Lentil Smash Burger Tacos

I can’t be the only one whose FYP on social media was flooded with different variations of smash burger tacos, and I’m not mad at it! These went viral for good reason – they're burgers in taco form that are super crispy and filled with your favorite burger toppings. If that combo sounds a bit bizarre, please don’t knock it until you try it! These lentil smash burger tacos are incredibly tasty, and you won’t even miss the meat.

What are Lentils?

Lentils are small, lens-shaped legumes that have been a staple in diets around the world for thousands of years. Packed with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients, these humble pulses come in various colors, including brown, green, red, and black, each offering a unique texture and flavor profile. Their versatility makes them a culinary favorite, perfect for hearty soups, stews, salads, and even veggie burgers. Whether you're whipping up a quick weeknight dinner or experimenting with international cuisines, lentils are a nutritious and delicious addition to any meal. What makes this recipe even faster to throw together is canned lentils! Lentils can be time consuming to cook, but you can skip that step by using canned lentils – the work is already done!

How to get Crispy Tacos

Part of the reason these are so addicting is because of the crunchy texture. The filling alone is soft, so in order for the filling to stick to the tortilla and get nice and golden, you need a couple of things: corn tortillas and avocado cooking spray. Corn tortillas become crunchy when cooked over medium heat in a skillet with avocado oil spray. While flour tortillas will get a little bit of color and become slightly crisp, they won’t have the same ability to crisp like corn tortillas do. Avocado oil spray is preferred because of the high smoke point and neutral flavor.

What Toppings Should I Use?

I treated these like burgers in taco form, so I used my favorite burger toppings. Lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, homemade thousand island, and pickles worked perfectly to finish off these tacos. The toppings will also help get you the texture and mouth feel that you prefer – and also transform these into burgers opposed to regular tacos.

Can I Meal Prep This Recipe?

Yes! From start to finish, this took less than 30 minutes to complete everything as-is without any prep done. However, you could make the filling and chop your toppings ahead of time so that the only time needed is to cook these in a skillet. Prep the filling and store separately until ready to smear onto the tortillas and cook. The filling will keep for about 7-10 days when stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. I recommend this meal for weeknights because it is so quick to put together, but it also makes for a great meal prep option!

Lentil Smash Burger Tacos

Scroll down for a printable version of this recipe

Makes: 8 tacos

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

2 cups lentils (or 1 whole can)

1/2 cup bell pepper (we used yellow)

1/2 yellow onion

5 large mushrooms

1/2 cup quick oats

2 Tablespoons ketchup (I used zero sugar)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon beef bouillon (optional, but I think it adds a bit of beef flavor - leave out if you want to keep the dish vegan/vegetarian)

8 corn tortillas

1. Process the peppers, onions and mushrooms and sauté for 5 minutes. Let cool.
2. Blend oats to make a flour. Add veggie mix and drained lentils to flour with ketchup and seasonings. Mix until combined.
3. Divide mixture into 8 servings.
4. Heat skillet with avocado oil spray over medium heat. Spread the lentil mixture on the tortilla, and place burger side down and cook for 3-4 minutes.
5. Flip and add cheese (optional), and place a lid on the pan for the cheese to melt.
6. Now top as you would your favorite burger with Thousand Island dressing, pickles, red onion, lettuce. Enjoy!

I was shocked at how delicious these turned out! I am a former picky eater and actively trying to include more vegetables, legumes, and other nutrient-dense foods into my diet and recipes – so trust me when I tell you that I did not miss the meat in these tacos. The lentil mixture is packed with flavor and minced when pulsing together, so you get a perfect combination of everything with each bite. If you have current picky eaters in your family or are struggling to try new recipes yourself, but want to, this is the recipe for you! We added a little bit of beef bouillon to enhance the “meaty” flavor – but it’s not necessary and can be left out to keep this a vegan recipe.

Part of learning to love including vegetables in my diet has been learning how to cook them properly and what to cook them with for optimum flavor – and The Chopping Block's courses are perfect for that! Our class calendar is always updated with a variety of topics to choose from. If you’re looking for more veggie-forward recipes, check out the Hands-On Vegan Summer Sides course coming up tonight at 6pm. Taught by celebrity vegan chef Dustin Harder, this class provides new ideas for traditional dishes with a delicious vegan twist. Whether you are vegan or not, you'll love adding these dishes to your summer cooking!