Smash Burgers with Secret Sauce
Once you learn how to make a smash burger, you’ll never go back! This thin burger is juicy and cooks in just a couple minutes, with crispy edges and crust. The key to making a great smash burger is a hot skillet that helps you get crispy, webbed edges. Finish it off with our “secret sauce” and your favorite toppings for an instant hit!
For the burgers, you’ll need one pound of ground beef, half of a stick of butter (divided), salt and pepper or burger seasoning (or all three) to taste and American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle for topping.
For the “secret sauce,” you’ll want half of a cup of mayonnaise, two tablespoons of ketchup, one tablespoon of mustard, two teaspoons of pickle juice (optional), half of a teaspoon of paprika, half of a teaspoon of garlic powder, a fourth of a teaspoon of onion powder and an eighth of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Using either a large griddle or cast iron pan heated to high, toast buns with butter; reserve to plates. Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions. Loosely form into balls with your hands (do not form patties). Heat cast iron skillet, griddle, or flat top grill to medium-high heat. Add 2 Tablespoons butter and melt. Place ground beef ball onto hot skillet. Using a flat, heavy spatula, smash burgers flat and season with salt and pepper or burger seasoning. Cook undisturbed until edges are browned, about 2 minutes. Flip patties and season with salt and pepper. Place slice of cheese on top of each burger and let melt.
For the sauce, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper; mix well.
Place burgers on toasted buns that have been buttered with remaining butter and top with your favorite toppings and sauce.
Watch how to make Smash Burgers with Secret Sauce on YouTube >>
Smash Burgers with Secret Sauce
Equipment
- large griddle or cast iron pan
Ingredients
Smash Burgers
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 stick butter divided
- salt and pepper or burger seasoning to taste
- American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle for topping
Secret Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 2 tsp pickle juice optional
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Using either a large griddle or cast iron pan heated to high, toast buns with butter; reserve to plates. Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions. Loosely form into balls with your hands (do not form patties). Heat cast iron skillet, griddle, or flat top grill to medium-high heat. Add 2 Tablespoons butter and melt. Place ground beef ball onto hot skillet. Using a flat, heavy spatula, smash burgers flat and season with salt and pepper or burger seasoning. Cook undisturbed until edges are browned, about 2 minutes. Flip patties and season with salt and pepper. Place slice of cheese on top of each burger and let melt.
- For the sauce, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper; mix well.
- Place burgers on toasted buns that have been buttered with remaining butter and top with your favorite toppings and sauce.
