Grilled Smash Burgers
These smash burgers are the perfect summer dinner! They’re easy to make, and if you use store-bought burger sauce, then they’re only five ingredients!
The Starting Five
Five things to know before making this dish!
I recommend using brioche buns because they’re fluffy yet sturdy.
80% lean ground beef is the best ratio for these—just fatty enough without tasting like you’re taking a bite of grease. If you want them a little leaner, I’d recommend going no higher than 85% lean.
To keep this five ingredients, use a store-bought burger sauce. Here are some of my favorites: Heinz Spicy Mayo, Bowl & Basket Burger Sauce, and Primal Kitchen Creamy Chipotle Sauce.
Once you smash these burgers, do not smash them again! Only do so one time, as soon as they hit the griddle, so you don’t release all of those tasty juices.
If you don’t have a cast iron griddle, you can use a cast iron pan on the grill. If you don’t have a cast iron pan, you can also make these on the stove top.
Grilled Smash Burgers
Ingredients—Makes 8 single or 4 double burgers
2 pounds of ground beef
8 brioche buns (or 4, for doubles)
[kosher salt and black pepper]
8 slices of yellow American cheese
1/2 of a sweet onion, thinly sliced
Your favorite burger sauce
Directions
1. Shape the beef into 3-inch balls. Season generously with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the grill on medium-low for 5 minutes.
3. Add the burger balls to the cast iron, then use a burger press to smash them until completely flat—no more than 1/4-inch thick. Turn the heat up to medium.
4. Spread the sliced onions out over top of the I cooked side of the burger patties.
5. Let the burgers cook 3-4 minutes. Then, using a thin metal spatula, flip the burgers and cook an additional 3 minutes.
6. To plate the burgers—top the buns with single or double patties, then a spoonful of burger sauce. Pair them with your favorite side dishes! I used pickles and onion rings :)
Sweet & spicy burger sauce
1/2 cup of mayonnaise
2 tablespoons of yellow mustard
2 tablespoons of ketchup
2 tablespoons of spicy pickle juice (I used Wickles)
A pinch of sugar
Combine everything in a bowl!
