Homemade Smash Burgers

What is a Smash Burger?

As the name would suggest, a smash burger is a ground beef burger that has been formed by giving it a good smash on the griddle or in a cast iron skillet when cooking. Smash burgers are popular in burger joints because they cook really fast and are extremely juicy with gorgeous, crisp edges. 

The key to cooking a good smash burger is to cook quickly and enjoy it while the burgers are hot. Prior to grilling your burgers, make sure you have everything you’ll need on hand, so you’ll be ready to assemble the moment the patties come off the hot grill. Finally, transfer these burgers to a plate or serving platter so they can be enjoyed immediately.

This is everything you’ve ever wanted in a restaurant burger, lovingly made in your own backyard! I’m not exaggerating when I say these were some of the best burgers I’ve ever made. Check out the video below to see how quickly my family gobbled these up!

Ingredients for Smash Burgers

Start by gathering the following ingredients to make these smash burgers:.

• 2 pounds 85/15 ground beef chuck. Aim for ground beef with 15% fat so the edges will have that signature crunch.
• 8 slices of American cheese. Yes, American. Nothing fancy here. We’re going for the classic restaurant flavor, and it’s gotta be American!
• 8 hamburger buns. Stay away from sesame-topped buns. Grab a soft hamburger bun for that perfect melt-in-your-mouth burger bite. 
• 1 yellow onion. Slice this onion nice and thin for a crisp crunch once it’s on the burger.
• 1/4 cup clarified butter (aka ghee). This is the secret to making a good smash burger. No substitutions allowed here.
• Equal parts kosher sale, black pepper, and garlic powder.

Homemade Burger Sauce

Here’s what you’ll need for the homemade burger sauce. If you have your own favorite burger sauce, by all means, go ahead and slather that on your burger. This sauce is loosely based on a Utah classic: fry sauce. Fry sauce is basically a mixture of mayonnaise and ketchup. With the addition of pickles and changing it up for BBQ sauce, this burger sauce is smooth and packs a tangy punch!

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise. This provides a nice, creamy base for the sauce.
• 3 dill pickles. Mince these nice and fine, so they’ll be well incorporated into the sauce. You can also use sweet pickles if you prefer a sweet pickle flavor.
• 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce. I used Sweet Baby Rays for this recipe, but you can use your favorite. 

Any unused sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for a week or so to be used on other burgers or with French fries.

How to Make Smash Burgers

Are you ready to make your own smash burgers at home? Making the perfect smash burger is all about timing. Here’s how to make smash burgers.

1. Turn on the griddle. This recipe is pretty versatile, so it can also be made on a 12-inch cast iron skillet or on your stovetop. Preheat to medium-high heat.
2. Make the patties. Divide your meat into 8 even patties. You can use a kitchen scale if desired, or simply eyeball the amount. You should end up with 1/4-pound patties. Do not flatten these; rather, make them into loosely formed balls. The more you mess with the meat, the chewier it gets.
3. Make the burger sauce. Mix mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, and minced pickles together in a small bowl. Add more BBQ sauce as needed to get a nice, rosy pink-colored sauce.
4. Griddle the burgers. Place the clarified butter on the griddle or in the skillet. Place the onions on the griddle and cook until they are beginning to caramelize. Divide them into 8 piles. Place a burger patty/ball right on top of the onions, and use a flat spatula to smash the burgers flat.
5. Season the beef. Season the smashed burger with the beef seasoning or equal parts garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Flip the burgers, add one slice of cheese to each patty, and continue to grill until the burgers are cooked through and getting nice and crispy on the edges.
6. Toast the buns. Add more clarified butter to the cast iron skillet or griddle and place the buns, cut side down, on the flat top. Brush the clarified butter on the top of the buns while they are grilling. Keep an eye on these buns and remove them when they are nice and toasty but not burned.
7. Assemble the burgers. Place a dollop of burger sauce on the bottom bun, then top with the cheesy burger, smashed burger patty, and caramelized onions. Finish off with a buttery top bun.