only way I had them over my 5-6 winters living in Yucatan, Mexico).
Cucumber and Tomatoes: These add freshness and help balance the rich, savory meat.
Tzatziki: Tzatziki adds creaminess and helps tie all of the Greek-inspired flavors together. My Tzatziki recipe is the best!
Shoestring Fries: Thin crispy fries are one of my favorite additions. They add crunch and make these tacos feel similar to a traditional Greek gyro.

Tips for Making Smash Tacos

Spread the meat in a thin, even layer for the best crust.
Cook over medium-high heat so the meat browns before the tortilla burns.
Pat the potatoes dry before frying for crispier fries.
Prep all toppings before cooking the tacos since they cook quickly.
Serve immediately for the crispiest texture.

Instructions

Make the Salsa

Dice the cucumber and halve the cherry tomatoes.
Add them to a bowl with the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Stir well and set aside.

Make the Fries

Slice the potatoes into very thin matchsticks using a mandoline.
Pat the potatoes dry with paper towels.
Heat oil in a deep skillet or saucepan to 350°F.
Fry the potatoes in batches until golden and crisp, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.

Thin shoestring fries frying in a skillet of oil.

Prepare the Meat

Add the Beyond Beef or ground beef to a medium bowl.
Add the oregano, parsley, cumin, coriander, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne.
Mix until evenly combined.

Assemble the Smash Tacos

Divide the meat mixture into 6 equal portions.
Place a tortilla on a work surface.
Spread one portion of meat evenly over one side of the tortilla.
Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

Corn tortillas covered in uncooked plant-based meat.

Cook the Tacos

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Place a taco meat-side down into the skillet.
Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until browned and crisp.
Flip and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until the tortilla is lightly crisp.
Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining tacos.

Corn tortillas covered in cooked plant-based meat.

Assemble and Serve

Spread or drizzle tzatziki over each taco.
Top with cucumber tomato salsa.
Add feta cheese and sliced red onion.
Finish with a handful of crispy shoestring fries.
Serve immediately.

Storage

These are best fresh, but you can make the salsa a day ahead and the Tzatziki sauce a few days ahead, then store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

What to Serve With Greek Style Smash Tacos

Because these tacos already include seasoned meat, vegetables, tzatziki, and fries, I usually keep the sides simple. A Greek salad or cucumber salad adds extra freshness.

If you’re feeding a larger group, you could add a side of lemon rice or roasted lemon potatoes to make the meal go a little further.

FAQs

What are smash tacos?

Smash tacos are made by pressing a thin layer of seasoned ground meat directly onto a tortilla before cooking. The meat develops a browned crust while the tortilla becomes crisp.