There is no more popular burger in recent years than the Smash Burgers. A summer favorite recipe that you can make at home, better than takeout!
My love for Smash Burgers started years ago, before they became so popular. It was when I went to a new local burger place around my house that made homemade hamburgers.
From then on, I tasted the difference between store-bought burger patties and homemade. But since I like thin burger patties, that’s how I started making them.
I always used my own burger seasoning mix and used to make these by flattening the meat with a plate. I didn’t even know that the smashed burger press exists.
Nowadays, they’re one of my favorite meals to make during the summertime. This is the time when we make the most family gatherings outdoors and make garlic butter shrimp with onions and a lot of chicken skewers.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
- Smash burgers taste way better when they’re homemade!
- They’re done in only 10 minutes!
- The perfect meal to make for a lot of people.
Recipe Ingredients
- Meat- I used ground beef that was 80/20. No need to make a special mix of different types of meat. The 80/20 ground beef has enough fat to keep the meat juicy and add flavor.
- Seasoning- I make a special burger seasoning mix with only salt, msg (which adds tons of flavor), black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Bread- I went with a brioche bread, but you can use any bread you have at home. I go with a brioche or a potato hamburger bun. You can even use sliced bread if that’s all you have.
- Sauce- I went with a classic mix of 2 parts mayonnaise and 1 part ketchup. These are the 2 most used condiments in burgers.
- Cheese- The most common cheese to use is American, but my very favorite to use is cheddar cheese slices.
Smash Burger Variations
- Salad- You can make a smash burger salad and avoid the bun! Then you can add croutons and your favorite dressing.
- Vegetables- You can add the classic lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles to make this a deluxe smash burger. You can even add bacon.
- I give it my Latin touch by making it a sweet plantain pastelon smash burger! I add an egg and sweet plantains. The combination of sweet and salty is amazing.
How to Make A Smash Burger
- Photo 1: First, you want to mix all the ingredients for the seasoning. Then, what I like to do is to put the seasoning mix in a jar or any empty seasoning bottle I have. This is so it will be easier to sprinkle on top of the meat. But you can also use your own.
- Photo 2: Make the sauce by mixing the mayonnaise with the ketchup. If you like mustard, you can add 1 tablespoon of it to the mix. You can double the batch if you like and store it in a condiment bottle.
- Photo 3: Divide the ground beef into 8 equal pieces. You can do it by eyeballing the size or by weighing the meat. Then save the balls in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.
- Photo 4: Set a griddle or hot pan to high heat and wait for it to get hot. Take a piece of parchment paper to place between the meat and your press so the meat won’t stick to it. Place the meat in your griddle at least 4 inches apart so they don’t stick together when smashed. Smash each ball for about 5 seconds and cook for a minute and 15 seconds.
- Photo 5: Season with ¼ teaspoon of the seasoning mix on one side. Flip the meat and cook for another 45 seconds. Place the cheese on top of the meat. Stack the patties and place them on the bun.
- Photo 6: Add all the toppings you like, add some sauce to your top bun and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Keep your meat cold until you’re ready to cook because this helps to hold the meat together.
- Mise en place: Have all your ingredients prepared, including toppings, because the meat cooks very fast.
Common Questions
What Kind of meat can I use to make smash burgers?
The most common type of meat used is ground beef. But you can also use ground chicken. The only difference is that the meat will need a couple more minutes cooking.
Can I smash the meat before making the burger?
I don’t know if it will still count as a smashed burger, but that is how I used to make it when I first started. So go for it!
More Easy Summer Recipes
💬 If you enjoyed this Smash Burgers recipe, give it a 5-star rating and leave a comment or question below.
Watch us on YouTube or follow along on our Facebook Page, on Instagram, or on Pinterest.
Smash Burgers
One of the best comfort foods you can make at home is smash burgers. They're juicy, flavorful, and just simply delicious hamburgers.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef 80/20
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon msg
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 8 slices cheese
- 4 hamburger buns
- 4 teaspoon butter (optional) to butter buns
Instructions
- Divide the ground beef into 8 equal parts and shape into balls. You can measure this with a food scale or just eyeball it. Place each ball on a plate or tray and put it in the fridge while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Measure and add to a small bowl the salt, msg, black pepper, and garlic powder. Then transfer the seasoning to a small jar and set aside for later.
- In a small bowl, add the mayonnaise and ketchup. Mix until it has an even pinkish color. Cover and put it in your fridge until you're ready to use.
- Set your griddle or pan to high heat and let it get hot for about 1 minute. Add the butter to your griddle and toast all the burger buns. Remove them from the heat and set them aside.
- Take a small piece of parchment paper, big enough to cover your burger press or spatula. Then place your beef balls in the griddle at least 4 inches apart because the meat will expand when smashed. Place the parchment paper on top of the meat and smash for 5 seconds. Repeat this with every ball of beef.
- Let the burgers cook for 1 minute and 15 seconds, and season each burger with about ¼ teaspoon of the seasoning. Flip the burgers and finish cooking. Add the cheese at least 10 seconds before removing the burgers from the heat.
- Stack 2 burger patties and place them in a burger bun. Add about a tablespoon of the sauce per burger. Repeat this with every smash burger. Buen provecho!
Recipe Notes
- To make smash burgers, it is always good to use a griddle. This is because they cook nicely, and you can cook all the burgers at the same time. But any large pan will do.
- To smash the burgers, I used a smashed burger press, but you can use a large spatula.
- Yield- I made 4 double burgers, but you can make 8 single-patty burgers.
- Seasoning- I used my own mix, but you can use any seasoning you like.
- Bread- I always think a good brioche or potato bread is best, but any hamburger bread is fine. It is just a matter of preference.
- Cheese- My favorite is a good cheddar slice because I think it holds more heat, and it melts better. But you can go with a classic American slice or your favorite cheese.
- Condiments- I went with a simple mayo ketchup, but you can add your favorites, and the same goes for toppings.
Nutrition
Calories: 770kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 957mg | Potassium: 560mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 329IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 294mg | Iron: 5mg
*The nutrition information is automatically calculated, so this is only an approximation.
Tried this Recipe? Leave A Comment Below!
Leave a Comment