These Mediterranean-inspired lamb smash tacos have elevated our dinner routine with lots of flavor but very little effort! This light and healthy dish comes together quickly and easily, is meal prep-friendly, and will have everyone looking forward to dinnertime--it's highly requested in my house, so I had to share it with you, too.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my juicy lamb meatballs, too!
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Simple to Make - This recipe for smash tacos creates a 30-minute meal made with easy, everyday ingredients. No expert techniques or fancy tools needed!
Flavorful & Satisfying - Between the spiced lamb filling, herby yogurt dipping sauce, and refreshing cucumber relish, you'll taste savory, smoky, bright, and zesty flavors. And this combination will keep you satiated, so it's great for lunches on long days.
Being from Texas, I love a homemade taco twist! Try my suya street tacos, baked fish tacos, and breakfast taco mini quiches next.
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Ground Lamb for the smash patties. If you want to double this recipe and save money, I recommend doing half and half lamb and lean ground beef.
Herbs and Spices like turmeric, smoked paprika, and cinnamon give the tacos layered, complex flavor that makes them irresistible.
Cucumber and Onion make a quick relish that's a play on the salsa or pico de gallo we typically see on traditional tacos.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Tortillas - Feel free to go with corn or flour tortillas here, depending on what you prefer. Flour tortillas tend to be softer and a little thicker, whereas corn tortillas can crisp up a bit during the cooking process and are comparatively thinner.
Herbs - Mix and match different herbs into the yogurt sauce based on what you like and have available. Mint works well, and I love to add it when it's growing in my garden.
Toppings - I like to sprinkle sunflower seeds over the tacos for a satisfying crunch, but you can also use other seeds, nuts, or toasted breadcrumbs if you want to get fancy.
How to Make Lamb Smash Burger Tacos
- Step 1: Mix up the lamb and spices then divide the mixture into equal parts and form them into balls.
- Step 2: Spread each ball of meat mixture out onto a tortilla in a thin layer.
Pro Tip #1
If you want to meal prep this recipe, refrigerate the balls of seasoned meat in an airtight container and proceed with step two once you're ready to eat!
- Step 3: Cook each taco, meat side down then flip to toast the other side of the tortilla.
- Step 4: Meanwhile, dice the cucumber and onion into about ⅓-inch pieces.
Pro Tip #2
You can complete step four several days in advance and store the chopped vegetables in the fridge.
- Step 5: Mix the yogurt, lime juice, and chopped herbs.
- Step 6: Assemble and serve!
Frequently Asked Questions
These tacos taste best when freshly made; however, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and they'll keep for up to five days. Reheat them in the oven or air fryer if you want a toasty texture for the tortillas.
I don't recommend freezing cooked smash tacos; however, you have two options for freezing them uncooked.
1. Spread the seasoned meatballs out on a sheet pan (so they don't stick together), then freeze until solid and transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container and use as you need. Keeps for up to two months.
2. Spread the meat mixture on the tortillas, then stack them with layers of parchment paper between them and place in an airtight, freezer-safe container to freeze. Keeps for up to two months.
How to Serve
Serve your Mediterranean smash tacos warm with the cucumber relish and sunflower seeds on top. You can drizzle the yogurt sauce over top or dip the tacos into it--your choice!
This dish pairs well with sides like fragrant yellow rice, roasted carrots and hummus, and chopped Mediterranean salad.
Wash everything down with a glass of ginger coconut iced tea!
More Favorite Lamb Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
I hope you and your family enjoy these Mediterranean lamb tacos soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Lamb Smash Tacos
Equipment
- 1 large skillet or flat top griddle
- 1 spatula
- 1 knife
Ingredients
For the Cucumber Relish
- 1 cucumber
- ½ onion
- sea salt to taste
For the Lamb Tacos
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 10 tortillas corn or flour
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
For the Yogurt Sauce
- 2 cups Greek yogurt
- 1 cup fresh herbs (mint, parsley, dill, etc.) chopped
- juice of one lime
Instructions
- Make the Relish: Dice the onion and cucumber into ⅓-inch pieces. Transfer them into a mixing bowl, sprinkle with sea salt, stir, and set aside.1 cucumber, ½ onion, sea salt
- Make the Lamb Filling: In a mixing bowl, mix together the ground lamb with the spices until incorporated.1 pound ground lamb, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 ½ teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ¾ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon white pepper, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- Divide the mixture into 10 equal pieces and roll each one into a ball.
- Cook the Tacos: Spread each ball of seasoned meat onto a tortilla in a thin layer (less than half an inch thick). Cook each taco, meat side down, for three minutes then flip and toast the tortilla side for about two minutes.*You can do this one or two at a time in a skillet or all at once on a flat top griddle or Blackstone.10 tortillas
- Make the Yogurt Sauce: Squeeze lime juice into Greek yogurt, then add the chopped herbs and stir until well incorporated.2 cups Greek yogurt, 1 cup fresh herbs (mint, parsley, dill, etc.), juice of one lime
- Finish and Serve: Layer each taco with cucumber relish, then sprinkle with sunflower seeds, and serve with yogurt sauce.¼ cup sunflower seeds
Notes
- Spread the seasoned meatballs out on a sheet pan (so they don't stick together), then freeze until solid and transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container and use as you need. Keeps for up to two months.
- Spread the meat mixture on the tortillas, then stack them with layers of parchment paper between them and place in an airtight, freezer-safe container to freeze. Keeps for up to two months.
jen says
Such a yummy lamb taco. I made the relish with tomato, cuke and red onion (olive oil, salt and red vinegar). I put that in the taco with store bought yogurt sauce and feta. All the spices really compliment the lamb. Would be so easy on a Blackstone which I don't have but they worked out great in a skillet on the stove top. I kept them warm in the oven while I worked in batches. Thanks for the recipe!
Jazzmine Woodard says
I'm so pleased you enjoyed the tacos, Jen! Feta on the cucumber salad is a great addition.