Smash Burgers
Two lacy, crisp-edged patties per bun with melty American cheese, tangy special sauce and butter-toasted potato buns.
24 min total with steps overlapped (42 min if done in order). 24 min hands-on. Serves 4.
Ingredients
Patties
- 1 1/2 lb ground chuck, 80/20, cold
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 8 slices American cheese
- 16 dill pickle chips
Special sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp dill pickle relish
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
Buns
- 4 potato buns, split
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Griddled onions
- 1 large yellow onion
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 pinch kosher salt
Steps
- 0:00 Slice Halve 1 large yellow onion and slice it paper thin. (3 min)
- 0:03 Toast Spread 2 tbsp unsalted butter on the cut sides of 4 potato buns and toast them cut side down in a skillet over medium heat until golden. (4 min)
- 0:03 Cook Cook the onion in 1 tbsp unsalted butter with 1 pinch kosher salt in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring now and then, until soft and browned. (12 min, hands-off)
- 0:06 Preheat Heat a large cast iron skillet or griddle over high heat until very hot. (6 min, hands-off)
- 0:07 Portion Divide 1 1/2 lb ground chuck into 8 loose balls, about 3 oz each. Keep them cold until the pan is ready. (3 min)
- 0:10 Stir Stir 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp ketchup, 2 tsp yellow mustard, 2 tbsp dill pickle relish, 1/4 tsp garlic powder and 1/4 tsp smoked paprika together. (2 min)
- 0:12 Smash Working in batches, smash each ball flat with a stiff spatula, season with kosher salt and black pepper, and cook until the edges are deep brown, about 2 minutes. Scrape, flip, top each with a slice of American cheese and cook 30 seconds more. (10 min)
- 0:22 Assemble Spread the special sauce on the toasted buns and stack 2 cheesy patties on each. Top with dill pickle chips and any griddled onions, and serve hot. (2 min)