Friend, I am excited to share with you My Favorite Easy Homemade Smash Burgers Recipe! This has been a popular request and in this post I’ll be sharing my best tips for making a good smash burger that will rival any restaurant version. So, move over burger joint, because we’re making the best burger at home!
What are smash burgers? Smash burgers are a style of burger known for their thin, crispy-edged patties. They are made by pressing or “smashing” a ball of ground beef onto a hot griddle or skillet, which creates a large surface area that allows the meat to develop a flavorful, caramelized crust.
The smashing process also helps the patty cook quickly and evenly, resulting in a juicy interior. Seriously, they cook super fast! Smash burgers are typically served with simple toppings like cheese, pickles, onions, and a special sauce or simply mayonnaise on a soft toasted bun.
Now, you know I adore a good burger, but what I really love is how easy and fun these smash burgers are to make.
Best of all, you don’t need a fancy outdoor griddle, like a Blackstone, to make a smash burger recipe. Yes, they are great if you’re cooking for a crowd. We have an outdoor griddle from Sam’s, but most of the time you’ll find me in the kitchen with my cast iron griddle on the stove top making these amazing cheesy burgers.
So, let’s head into my kitchen and fire up those burners and make the best smash burgers you ever put in your mouth!
Homemade Smash Burgers
Does that make your mouth water or what? It is sort of fascinating how different a burger can be depending on how it is prepared.
We also tend to like them topped differently according to how they’re prepared as well.
When it comes to a smash burger, the more simple the better. You just don’t need a lot of toppings for this style of burger. Of course, you do you honey, and add whatever make your taste buds happy.
Best Smash Burger Recipe
What to serve with smash burgers?
When you’re serving up those delicious smash burgers, you’ll want some tasty sides to make the meal complete. Here are a few Southern-inspired ideas that pair perfectly:
- Crispy French Fries: You can’t go wrong with classic fries. Whether they’re thin and crispy or thick-cut, they’re the perfect companion to a juicy smash burger. Y’all, I cannot resist homemade fries. So dang good! If you prefer sweet potato fries, then do those instead.
- Coleslaw: A creamy, tangy coleslaw adds a refreshing crunch and balances out the richness of the burgers. It’s a must-have!
- Potato Chips: crunchy chips are always great with a tasty sandwich.
- Potato Salad: A classic Southern potato salad with mustard, mayo, and a little bit of relish is creamy, tangy, and a great side dish to round out your meal. My family will take potato salad any meal they can get it.
- Fresh Fruit: a burst of freshness of fruit or melon slices is always a treat with a meal, especially during the hot summer months of the year.
- Condiments and Toppings of Choice: As I mentioned before, smash burgers are best simple. We love them with just a bit of mayonnaise. You might prefer a burger sauce and other burger toppings.
How to make the Best Smash Burgers on a Griddle at Home
It may be easier than you think to prepare the best smash burgers and only takes the most basic ingredients.
Here is what you’ll need to make the perfect homemade smash burgers: Just 5 Simple Ingredients.
- Hamburger Buns: We love toasted Brioche buns.
- Yellow Onion: sliced into thin rings.
- Ground Beef: I recommend an 80/20, like ground chuck, because you want that fat content to cook the thin beef patties and make them juicy and delicious. Use a meat scale to portion out two ounces of the ground beef and loosely form it into a ball. Two of these hamburger balls will be used to make a total of four, quarter pound smash burgers.
- Kosher Salt and Cracked Black Pepper: Keep the seasonings simple with salt and pepper. You can also add garlic powder or onion powder if desired.
- Cheese: In my book, smash burgers call for classic American cheese slices. I used a mix of yellow and white American slices, because that is what I had on hand.
You will need a couple of tools to prepare your smash burgers with ease.
- Cast Iron Skillet or Griddle: A heavy, flat surface is ideal for smashing the burgers to get that crispy sear. I prefer a griddle and think it is easier to work with. As I mentioned before, it can be an outdoor griddle or a stove top. I usually opt for my stove top because it is less hassle for cooking for the two of us.
- Spatula: A sturdy, flat spatula with a thin edge to smash the patties and flip them easily. A metal spatula works best.
- Burger Press or Heavy Object: While you can use a spatula to smash the burgers, a burger press or another heavy, flat object (like a smaller cast iron pan) can help apply even pressure. I love my cast iron press that we got at Smoky Mountain Knife Works in Sevierville, Tennessee.
- Wax Paper or Parchment Paper: Useful for placing between the burger press and the meat to prevent sticking.
The Quick and Easy Steps
If you have it, a laser heat thermometer for cooking is also handy to test the temperature of your griddle or skillet.
Having the griddle cooking surface hot is important and a key tip for preparing smash burgers. You will want the temperature of the griddle between 350-400°F.
I find that having my cast iron stove top griddle over medium-high heat works best for me on my gas cook top.
Okay, Y’all, if you’ve been following my recipes for any amount of time then you know that I am all about toasting buns for even more added flavor. A toasted bun takes a burger or sandwich to a higher level of deliciousness!
Seriously, it takes just a minute for this optional, but highly recommended, step in making the best burgers ever.
Just place the buns on the hot griddle for a minute or two and set them aside then move on with the rest of the cooking.
Griddle Burgers
Now, allow me to take you through the steps on how to prepare smash burgers.
Begin with the onion slices. Place a small amount in portions spaced on the griddle. I like to add a bit of a cooking oil, a buttery oil for griddle cooking.
Allow the onions to soften and caramelize for a minute or two.
Unlike traditional burgers, don’t form patties in advance. Leave the beef in loose balls. Place the pre-portioned balls of ground beef on top of the onions.
Smoosh It!
The fun part! Let’s smoosh ’em!
Immediately press down with a spatula or burger press. Smash it down as flat as you can—about ¼ inch or less thick.
Hold the press or spatula down for 10-15 seconds to ensure the patty stays flat and sears properly.
Once smashed, season the exposed side of the patty with salt and pepper.
Let the burger cook for about 2 minutes, or until the edges are browned and crispy.
Perfect Smash Burger
Use a spatula to carefully scrape under the burger and flip it. It should release fairly easily. Season the other side with more salt and pepper and top each thin patty with a slice of cheese.
By the time the cheese melts, the burgers will be done, which takes another minute or two. Super fast cooking with these burgers, so everyone is enjoying them in under 5 minutes.
Place the cooked patty on the bottom bun, then add your toppings. Finish with the top bun. Let’s dig in!
Printable Recipe Card Below
Friend, that is a GREAT smash burger! Yum!
Smash burgers are best served right away, while they’re still hot and crispy. Careful and don’t burn your mouth biting into that delicious home cooked smash burger!
How to make the Best Homemade Smash Burgers Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 Brioche Hamburger Buns toasted
- 1 Small Yellow Onion thinly sliced
- 1 pound Ground Beef 80/20 divided into 2 ounce portions (makes 8 loose balls of hamburger)
- Kosher Salt and Cracked Black Pepper to taste
- 8 Slices American Cheese
Instructions
- Preheat a cast iron stove top griddle, or your outdoor griddle, to between 350-400°F (175-205°C).
- First, add thin onion slices in portions on the hot griddle to soften and caramelize.
- Next, add the loose balls of portioned ground beef to top of each portion of onions and immediately press down with a spatula or burger press. Smash it down as flat as you can—about ¼ inch or less thick.
- Once smashed, season the exposed side of the patty with salt and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes then use a metal spatula to scrape around the edges of each thin patty and flip. Season the other side with more salt and pepper.
- Place a slice of cheese on top of each burger and allow the cheese to melt while the burgers finish cooking, about 2 minutes.
- Stack 2 thin burgers together and transfer to the bottom half of the toasted hamburger bun, repeat until all burgers are on buns, then add condiments and toppings of choice and enjoy.
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My Favorite Easy Homemade Smash Burgers Recipe
Well, y’all, there you have it—my recipe for the most scrumptious, lip-smackin’ smash burgers you ever did taste!
Friends, I love a traditional burger, but smash burgers have a special place in my heart! With that perfect sear and all those melty layers of goodness, these burgers are sure to be the star of your next cookout.
Remember, the secret’s in that hot skillet and a good ole smash with love. So gather your friends and family, and serve up these beauties with a big ole smile, because there’s nothing better than sharing good food with the people you love.
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Until next time, love and happy cooking!
About Julia
Hey Y’all! I’m Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia’s Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Barbara Miller
Saturday 21st of September 2024
Oh my mercy. I have tried making these on my own and failed. TY so much for the rolling and smashing technique and the recipe.
Barbara Miller
Thursday 5th of September 2024
I'll be making these indoors this weekend. TY so much for your recipe and helpful hints. I tried these before and they were kinda blah and I believe it was because I made the burger balls too tight. Love ya.
Julia Jordan
Thursday 5th of September 2024
I'm so glad you're gonna give the smash burgers a try. They are a favorite at this house! Love and Blessings, Julia