Quick and Easy Smash Burgers at Home

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground beef (Preferably 80/20 ground beef; the source used 86% lean. Divide into 2 portions and flatten very thin.)
• 1 tsp Salt (For seasoning the beef.)
• 1 tsp Garlic powder (For seasoning the beef.)
• 1 tsp Onion powder (For seasoning the beef.)
• 0.5 tsp Ground black pepper (For seasoning the beef and patties.)
• Flaky sea salt (As needed to season both sides of the flattened patties and help form a crust.)
• 2 American cheese slices (One slice per burger; Swiss, provolone, or Muenster may be substituted.)
• 0.5 cup Mayonnaise (For the burger sauce.)
• 2 tbsp Ketchup (For the burger sauce.)
• 1 tbsp Mustard (For the burger sauce; omit if preferred.)
• 2 tbsp Dill relish (Sweet relish can be used instead.)
• 2 Brioche hamburger buns (Lightly toasted; use any preferred hamburger rolls.)
• 1 tbsp Butter (For lightly toasting the buns.)
• 4 leaves Butter-leaf lettuce (A few leaves for assembly.)
• 4 slices Tomato (A couple of slices per burger.)
• 0.25 Onion (Thinly sliced; use enough for the two burgers. The source places it on top of the melted cheese.)

Steps

1. 1

   Combine the ground beef, 1 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a bowl. Mix just until evenly seasoned; avoid compacting the meat more than necessary.

2. 2

   Divide the seasoned beef into two portions. Roll each portion loosely into a ball, like a meatball, then flatten it with your hands onto a piece of parchment paper.

3. 3

   Cover each flattened portion with another piece of parchment paper. Press firmly with the bottom of a saucepan until the patty is very thin and wide. Peel away the parchment paper.

4. 4

   Season the exposed side of each patty with flaky sea salt and additional black pepper. The patties will go into the pan with this seasoned side down; reserve more seasoning for the other side.

5. 5

   Heat a skillet, preferably cast iron or another heavy pan, over high heat until very hot. The surface should be hot enough that the beef immediately begins to sizzle.

6. 6

   Using the parchment paper as a guide, lower one patty into the hot skillet with the seasoned side down. Immediately press it firmly with a spatula so the meat makes full contact with the pan, then carefully pull away the parchment paper.

7. 7

   Season the top side with additional flaky sea salt and black pepper. Leave the patty undisturbed for about 2 minutes, until a deeply browned, crisp crust forms around the edges and the patty releases easily from the pan.

8. 8

   Flip the patty and cook the second side briefly, about 1 minute, until browned and cooked through. Repeat the process with the second patty, or cook both at once if the skillet is large enough without crowding.

9. 9

   Place one slice of American cheese on each patty immediately after flipping. Let the cheese melt over the hot beef, about 30–60 seconds.

10. 10

    While the burgers cook, stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and dill relish in a small bowl. Taste and adjust to your preference; the mustard or relish may be omitted or changed.

11. 11

    Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place the brioche buns cut-side down and toast lightly until warm and golden, about 1–2 minutes.

12. 12

    Spread burger sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Add a few leaves of butter-leaf lettuce, followed by tomato slices.

13. 13

    Place two cheeseburger patties on each bun. Add the sliced onion on top of the melted cheese so it adheres and stays inside the sandwich.

14. 14

    Spread more burger sauce on the cut side of each top bun, place the tops on the burgers, and serve immediately while the patties are hot and the cheese is melted.

Notes

The source makes two burgers from 1 pound of beef. For multiple pounds, scale the beef seasoning proportionally: 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper per pound of beef. Use caution when pressing very thin patties in a hot skillet, and cook ground beef to a safe internal temperature of 160°F / 71°C.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• American
• burgers
• smash burger
• quick meal
• skillet
• family-friendly