Thin and juicy with a crispy outer bite, this smash burger recipe is your guide to making the best, cheesy, double patty homemade smashed burgers served on a toasted bun!
Best Homemade Smash Burgers
If you’re looking for a hamburger recipe that is as easy as baked hamburgers, as cheesy as the best cheeseburger recipe, but with thinner patties and loads of flavor, then these smash burgers need to be on your must-make list!
They’re made by mashing a ball of ground beef to an even thinness in a hot griddle or cast iron skillet to build a nice outer crust. Then, the smashed burger is served double patty style on a buttery toasted bun with cheese and your favorite burger toppings!
Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Ground beef: Use lean 80/20 ground beef. Extra lean would be too dry.
- Sliced cheese: I use American cheese because it’s a classic choice for smash burgers and melts easily. Get it sliced from the deli. Sliced cheddar works, too.
- Burger buns: Any burger bun will do! Brioche buns, whole wheat, kaiser, etc. I also have a great recipe for homemade hamburger buns.
- For the best smash burger sauce, you’ll need mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, chopped dill pickles, lemon juice, paprika, and salt and pepper to taste.
Burger Toppings
- Classic burger toppings: Tomato, lettuce, sliced red onion, ketchup, mustard, and relish.
- Sauce: Swap the smash burger sauce with a burger sauce, fry sauce, or homemade BBQ sauce recipe.
- Cheese: Instead of American cheese try Swiss, Gruyere, or Pepper Jack. Feel free to omit the melty cheese if you’d rather keep it dairy-free.
- Gourmet: Try Caramelized onions!
How to Make a Smash Burger
Divide the beef into equal pieces and use your hands to form each piece into a round ball. Do not overwork the meat, keep it round, but loose. Chill the meat, it should be cold when it touches the grill.
Over medium-high heat, place 2-4 burger balls into the hot, oiled pan. Immediately use a burger press or large spatula to press the meat down to smash it flat. Cook for 1-2 minutes until a caramelized crust forms outside then flip it over.
Add a slice of cheese to each patty and continue cooking for another 45 seconds. Assemble burger by spreading the sauce on toasted bun. Add one or two burger patties and any additional toppings you desire. Dig in!
Recipe Tips
- The special sauce is optional, but we LOVE it. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate until you’re ready to use it.
- For additional seasoning in the beef, feel free to sprinkle it with some garlic powder or homemade hamburger seasoning.
- Only smash ONCE! And make sure to get them pretty thin.
- They cook fast. Only cook a few at a time! The thin smash burgers cook quickly and if you are busy smashing you might miss flipping the burgers and they will overcook.
- Prevent sticking. If you find the burger press or spatula is sticking to the meat, quickly add a piece of parchment paper in between before pressing.
- Make them mini! Use less meat in the ground beef balls and make smashed cheeseburger sliders.
For other fun variations on burgers try burger in a bowl or lettuce wrap burger and cheeseburger meatballs.
More Burger Recipes
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Smash Burger Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1-2 teaspoons cooking oil , vegetable, canola or olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef , 80/20
- 4 slices American cheese
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter
- 4 burger buns
Smash Burger Sauce (Optional)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon dill pickle , chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
Toppings: Lettuce, tomato slices, onions, pickles
Instructions
- Make burger balls. Divide 1 pound beef into four equal pieces and then use your hands to loosely form each piece into a round ball. Place each ball on a parchment paper lined plate or pan.
- Chill. Loosely cover and place in refrigerator to chill. It's best for the meat to be chilled when it hits the hot pan.
- Heat. Drizzle 2 teaspoons oil onto griddle or cast iron pan then tilt pan back and forth so oil covers it evenly. Turn stovetop heat to medium-high and allow pan to heat until smoking.
- Smash meat with spatula. Place 2-4 burger balls into the hot pan. Immediately use a burger press or large spatula to press straight down on the ball and smash it flat and thin.
- Cook patties. Once patties are smashed, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes until a crust has formed and juices appear on the surface. Do not re-smash or press down on the burger again.
- Add cheese. Using a spatula, scrape under the burger to ensure you get all the caramelized crust and bits then flip the burger. Add a slice of cheese and cook through until desired doneness, about 45 seconds to a minute longer.
- Toast buns. Remove burgers to a clean plate and cover while toasting the buns. Melt 1 Tablespoon butter in hot pan then turn off the heat. Place burger buns cut-side down immediately into the pan and toast until warm.
- Assemble. Assemble burger by spreading sauce onto the toasted bun, top with burgers and any additional toppings if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
It’s when you take a ball of ground beef and use either a burger smasher or a large spatula (and some muscles) to smash the meat down into a thin, flat patty giving it more surface area to form a delicious crust on the outside while still keeping it juicy on the inside.
I recommend no leaner than 80/20. You need the fat for flavor and to keep it from drying out.
We love to keep it simple with a classic side of homemade French fries or baked sweet potato fries and then wash it down with a refreshing glass of lemonade recipe from lemons!
While these burgers taste fresh and served immediately, you can prepare the beef balls ahead of time by rolling them and placing them on a plate. Cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated for up to 2 days. Freeze uncooked burger balls in a freezer safe bag and thaw as needed.
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, 4th of July, 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Beef, Dinner, Kid-Friendly, Stovetop, Super Bowl
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
These were delicious with the burger seasoning mix!
So glad you enjoyed them!
These were a smashing hit with my fam! Omitted the mustard thiugh as my kids don’t eat it and it was a huge hit!
This was a hit at our BBQ! The ground beef turned out juicy, and the sauce was a perfect tangy complement. My family loved the hint of dill pickle.
So glad your family loved the smash burgers!
This turned out amazing! Smash burgers are our favorite and we crushed every bite!