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Plasticity of the T cell receptor (TCR) is a hallmark of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–restricted T cell recognition. However, it is unclear whether interactions of TCR and peptide–MHC class I (pMHCI) always conform to this paradigm. Here we describe the structure of a TCR, ELS4, in its non-ligand-bound form and in complex with a prominent 'bulged' Epstein-Barr virus peptide bound to HLA-B^*3501. This complex was atypical of previously characterized TCR-pMHCI interactions in that a rigid face of the TCR crumpled the bulged antigenic determinant. This peptide 'bulldozing' created a more featureless pMHCI determinant, allowing the TCR to maximize MHC class I contacts essential for MHC class I restriction of TCR recognition. Our findings represent a mechanism of antigen recognition whereby the plasticity of the T cell response is dictated mainly by adjustments in the MHC-bound peptide.