Description
Cowboy Butter Smashed Beef Tortilla Melts are a delicious twist on classic beef melts, featuring seasoned ground beef smashed into flour tortillas, topped with melty cheese, and served with a spicy dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lbs ground beef (80/20 blend works best)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, finely grated or minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon flaky salt (or to taste)
- 10–12 small flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cheddar or American cheese
- Butter or oil, for cooking
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (adjust to spice preference)
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of cayenne
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly seasoned.
- Divide the beef mixture into 10–12 small balls.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, grated garlic, parsley, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, cayenne, oregano, and flaky salt.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and add a touch of oil or butter.
- Lay down a tortilla and place one meatball in the center.
- Using a spatula or burger press, smash the beef flat against the tortilla.
- Cook until the bottom of the tortilla starts to crisp and the beef is browned, about 2–3 minutes.
- Flip the tortilla so the beef side is down and immediately top with cheese.
- Cook for another minute until the beef is fully cooked and cheese is melted.
- Brush the edges of the tortilla with cowboy butter as it cooks.
- Remove from heat and repeat with remaining tortillas.
- Whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, pickle juice, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne for the dipping sauce.
- Chill the sauce until ready to serve.
- Brush each tortilla melt with warm cowboy butter before serving.
- Arrange tortilla melts on a platter, top with optional toppings, and serve with dipping sauce.
Notes
- Adjust the level of spice in the dipping sauce based on preference.
- For extra flavor, use fresh herbs in the cowboy butter.
- Leftover cowboy butter can be used for other dishes or as a condiment.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tortilla melt
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg