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–+ servings

Smash Burgers

Perfect Smash Burgers every time! These burgers are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and perfectly seared for optimal flavor. Delicious with or without cheese... and ready for all your favorite toppings!
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 428kcal
Author: Cathy Trochelman

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 pounds ground beef 85/15 or 80/20 blend
  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • 8 slices American cheese OR cheddar OR Colby Jack
  • 8 hamburger buns
  • burger sauce to taste
  • lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, or any toppings of your choice

Instructions

  • Heat griddle to medium-high heat.
  • Divide meat into 8 equal parts; roll each into a ball.
  • Melt butter on the griddle (1/2 Tablespoon per burger) and add meat balls.
  • Use a burger press to smash the meat into 1/4 inch thick patties. Grill for 1 minute, then flip and add cheese.
  • Continue grilling 1-2 minutes more, until cheese is fully melted. Remove from griddle.
  • Place each patty on a bun (or double up!) and add toppings of your choice.

Notes

Toppings:

    • Lettuce
    • Tomatoes
    • Pickles or pickle relish
    • Cheese
    • Ketchup & mustard

 

Tips for Success

Use the right kind of meat. Since these burgers are so thin, you definitely want to choose meat with some amount of fat in it. I used an 85/15 ground beef, but 80/20 would also work. This blend of meat and fat will yield a juicy burger with a flavorful, crispy crust.
Use the right amount of meat. In other words, don't use too much! Smash burgers are meant to be thin, and using too much meat will make that hard to accomplish. I would suggest using 2-3 ounces of meat per patty.
Don't overcook. Smash burgers cook quickly! 1-2 minutes per side over medium-high heat is really all you need.
Double it up. My personal favorite way to eat smash burgers is to double them up! This ensures a good meat to bun ratio and really allows you to taste the burgers.
Add sauce & toppings. A good burger has good toppings... end of story! Add your favorites and let everyone else choose their own. A win-win!

Nutrition

Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 656mg | Potassium: 273mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 374IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 296mg | Iron: 3mg