Smash Burgers
Smash Burgers are fast, flavorful, and ready in just 10 minutes! Thin patties cook quickly, develop a crispy crust, and stack perfectly with classic burger toppings.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20), measured out into 8 - 2 ounce balls
- ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
- 4 hamburger buns
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 slices American cheese
Optional toppings
- 12 dill pickle slices
- ½ cup thinly sliced onion
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
Burger spread
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped pickles
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
Instructions
- If you don’t already have burger spread prepared, be sure to prepare the burger spread before making the burgers.
- To make the burger spread, combine 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 2 tablespoons finely chopped pickles (or pickle relish) and 2 teaspoons dijon mustard in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Season the ground beef with salt and pepper, then portion out the ground beef into 2 ounce balls. (I recommend using a kitchen scale to get the precise measurement.)
- Heat a griddle over medium-high heat.
- Add the vegetable oil to the griddle and place the buns face-down on the griddle.
- Toast the hamburger buns for approximately 1 minute, or until browned around the edges.
- Remove the buns from the griddle, spread burger sauce on the bottom bun and top with 2-3 pickle slices, sliced onions and shredded lettuce. Set aside.
- Turn the heat on the griddle up to high.
- Spray the back of a large flat metal spatula with cooking spray.
- Place each of the balls of ground beef on the hot griddle. Use the back of the spatula to smash the ground beef into flattened burger patties. Cook for 1 minute.
- Flip the burgers and place a piece of cheese on half of the burger patties.
- Place the other burger patties, not topped with cheese, on top of the cheese-topped burger patties.
- Cook for 30 seconds, then remove the burgers from the griddle and place them on the prepared buns.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Always prep the buns and toppings before cooking the burgers. These burgers literally cook in 2 minutes, so you want to make sure the buns are toasted and topped with sauce, veggies or whatever toppings you're adding to the burgers, before actually cooking the burgers.
- Always make sure the griddle is hot before adding the burgers. Adding burgers (or any food for that matter) to a hot surface is important for cooking safety. It will also give you a beautiful sear on the outside, while keeping the burgers super juicy on the inside. Smash burgers should be cooked over high heat, between 400-450 degrees fahrenheit.
- To make these burgers “protein style”, ditch the bun and replace it with two large leaves of iceberg lettuce. This is also a great option to make the burger gluten-free and low carb.
- If you don’t have a griddle, you can make the burgers in a large skillet. Depending on the size of your skillet, you’ll probably only be able to fit 2, or maybe 4, burger patties in the skillet at a time. I recommend a cast iron skillet, or cast iron griddle pan if you have one available. A cast iron skillet can be used on the stovetop, or on a grill, to make these burgers.
Nutrition Facts
Calories 701kcal (35%)Carbohydrates 28g (9%)Protein 29g (58%)Fat 52g (80%)Saturated Fat 16g (80%)Polyunsaturated Fat 14gMonounsaturated Fat 17gTrans Fat 2gCholesterol 113mg (38%)Sodium 1726mg (72%)Potassium 510mg (15%)Fiber 2g (8%)Sugar 7g (8%)Vitamin A 403mg (8%)Vitamin C 3mg (4%)Calcium 332mg (33%)Iron 4mg (22%)
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