Description

Buffalo Chicken Smash Burger Tacos combine spicy, juicy ground chicken patties with a creamy ranch slaw and soft tortillas for a quick, flavorful weeknight meal. This recipe features lean ground chicken mixed with bold buffalo wing sauce and spices, smashed and cooked on tortillas to create crispy-edged, tender chicken tacos topped with cooling cabbage and carrot slaw dressed in Greek yogurt ranch. Perfect for families or anyone craving a satisfying, healthier take on classic buffalo chicken flavors in taco form.

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 ranch preferred)
1 tbsp dill relish

Instructions

Prepare the Ranch Slaw: In a large bowl, combine shredded cabbage, grated carrots, ranch dressing, and dill relish. Mix thoroughly to coat and refrigerate to chill while cooking the chicken.
Mix the Chicken: In another bowl, gently mix ground chicken with buffalo wing sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Himalayan salt, and black pepper until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
Heat the Pan: Warm a griddle or large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and lightly spray or brush with oil to prevent sticking.
Form and Smash Patties: Divide the chicken mixture into loose balls (one per taco). Place a ball on each tortilla and transfer to the hot pan, immediately smashing down with a spatula or flat-bottomed cup until thin and flat. Repeat for all portions.
Cook the Chicken Patties: Let the patties cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown and caramelized on the bottom and cooked through.
Warm and Crisp Tortillas: Lower the heat, optionally oil the tortillas, and flip them on the pan to warm and crisp the tortilla side to your liking—soft or crispy.
Assemble the Tacos: Place the cooked chicken patties on tortillas, top generously with the chilled ranch slaw, and drizzle with additional Greek yogurt ranch sauce or extra buffalo wing sauce if desired.
Serve: Serve the tacos warm for a satisfying blend of spicy, creamy, crunchy, and savory flavors. Enjoy!

Notes

You can swap ranch dressing for blue cheese dressing or use lettuce wraps instead of tortillas for a low-carb option.
To make the recipe dairy-free, opt for plant-based ranch dressing alternatives.
For extra heat, add pickled jalapeños or a drizzle of hot honey.
Try adding cheese slices such as sharp cheddar or blue cheese to the patties before finishing cooking for a cheesy twist.
Prepare the slaw ahead of time to allow flavors to meld and save dinner prep time.

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