The key to perfect smash burgers is all in the technique! This iconic American dish is made by literally smashing cold balls of ground beef on a screaming hot skillet and cooking them for a few minutes until a crispy brown crust forms. A hot skillet and the quick cooking time yields burger patties that are cooked through while remaining incredibly juicy and flavorful.
With a quick chill time and minimal hands-on effort, smash burgers are ideal for a casual gathering. Smother them with my special DIY burger sauce for a meal that will outshine your favorite burger joint. Serve smash burgers with gooey cheese and lots of toppings on a hamburger bun alongside other favorites like homemade potato chips, onion rings, and sweet potato fries. This smash burger recipe is a summertime staple for good reason!
Key Ingredients
These are the main ingredients for making the best smash burger. You can find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below.
Ground beef — you can use any kind of ground beef, like ground chuck, but avoid lean ground beef, which does not have enough fat to create a crispy crust. I have tips below for the best beef to use!
Burger buns — hamburger buns or buttery brioche buns are ideal to house the crispy patty and all your favorite toppings.
Cheese — sliced cheddar cheese or American cheese is a classic melty topping. But you can use other types of cheese for a twist. See the Variations section for ideas!
Toppings — any of your favorite burger toppings will do, like shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced tomato and onion, and sauces.
Smash Burgers Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds ground beef 80/20 (675g)
- 4 burger buns (213g)
- 1 teaspoon salt divided
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper divided
- 4 slices cheddar cheese or American cheese (76g)
- Toppings of choice: Tomato slices, onion slices, shredded lettuce, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard
Instructions
- Divide the ground beef into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into balls and place on a plate. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to 6 hours.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. If desired, toast the buns by brushing the cut side of the buns with melted butter and placing on the griddle until golden brown, about 1 minute.
- Increase heat to high. Place 2 to 4 balls of ground beef on the very hot griddle (leave plenty of room between each, so cook fewer at a time if needed). Smash the beef with a spatula into thin patties. Season the top of each patty with salt and pepper.
- Cook until browned and crisp, about 2 minutes. Flip and season the cooked side with salt and paper. Cook until crisp and browned on the bottom, about 1 minute more.
- Top half of the patties with a cheese slice and place a plain patty on top of the cheese. Remove from skillet or griddle. Repeat with the remaining beef and cheese. Serve the double patties on buns with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Don’t skip chilling the burger patties after they are shaped. The cold meat hitting the hot griddle helps to form the exterior crust. It also helps prevent the center from overcooking. Because the skillet is very hot and the patties are thin, the colder internal temperature will take longer to rise and longer to fully cook, allowing the outside to crisp up without overcooking the center for juicy burgers.
- If the patty sticks to your spatula when smashing, place a piece of parchment paper on top of the patty before smashing it. You can also do this if your spatula has slots in it.
Nutrition
How To Make Smash Burgers
1. After dividing the ground beef into 8 equal portions, roll each one into a ball, place on a plate, cover, and refrigerate.
2. Brush the cut side of the hamburger buns with melted butter.
3. Toast the buns, cut-side down, on a hot skillet or griddle for about 1 minute. Set aside.
4. Increase heat to high. Place 2 to 4 balls of ground beef on the same hot griddle.
5. Smash the beef into thin patties with a spatula or burger press, and season the top of all the patties with salt and black pepper. Cook until browned with a crispy crust.
6. Flip and season the other side with salt and paper. Cook the patties for about 1 minute more.
7. Add a slice of cheese to 4 patties.
8. Then, place a plain patty on top of the cheese (you will have 4 double patties). Remove the patties from the skillet and serve on the toasted buns with your desired toppings.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
Prep all of the toppings before cooking the burgers since the cooking process is very quick. Once the patties come off the griddle, you want to assemble the smash burgers quickly for maximum crispiness.
Make sure the skillet or griddle is very hot before adding the patties. For the smashed patties to develop a gorgeous brown crust, they need a lot of heat. If the skillet or griddle is not hot enough, the patties will cook up with a soft, more steamed exterior.
Don’t overcrowd the hot pan. For the best burgers, ensure there’s enough space around each smashed patty so they cook evenly and develop crispy edges.
What’s The Best Kind Of Ground Beef To Use?
I prefer 70/30 or 80/20 fat content ground beef for the best flavor and juiciness. This is usually labeled as ground hamburger or ground chuck at the grocery store butchers. The natural fats in the beef help the patties turn crispy. Leaner beef, like ground sirloin, will likely stick to the skillet and will steam rather than form a brown crust.
How To Serve Smash Burgers
To make a special smash burger sauce, combine ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon ketchup, and 1 teaspoon mustard or relish. Add a generous dollop on each smash burger.
Serve smash burgers with classic sides like creamy coleslaw or potato salad. Or make an easy version of your diner favorites with my air fryer french fries and air fryer onion rings recipes!
Recipe Variations
- Cook the patties with onions. Cook the first side of the patty, then add very thinly sliced sweet onions or red onion on top, then flip the patties. The patty and onions will both caramelize!
- Top with your favorite sauce like barbecue, honey mustard, yellow mustard, buffalo sauce, or steak sauce.
- Swap the cheese slices for sliced Swiss or pepper jack, blue cheese crumbles, or a scoop of pimento cheese.
- Add other toppings like crispy air fryer bacon, guacamole, sauteed mushrooms, or pickled onions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make smash burgers on the grill by placing a grill-safe griddle plate or a seasoned cast-iron skillet on the grill. Because you smash the burger patties, you cannot cook them directly on grill grates.
Place your pan of choice on the grill and turn on the heat to preheat the skillet. Make sure the surface of the griddle plate or skillet is hot, then follow the same cooking steps outlined in the recipe. And while you’re grilling, whip up a quick side of elote to enjoy with your smash burger!
Ground beef is the classic choice for smash burgers! But you can try this recipe with ground pork or a mixture of pork and beef. Leaner meats like ground chicken and turkey can work, but you will need to oil the skillet well to prevent the patties from sticking. It might also be difficult for leaner meats to achieve the crispy crust smash burgers are known for. If you’re looking for something different, try my chicken burger recipe, veggie burgers, or turkey burgers.
If you’ve tried this Smash Burger recipe, then don’t forget to rate it, and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
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