{"format":"dagwood/rgf@1","slug":"smash-burgers","title":"Smash Burgers","blurb":"Two lacy, crisp-edged patties per bun with melty American cheese, tangy special sauce and butter-toasted potato buns.","servings":4,"yield":"4 double cheeseburgers","tags":["burgers","beef","weeknight","cast iron"],"cuisine":"American","difficulty":"easy","image":"/img/smash-burgers.webp","imageAlt":"Four double cheeseburgers on toasted potato buns with melted American cheese, pickles and griddled onions, beside a small bowl of special sauce","lines":[{"id":"burgers","name":"Patties"},{"id":"sauce","name":"Special sauce"},{"id":"buns","name":"Buns"},{"id":"onions","name":"Griddled onions"}],"ingredients":[{"id":"beef","name":"ground chuck","qty":1.5,"unit":"lb","prep":"80/20, cold","line":"burgers","subs":[{"name":"85/15 ground beef","qty":1.5,"unit":"lb","note":"Leaner, so a little less juicy and less crusty"}]},{"id":"salt","name":"kosher salt","qty":1.5,"unit":"tsp","line":"burgers"},{"id":"pepper","name":"black pepper","qty":0.5,"unit":"tsp","line":"burgers"},{"id":"cheese","name":"American cheese","qty":8,"unit":"slice","line":"burgers","subs":[{"name":"sharp cheddar","qty":8,"unit":"slice","note":"Sharper, but melts less smoothly"}]},{"id":"pickles","name":"dill pickle chips","qty":16,"unit":"","line":"burgers"},{"id":"mayo","name":"mayonnaise","qty":0.5,"unit":"cup","line":"sauce"},{"id":"ketchup","name":"ketchup","qty":2,"unit":"tbsp","line":"sauce"},{"id":"mustard","name":"yellow mustard","qty":2,"unit":"tsp","line":"sauce"},{"id":"relish","name":"dill pickle relish","qty":2,"unit":"tbsp","line":"sauce","subs":[{"name":"sweet pickle relish","qty":2,"unit":"tbsp","note":"Sweeter, closer to the drive-thru classic"}]},{"id":"garlic-powder","name":"garlic powder","qty":0.25,"unit":"tsp","line":"sauce"},{"id":"smoked-paprika","name":"smoked paprika","qty":0.25,"unit":"tsp","line":"sauce","optional":true},{"id":"buns","name":"potato buns","qty":4,"unit":"","prep":"split","line":"buns","subs":[{"name":"sesame seed buns","qty":4,"unit":"","note":"Sturdier and a little drier"}]},{"id":"bun-butter","name":"unsalted butter","qty":2,"unit":"tbsp","prep":"softened","line":"buns","subs":[{"name":"mayonnaise","qty":2,"unit":"tbsp","note":"Spreads easily and browns very evenly"}]},{"id":"onion","name":"large yellow onions","qty":1,"unit":"","line":"onions"},{"id":"onion-butter","name":"unsalted butter","qty":1,"unit":"tbsp","line":"onions"},{"id":"onion-salt","name":"kosher salt","qty":1,"unit":"pinch","line":"onions"}],"steps":[{"id":"preheat","line":"burgers","verb":"Preheat","text":"Heat a large cast iron skillet or griddle over high heat until very hot.","min":6,"hands":"off","after":[],"uses":[],"heat":"high","tool":"cast iron skillet or griddle"},{"id":"portion","line":"burgers","verb":"Portion","text":"Divide {beef} into 8 loose balls, about 3 oz each. Keep them cold until the pan is ready.","min":3,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["beef"],"why":"Cold, loosely packed beef smashes thin and crusts without turning dense."},{"id":"smash","line":"burgers","verb":"Smash","text":"Working in batches, smash each ball flat with a stiff spatula, season with {=salt} and {=pepper}, and cook until the edges are deep brown, about 2 minutes. Scrape, flip, top each with a slice of {=cheese} and cook 30 seconds more.","min":10,"hands":"on","after":["preheat","portion","toast","mix-sauce"],"uses":["salt","pepper","cheese"],"heat":"high","tool":"stiff metal spatula","why":"Smash once, hard, right away. Pressing later just squeezes out the juices."},{"id":"mix-sauce","line":"sauce","verb":"Stir","text":"Stir {mayo}, {ketchup}, {mustard}, {relish}, {garlic-powder} and {smoked-paprika} together.","min":2,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["mayo","ketchup","mustard","relish","garlic-powder","smoked-paprika"]},{"id":"toast","line":"buns","verb":"Toast","text":"Spread {bun-butter} on the cut sides of {buns} and toast them cut side down in a skillet over medium heat until golden.","min":4,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["bun-butter","buns"],"heat":"medium","tool":"large skillet"},{"id":"slice-onion","line":"onions","verb":"Slice","text":"Halve {onion} and slice it paper thin.","min":3,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["onion"],"optional":true},{"id":"griddle-onions","line":"onions","verb":"Cook","text":"Cook the onion in {onion-butter} with {onion-salt} in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring now and then, until soft and browned.","min":12,"hands":"off","after":["slice-onion"],"uses":["onion-butter","onion-salt"],"optional":true,"heat":"medium","tool":"small skillet","checks":[{"at":4,"text":"Stir the onions"},{"at":8,"text":"Stir, and add a splash of water if they stick"}]},{"id":"serve","line":"burgers","verb":"Assemble","text":"Spread the special sauce on the toasted buns and stack 2 cheesy patties on each. Top with {=pickles} and any griddled onions, and serve hot.","min":2,"hands":"on","after":["smash","mix-sauce","toast","griddle-onions"],"uses":["pickles"]}],"serve":"serve","notes":["Press down on the spatula with a second spatula or a small pan for extra leverage.","A square of parchment between the spatula and the beef stops it from sticking.","Skip nonstick pans here. They can't safely take the high heat."],"license":"CC BY 4.0"}