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Create a restaurant style Smash Burger at home in minutes and for a lot less money. You are going to love the crispy brown crust that forms as the burger cooks so quickly.
Homemade Smash Burger Recipe
I’ve had this Smash Burger on repeat this summer. It is so quick to make that it’s the perfect last minute dinner idea. It’s been hot here in Portland so I love cooking it outside on the grill and not heating up my house.
Fortunately my husband love sit too since it’s been making a frequent appearance!
What is a Smash Burger?
It’s a thin burger cooked on a griddle. The burger gets lots of flavor from the browned bits that develop during the quick cooking process. Those browned bits form a delicious crust with a wonderful texture.
The smash burger was made popular by the Smashburger, hamburger chain. It gets it’s name from the technique of smashing the hamburger on the grill with a large spatula or bacon press.
Ingredients
- Ground Beef. I use an 80/20 meant to fat ratio. One pound makes four burgers.
- Seasoning. Use your favorite beef seasoning salt. I like Montreal Steak Seasoning.
- Hamburger Buns. Butter and toast your buns before cooking burgers so they are ready as soon as the burgers are.
- Hamburger Sauce. Find our favorite recipe here.
- Pickles. We like dill pickles.
How to Make a Smash Burger
Be prepared! A Smash Burger cooks fast so be sure you have all your other ingredients ready. I always butter and toast my buns first so they are ready when the burger is. Also have your cheese ready and sliced.
- Form hamburger into four loosely shaped balls. Fresh ground beef will have more flavor than frozen meat.
- Heat Griddle. You want your griddle hot, about 375 degrees F. I like to put my cast iron griddle on my outdoor grill but you can also do it on your stovetop but I find it sets my smoke alarm off frequently! If you don’t have a griddle you can also use a cast iron pan.
- Place the balls of meat onto a hot griddle.
- After placing hamburger on hot griddle place a piece of parchment paper over the top and then smash. You want a nice thin patty. The parchment paper keeps the meat from sticking to the spatula.
- Add seasoning salt generously.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes, the burger cooks fast. The edges of the burger will be lacy and may even have some holes in it, this is what creates the crispy edges that are a trademark of the Smash Burger.
- Flip the burger by using a metal spatula to “scrap” the burger up and flip. You want to get all that crusty goodness that is forming on the other side of the burger as it cooks.
The second side will cook even quicker, about one minute.
- Add cheese immediately after flipping.
What To Put on a Smash Burger
- Cheese. I use American Cheese slices on my Smash Burger because it melts quickly and smoothly.
- Hamburger Special Sauce. You can find our favorite burger saucerecipe here. You can also just add ketchup or mustard if you are a fan. Put the sauce onto the bottom of the bun, then add the burger.
- Pickles. My husband loves dill pickle slices on his but I’m not a pickle fan.
- Double Patty. My husband likes two hamburger patties for his Smash Burger.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of meat is used for Smashburgers?
The best beef to use for a Smashburger is a ground chuck, with a fat content in the 15-20 percent range.
The higher fat ratio is best because the fat melts and caramelizes while the burger is cooking.
I don’t have a griddle what can I use?
You can also make them in a cast iron skillet or a stainless steal frying pan. Make sure pan is nice and hot. Use a wide spatula to smash the burger down and flip it.
Burger Variations
- Add on some grilled onions or sauteed mushrooms.
- Try a different cheese such as Swiss or Pepper Jack.
- Instead of Smash sauce try a BBQ sauce or mayo.
- Add lettuce and tomatoes if you like!
For more delicious recipes try these:
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Smash Burger Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground hamburger 80/20
- seasoning salt
- 4 slices American Cheese
- 4 buns buttered
Instructions
- Divide hamburger into four pieces and form into loosely formed balls.
- Heat griddle to 375 degrees F.
- Place ball of hamburger on hot griddle.
- Cover with a piece of parchment paper and press down with a large spatula or bacon press.
- Get the patty as thin as you can.
- Sprinkle with seasoning. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Flip with spatula making sure to scrap up the crusty skin that has formed on the underneath side.
- Cover with slice of cheese.
- Cook for 1-2 more minutes.
- Place on toasted bun with desired condiments.
Tips & Notes:
- Add on some grilled onions or sauteed mushrooms.
- Try a different cheese such as Swiss or Pepper Jack.
- Instead of Smash sauce try a BBQ sauce or mayo.
- Add lettuce and tomatoes if you like!
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Nutrition Facts:
Jess says
So quick, easy, and flavorful. I’ve never been able to make a good burger and have made these twice now. They turned out great even with leaner meat!
Anne Overlien says
Hubby loved them! Had gkids over and they loved them! Easy to make and they cook up with great flavor and texture!
Jamie Ortiz says
Thanks for all the tips and tricks! I feel this recipe is mostly for execution success. You definitely provided that! Down to toasting my buns first. I used a glass bowl to smash my burgers and a cast iron to cook them. They were literally the best burgers we’ve ever had anywhere. Forget the over cooked fat grilled burgers. THIS is a delicious, juicy, flavorful burger. Thanks again!
Bernadette Dickson says
Excellent recipe and burgers! So much cheaper and just as good making them at home. I used the sauce recipe too, great! Thank you!