Description
A quick and juicy smash burger recipe with crispy edges and a creamy, tangy special sauce that your family will crave. Perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 soft burger buns (preferably brioche or potato buns)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons pickle relish
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- A few dashes hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- Optional toppings: thinly sliced red onions, fresh iceberg lettuce leaves, tomato slices, pickles (dill or bread-and-butter), cheddar or American cheese slices
Instructions
- Prepare the special sauce by mixing mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, pickle relish, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and hot sauce in a bowl until smooth. Refrigerate to let flavors meld.
- Slice onions and tomatoes, wash and dry lettuce, and prepare pickles and cheese. Toast the buns on the griddle or skillet for 1-2 minutes until golden.
- Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions and loosely roll each into a ball. Season lightly with salt and pepper just before cooking.
- Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Place a beef ball on the surface and immediately smash it down flat (about ¼ inch thick) with a spatula or scraper.
- Cook patties without moving for 2-3 minutes until edges are brown and crispy. Flip carefully, add cheese slices if using, and cook another 1-2 minutes until cheese melts and burger is cooked through but still juicy.
- Assemble burgers by spreading special sauce on the bottom bun, adding the patty, then piling on preferred toppings. Finish with more special sauce on the top bun and serve immediately.
Notes
[‘Use cold beef straight from the fridge to help patties hold together better when smashing.’, ‘Press down firmly when smashing to get crispy edges and avoid undercooking.’, ‘Toast buns lightly to add flavor and prevent sogginess.’, ‘Make extra special sauce; it keeps well in the fridge for up to a week and is great on fries or sandwiches.’, ‘Keep a spray bottle of water nearby to tame flare-ups on an outdoor griddle.’, ‘Use a thin metal spatula to slide under patties easily without tearing.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: 550
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 33
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Protein: 30
Keywords: smash burgers, special sauce, quick burgers, juicy burgers, family dinner, easy recipe, burger recipe