Smash Burgers

4.8
(57)
50 Reviews
5 Photos

This smash burger recipe makes super juicy burgers with crispy edges. I prefer to cook these outdoors — they grill up very fast because of the high heat, so make sure you have everything ready to go!

By France Cevallos
Updated on October 16, 2024
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Smash Burgers
5
5
5
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 smash burgers
Jump to Nutrition Facts

This smash burger recipe is a delicious way to take a classic dinner up a notch. 

What Is a Smash Burger? 

A smash burger is a burger that’s made by smashing two thin beef patties together with cheese in the middle. The act of pressing the burgers together over heat creates a perfect sear on the outside, ensuring juicy and flavorful results every time. 

Cook's Notes

  • Don't use meat that is leaner than 80/20 for best results, and make sure the meat is very cold.
  • If you only have one spatula, wrap your other hand in an old dish towel for protection and use it to press down on the spatula with both hands.
  • You can make 4 (4-ounce) patties instead of 8 (2-ounce patties), but I prefer the thinner patties that have a more crispy surface area.
  • I buy American cheese freshly sliced from the deli, but individually wrapped slices will work, too.

How to Make a Smash Burger

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade smash burgers: 

  1. Prepare and heat the griddle. 
  2. Butter and brown the buns. 
  3. Form the meat into loosely-packed balls. 
  4. Place each ball on the grill, cover with a piece of parchment, and smash.
  5. Sprinkle the meat with salt.
  6. Grill and assemble the smash burgers according to the detailed instructions below.

Test Kitchen Tips

Here are some smash burger tips from culinary expert Nicole McLaughlin (a.k.a. NicoleMcMom): 

  • If you don’t have a flat top griddle, according to Nicole, a cast iron skillet will work perfectly. 
  • Instead of buttering the buns, Nicole prefers to grease the buns with the drippings from the beef. 
  • Nicole likes to keep her smash burgers simple with minimal toppings (pickles, mayonnaise, and onions), but you can dress your burgers up however you like

What to Serve With Smash Burgers

Explore our collection of Side Dishes for Burgers for tasty inspiration. Here are a few of the ideas you’ll find: 

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 4 hamburger buns

  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened, or as needed

  • 1 pound ground chuck beef (80% lean)

  • 4 (6-inch) squares parchment paper

  • salt to taste

  • 4 slices American cheese

  • burger toppings of choice

Directions

  1. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate. Set a cast iron flat-top griddle or large cast iron skillet onto the grill and preheat until smoking.

  2. Spread butter on the inside of the buns and toast on the flat-top until lightly browned. Set aside.

  3. Form meat into 8 loosely-packed balls, 2 ounces each. Do not pack the meat tightly, as this will prevent it from smashing properly. Place each ball on the hot flat-top, cover with a piece of parchment (to prevent sticking to the spatula; re-use each parchment square on a second patty) and immediately smash down to a 1/4 inch thickness using 2 stiff, sturdy spatulas that are criss-crossed to get proper leverage as you press down. You may also use the bottom of small skillet. Sprinkle the meat with salt.

  4. Grill for about 45 seconds, until the edges are dark brown and the centers are a light pink color. Using a bench scraper or firm spatula, gently scrape up the patties, flip over and immediately cover 4 of them with cheese. Grill an additional 15 to 20 seconds; stack the plain patties over the cheese-covered patties so you have 4 stacks. Move each stack to a bun and serve with your favorite toppings.

    Smash burger cheeseburger in a fast food basket with crinkle cut fries and yellow mustard packets on the side

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

632 Calories
47g Fat
22g Carbs
29g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 632
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 47g 60%
Saturated Fat 22g 110%
Cholesterol 138mg 46%
Sodium 781mg 34%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Protein 29g 58%
Potassium 369mg 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.