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A perfectly crafted smash burger with melted cheese, fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles.

Irresistible Smash Burger Recipe with Secret Sauce Magic

Learn how to make delicious smash burgers with a secret sauce. This recipe is perfect for home cooks looking to elevate their burger game.
Prep Time 18 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 burgers
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 730

Ingredients
  

Smash Burger Patties
  • 1.5 lbs ground beef, 80/20 divided into 8 portions (3oz each)
  • to taste salt
  • to taste black pepper
  • to taste garlic powder optional
  • 4 slices medium cheddar cheese thick-sliced
Burger Sauce
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
Toppings
  • 4 burger buns brioche buns
  • 2 cups iceberg lettuce shredded
  • 1 large tomato sliced
  • 1/2 red onion sliced into thin rings
  • 2 dill pickles cut into 12 slices

Equipment

  • griddle
  • burger press
  • Spatula

Method
 

  1. Divide beef into 8 even portions, about 3 oz each. Loosely roll them into balls then cover and refrigerate while preparing remaining ingredients. You can prep and refrigerate the balls of meat 1-2 days ahead. The meat must be cold when it hits the griddle.
  2. Remove wilted leaves from lettuce to keep it crunchy then finely shred lettuce. Slice tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Butter and toast buns over medium heat until golden on the buttered side.
  3. Increase griddle to medium/high heat. Place 2-4 burger balls onto a hot griddle. Working quickly, place a square of parchment paper over the meat and use a burger press or spatula to firmly smash straight down into a thin patty.
  4. Once patties are smashed, peel back and discard parchment papers and season patties with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add 1/2 teaspoon of burger sauce. Cook 2 minutes on the first side or until seared and juices start to come to the surface.
  5. Scrape under the burger with metal spatula facing down at a 45˚ angle to get under the caramelized part and flip. Cook another 1 minute. Top half of the patties with sliced cheese and cover cheese with the second patty. Repeat with remaining burgers and transfer them to a platter as they finish cooking.
  6. Place sauce on bottom of bun. Top with 3 pickle slices, shredded lettuce, 2 tomato slices and thin sliced onion. Add double patty and top with bun.

Nutrition

Calories: 730kcal

Notes

This recipe was developed by Dr. Amanda Foster RD, PhD, Founder & Chief Nutrition Analyst.

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