Smash Burgers
Loosely packed balls of ground beef get smashed paper-thin on a screaming-hot griddle or flat-top grill, developing an intensely crispy, lacy-brown crust in seconds. Stacked double with American cheese, pickles, and a tangy special sauce, this is fast-food-style burger perfection made better at home.
By YumYum Editorial · BBQ & Grilling
Prep: 10 min · Cook: 10 min · Total: 20 min · Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs ground beef, 80/20 blend, formed into 8 loose 3 oz balls
- to taste Kosher salt, to taste
- to taste Black pepper, to taste
- 8 slices American cheese
- 4 hamburger buns, buttered
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp dill pickle relish
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/2 cup dill pickle chips
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
Instructions
- Whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish in a small bowl to make the special sauce; refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat a griddle, flat-top, or large cast iron skillet over high heat until it's very hot and just starting to smoke.
- Toast the buttered buns cut-side down on the griddle until golden, then set aside.
- Place 2 beef balls per burger on the hot griddle, spaced apart, and immediately press down hard with a sturdy spatula (or a smash-burger press) for 10-15 seconds to flatten to about 1/4-inch thick with a lacy, crispy edge.
- Season the patties with salt and pepper immediately after smashing.
- Cook 90 seconds to 2 minutes until deeply browned, then flip.
- Top each patty with a slice of American cheese immediately after flipping, and cook 60-90 seconds more until the cheese melts and the beef is cooked through.
- Stack two cheesy patties per bun, top with diced onion, pickle chips, shredded lettuce, and a generous spread of special sauce on both bun halves. Serve immediately while hot.