Smash Dumpling Tacos – One pan, One bowl, 10 minutes
Let’s talk about a 10-minute dinner idea that hits hard on flavour and fun—smash dumpling tacos. This one is a total game-changer. It’s like your favourite pork dumpling met a crispy taco shell, had a little kitchen fling, and gave you the quickest, tastiest weeknight win you didn’t know you needed. If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen smash burger tacos making the rounds. People are slapping burger patties onto tortillas and searing them to golden perfection. I love a trend that actually delivers, and this one absolutely does. Let’s take those traditional Chinese dumpling flavours I’ve been making for years—from catering gigs to my time on MasterChef Canada—and turn them into a quick and delicious smash tacos recipe. These pork tacos are packed with juicy, savoury flavour and come together in just 10 minutes—no folding required.
Ingredients:
Pork Mixture
- 1 lb ground lean pork
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch ginger, minced
- 2 tbsp red onion, diced
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup basil, sliced
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- small flour tortillas
Toppings
- carrots, julienned
- spicy mayo (mayo and sriracha sauce)
- hoisin sauce
- green onions, sliced
- cabbage, thinly sliced
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix together all pork mixture ingredients until well combined.
- On a sheet tray, press about 1–2 tbsp (a golf ball-sized amount) of pork mixture onto one side of each flour tortilla. Wet hands and press into a thin, even layer.
- Place a lightly oiled non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, place tortillas meat-side down and sear for 3–4 minutes.
- Flip and warm the tortilla side for another minute or so (you don’t want it crispy, just warmed through).
- Remove from heat and top with spicy mayo, hoisin, carrots, green onions, and cabbage.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Why These Smash Dumpling Tacos Work
Smash dumpling tacos bring you all the flavors of a juicy pork dumpling. Ingredients like ginger, garlic, soy, and hoisin. You get all those delicious, rich notes without the time-consuming folding.
Honestly, folding dumplings is an art… and a time commitment. Don’t get me wrong, it’s worth it sometimes. But for a busy weeknight or a quick hit of dumpling flavour, this shortcut is where it’s at.
Instead of folding, you press the seasoned pork mixture onto a flour tortilla. You smash it into a thin layer and crisp it in a pan. The result? A crispy, savoury dumpling layer that clings to a warm tortilla, just begging for toppings.
Let’s Talk Ingredients
For the filling, we’re using lean ground pork—classic dumpling territory. It holds up beautifully to a quick pan sear and soaks in all the bold flavours we’re building in. Garlic and ginger are the heavy lifters here, adding that unmistakable dumpling aroma.
Red onions and green onions add a bite of sharpness and freshness, while basil gives it a sweet, herbal lift. If you’ve never tried basil in dumplings, give it a try. It adds a Thai-inspired flair that’s perfect in this dish.
The soy sauce and hoisin add salt and a touch of sweetness. This is what good smash dumpling taco fillings are made of.
As for the tortillas, I highly recommend going with small flour tortillas. They’re soft, pliable, and make it easier for the pork mixture to adhere and cook evenly. Corn tortillas don’t quite give you the same stick-factor or flexibility for this kind of smash taco situation.
Smash Dumpling Taco Technique 101
Now, here’s where things get fun. After you mix up your pork mixture, grab a baking sheet and press a golf-ball-sized scoop of the pork onto one side of each tortilla. Wetting your hands keeps everything smooth and even—no sticky mess. You want a thin layer that goes right to the edges so it crisps up beautifully in the pan.
When it hits the hot cast iron skillet, meat-side down, you’ll get that gorgeous sear—just 3–4 minutes over medium high heat. Then you flip and let the tortilla side warm through for a minute or so. The goal isn’t to make the tortilla crunchy, but soft and ready to fold or eat flat, depending on how you like your pork tacos.
Toppings That Pop
What takes this smash dumpling taco recipe to the next level are the toppings. Think of this as the dressing room for your crispy dumpling taco.
We’re adding spicy mayo, which is a mix of mayo and sriracha, and a drizzle of hoisin sauce. Crunchy cabbage, green onions and julienned carrots add a sweet, crispy touch.
You can totally riff on this depending on what you’ve got in the fridge. Thinly sliced cucumber or daikon would be awesome here. Cilantro lovers, go nuts.
Smash Dumpling Tacos: Substitutions & Tips
No pork? Ground chicken or turkey would absolutely work in this smash tacos recipe. You could even go plant-based with a tofu crumble, black beans or plant-based ground “meat” and still pack in those dumpling flavours with the garlic, ginger, and hoisin.
Want it spicier? Toss a little chili garlic sauce into your pork mixture, or finish with a drizzle of chili crisp.
One pan, one bowl, 10 minutes, and you’ve got smash dumpling tacos that are crunchy, juicy, flavour-packed, and endlessly delicious.
Make It Yours
This is one of those recipes that’s fun to make with family or friends. Set up a little DIY taco bar and let everyone top their own. Casual, playful, and still packs the kind of flavour that feels like you put in way more effort than you actually did.
So whether you’re trying to impress your kids, spice up your Tuesday night dinner, or just chasing that next viral-worthy recipe that actually tastes incredible—smash dumpling tacos are it.
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