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Cowboy Butter Smashed Beef Tortilla Melts

Cowboy Butter Beef Tortilla Melts

Savory and spicy beef melts on crispy flour tortillas topped with melted cheese and brushed with flavorful cowboy butter, served with a zesty dipping sauce for extra kick.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course, sandwich
Cuisine American
Servings 12 people
Calories 320 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large bowl for mixing beef and spices
  • 1 small bowl for mixing cowboy butter and dipping sauce
  • 1 large skillet or griddle for cooking tortilla melts
  • 1 spatula for smashing and flipping beef

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ lbs ground beef 80/20 blend
  • 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 preference
  • 1 tablespoon pickle juice
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Pinch of cayenne

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, mix ground beef with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined.
  • Divide the beef mixture into 10 to 12 equal-sized meatballs.
  • In a small bowl, whisk melted butter with grated garlic, chopped parsley, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, cayenne, dried oregano, and flaky salt to make the cowboy butter.
  • Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and add a small amount of butter or oil.
  • Place one tortilla on the skillet and position a meatball in its center.
  • Use a spatula or burger press to smash the beef flat against the tortilla.
  • Cook until the bottom of the tortilla crisps and the beef browns, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Flip the tortilla so the beef side faces down, immediately top with shredded cheese, and cook another minute until beef is cooked through and cheese melts.
  • Brush the exposed tortilla edges with cowboy butter while cooking.
  • Remove from heat and repeat with remaining meatballs and tortillas.
  • In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, pickle juice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne to prepare the spicy dipping sauce.
  • Chill the dipping sauce until ready to serve.
  • Before serving, brush each tortilla melt with warm cowboy butter.
  • Arrange tortilla melts on a platter and serve with dipping sauce.

Notes

  • Adjust dipping sauce spice to taste.
  • Use fresh herbs for more flavor in cowboy butter.
  • Leftover cowboy butter works well as a condiment or for other dishes.