Crispy seasoned ground beef smashed right into a fluffy pita and pan-fried until golden, then topped with hummus and a cool lemony cucumber tomato salad. My favorite smash yet, on the table in under 20 minutes.

Close-up of a flatbread topped with grilled ground meat, a creamy white sauce, and a colorful chopped salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs.

Who doesn’t love a dinner that can be made in 20 minutes or less? I’m a big smash fan. I’ve tried the smash burger and the smash taco and loved them both! But I didn’t find my true love until now. This smash pita is my favorite of the bunch, and the favorite in my house too. Both my kids inhale it. There’s something about the flavor combo and texture that is just perfect. Actually, that must be it! It’s the texture of the crunchy tomato cucumber salad on top that sets this one apart from the others.

And as a busy home cook, I’ll do anything for shortcuts that still taste great. So, while you can definitely make this ground beef smashed pita fancier with chopped onions and special sauces, I keep it as simple as possible without sacrificing flavor.

The Most Basic Pantry Ingredients

pita, raw ground meat, diced cucumber, chopped tomato, fresh herbs, lemon halves, olive oil, and assorted spices in small bowls arranged on a white surface.

Just a handful of basic pantry ingredients, with a simple fresh salad to top it off. Here’s some key ingredient notes.

  • Ground beef – it crisps up better than turkey, which comes out a little dry
  • Fluffy pita – I like Angel brand from Whole Foods, but any fluffy pita will work
  • Lemon, mint, and parsley – the secret to making this dish pop with flavor
  • Hummus – the creamier the better

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Mix the meat mixture earlier in the day or the night before, pop it in the fridge, and when it’s time to eat, just assemble and cook! The whole thing whips up in about 10 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight with crazy schedules. The kids can even make this themselves!

Speaking of Quick, Let’s Make It

A bowl of raw ground meat surrounded by pita bread, fresh herbs, chopped cucumber, diced tomato, lemon halves, and a small dish of olive oil on a light countertop.
Mix the spices with the ground beef
Two flatbreads topped with raw minced meat are on a white surface, surrounded by chopped herbs, a pita, diced tomatoes in a bowl, olive oil, and halved lemons.
Smash the beef onto each pita half into a thin layer
A white pan with two pieces of flatbread topped with ground meat. Surrounding the pan are fresh herbs, a bowl of chopped tomatoes, a halved lemon, and a small dish of olive oil.
Cook face down until crispy
A white bowl filled with freshly chopped salad, including diced tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, and green peppers, on a light gray surface.
Make the simple salad
Flatbread topped with ground meat, creamy white sauce, and chopped tomato, cucumber, and herbs sits on a white plate. Fresh mint and parsley sprigs are placed above the plate on a light background.
Top with salad and hummus

What To Serve With

This dish is a perfectly good stand alone meal. If you want to bulk it up a bit, try serving it with my Turmeric Garlic Rice, or Bone Broth Rice and an extra side salad or roasted veggie.

Moral of the story, keep it simple and don’t stress.

A close-up of a hand holding a pita bread filled with grilled meat, creamy sauce, and a fresh tomato and cucumber salad.
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A flatbread topped with a layer of creamy white sauce, minced grilled meat, and a fresh tomato-cucumber salad, served on a white plate.

Ground Beef Smashed Pita with Tomato Cucumber Salad

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  • Author: Laney Schwartz
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Description

Crispy seasoned ground beef smashed right into a fluffy pita and pan-fried until golden, then topped with hummus and a cool lemony cucumber tomato salad. My favorite smash yet, on the table in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat mixture:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp paprika

Pita:

Salad:

  • 2–3 persian cucumbers, finely diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, finely diced
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

To serve:

  • Hummus

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine the ground beef, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, pepper, thyme, and paprika. Mix well with your hands or a fork until fully combined.
  2. Preheat a pan over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Cut each pita butterfly-style into two thin circles.
  4. Smash a portion of the meat mixture (about 2-3 tablespoons onto the inside of each pita half, forming a thin, even layer across the pita.
  5. Spray the pan with cooking spray. Place the pita meat-side down and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the meat is browned and crispy, pressing down occasionally.
  6. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes to crisp up the underside of the pita.
  7. While the pitas cook, combine the cucumber, tomato, salt, pepper, olive oil, lemon juice, mint, and parsley in a bowl. Mix well.
  8. Spread a dollop of hummus on each crispy meat pita, top with the salad, and serve.

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