Bacon Ranch Chicken Smash Tacos

Crispy, Cheesy and Dangerously Easy

These are going to be ridiculous in the best possible way. Seasoned ground chicken gets smashed directly onto flour tortillas and cooked until beautifully browned with crispy edges. Then we pile on melted cheddar, smoky bacon, cool ranch and crunchy toppings.

Think smash burger meets chicken-bacon-ranch meets taco night. And because they’re cooked right on the griddle, they’re practically begging to be made on the Blackstone at the campground.

Ingredients

Makes 8 Smash Tacos

For the Chicken

• 1½ lbs ground chicken
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ¾ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp dried dill
• ½ tsp dried parsley
• ¼ tsp cayenne, optional

For the Tacos

• 8 small flour tortillas
• 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
• 1 Tbsp avocado oil, as needed for the griddle

Ranch Drizzle

• ½ cup ranch dressing
• 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1–2 tsp hot sauce, optional

For Serving

• Shredded lettuce
• Diced tomatoes
• Thinly sliced green onions
• Sliced jalapeños, optional
• Extra bacon because we’re adults and nobody can stop us 😂
• Lime wedges

Directions

1️⃣ Season the Chicken

Add ground chicken to a bowl with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, dill, parsley and cayenne.

Mix gently just until combined.

Divide into 8 loose portions.

Don’t pack them tightly.

2️⃣ Build the Smash Tacos

Lay tortillas flat.

Place one portion of chicken in the center of each tortilla.

Using your fingers or the back of a spoon, spread the chicken into a thin, uneven layer nearly to the edges.

This is important — thinner chicken gives us those crispy browned edges.

3️⃣ Smash & Sizzle

Heat a Blackstone, large griddle or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.

Lightly oil the surface.

Place tortillas chicken-side down.

Press firmly with a spatula for several seconds.

Cook for about 3–4 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and develops a deep golden sear.

4️⃣ Flip & Get Cheesy

Flip so the tortilla is against the griddle.

Immediately sprinkle the chicken with:

Cheddar + bacon.

Cook another 1–2 minutes until the tortilla is lightly crisp and the cheese is gloriously melty.

5️⃣ Ranch It Up

Mix ranch with lime juice and hot sauce, if using.

Drizzle over the tacos.

6️⃣ Finish

Top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, green onions and jalapeños.

Finish with more bacon and a squeeze of fresh lime.

Fold ’em up and eat immediately.

Because a cold smash taco is a tragedy we can easily prevent. 😂

RVD Signature Twists

• Nashville Hot – Mix cayenne and a little hot sauce into the chicken. Finish with spicy ranch and pickle slices.
• Avocado Ranch – Top with sliced avocado and swap regular ranch for avocado ranch.
• Jalapeño Popper – Add diced jalapeños to the chicken and use a combination of cheddar and cream cheese.
• Buffalo Bacon – Toss the cooked chicken side lightly with Buffalo sauce before adding the cheese. Finish with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
• Loaded Bacon Ranch- Use cheddar and Monterey Jack, double the bacon and add crispy fried onions.

🏕️ RV-Friendly Notes

✔ Blackstone superstar

✔ Ready in about 25 minutes

✔ Minimal dishes

✔ Easy to customize

✔ Great for feeding a campground crowd

✔ Chicken cooks right on the tortilla

✔ Excellent excuse to cook outside and keep the RV kitchen clean

Estimated Nutrition

Per Taco

Calories: ~385
Protein: ~27g
Carbohydrates: ~21g
Fat: ~22g
Fiber: ~1g
Sugar: ~2g

Nutrition will vary depending on tortilla, ranch, cheese and bacon brands.

Why RVers Love It

Smash tacos were practically invented for RV cooking. There’s no separate taco meat pan, no elaborate prep and no pile of dishes waiting afterward. Everything happens right on the griddle.