I make this smash burger recipe when I want crisp edges and a juicy center that hits the spot. I press the meat on hot cast iron and the sizzle tells me dinner is near. The secret sauce waits in a small bowl. Buns toast. Cheese stands by. Life feels simple in the best way. We chase bold flavor at home so we borrow tricks from a diner counter. Think quick cooking and thin patties that brown fast. Friends ask for extras and I nod since I planned ahead. I keep a batch of sauce ready for fries too. If you like a twist try this smash burger recipe cast iron or even the viral smash burger tacos recipe on a flat top. That secret spread brings a little in n out sauce recipe vibe without a trip across town. If butter is your love you can lean toward a butter burger recipe finish and swipe a bit on the bun. For laughs the kids call this our easy smash cake night even though no candles are lit. They once searched for an easy smash cake recipe and now it is a running joke while we flip patties and crunch into pickles.
Table of Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Easy Classic Smash Burgers Recipe
- 3 Ingredients for Classic Smash Burgers
- 4 How to Make Classic Smash Burgers
- 5 Tips for Making Classic Smash Burgers
- 6 Making Classic Smash Burgers Ahead of Time
- 7 Storing Leftover Classic Smash Burgers
- 8 Try these burgers next
- 9 Classic Smash Burgers Recipe
- 10 Nutrition
1 Key Takeaways
We cook dinner with a clear plan and a hot pan. Thin patties press down and crisp fast. The secret sauce waits in a small bowl. The bun toasts and softens. Cheese melts and holds the stack. We smile and reach for napkins.
This method gives speed and strong flavor. A hot cast iron gives browning that tastes bold. The sauce brings tang and a little sweet. Pickles brighten. Onions add bite. Each part stays simple and smart.
The smash burger recipe keeps weeknights easy. It scales well for a crowd. It works on a flat top or a skillet. Linda on Cook Daily Recipe shares this approach with calm notes and a friendly tone at https slash slash www dot cookdailyrecipes dot com
2 Easy Classic Smash Burgers Recipe
I reach for a skillet and start with buns and sauce. The smash burger recipe lands on our table two nights a week and the same smash burger recipe still feels fresh. Heat builds. The meat hits the pan. The sizzle sounds right. I press and hold. The edges lace and turn deep brown. I breathe in salt and beef and a hint of onion.
We call this our no fuss plan. Linda from Cook Daily Recipe keeps the steps short. She tests at home and writes with care. The sauce mixes in minutes. The buns toast while patties cook. The cheese melts fast. Then we stack and pass plates.
For range and fun we play with forms. A cast iron session fits the smash burger recipe cast iron idea. A flat top run makes the smash burger tacos recipe a playful twist. That same sauce leans toward an in n out sauce recipe mood that our crew loves.
3 Ingredients for Classic Smash Burgers
Ground beef eighty twenty I use loose balls so the meat spreads clean on contact and browns well
Kosher salt and black pepper Simple seasoning supports the beef and keeps the crust clear
Soft burger buns A light toast gives a little crunch and keeps juices in check
American cheese or sharp cheddar The melt gives body and ties the stack together
Yellow onion thin slices Raw for snap or griddled for sweet notes that lean warm
Dill pickles Bright and briny so each bite wakes up
Butter A quick swipe on the bun adds a soft rich finish that nods to a butter burger recipe path
Mayonnaise ketchup mustard dill pickle juice chopped pickles Worcestershire smoked paprika cayenne This mix makes the secret sauce that smiles at an in n out sauce recipe vibe
4 How to Make Classic Smash Burgers
Step one Heat the pan Set a cast iron or a heavy skillet over medium high until it feels very hot and keep the space clear so you can work fast
Step two Mix the sauce Stir mayonnaise ketchup mustard dill pickle juice chopped pickles Worcestershire smoked paprika and a pinch of cayenne until smooth then chill
Step three Prep the buns Swipe butter on the cut sides so the toast turns light gold and stays tender
Step four Form loose balls Split the beef into small mounds that barely hold so they smash thin and brown well
Step five Smash and season Drop two balls on the hot surface and press hard with a firm spatula or press then season with salt and pepper and do not move until the edges look crisp with lacy bits
Step six Flip and melt Flip once lay on cheese and let it soften then pull the patties
Step seven Toast and build Toast buns spread sauce stack patties add onion pickles and any greens then serve hot
5 Tips for Making Classic Smash Burgers
Keep the meat cold so fat releases and browns on contact. Do not pack tight. Loose meat spreads thin and makes better crust. Wipe the pan if browned bits turn dark.
Use a metal spatula with a sharp edge. Press with steady force. Hold for a slow count of five for a great crust. If you want sweet onions press the patty onto a small pile so the steam softens them.
Play with form for guests. Try a quick pass at the smash burger tacos recipe for a fun night. Or lean rich and brush a little butter on buns for a simple butter burger recipe feel. Each path stays true to the core smash burger recipe idea.
6 Making Classic Smash Burgers Ahead of Time
We mix the sauce early. It rests and tastes better after an hour. We slice onions and pickles and keep them cold. We portion the beef but we do not smash until the pan runs hot.
For a party we toast buns in batches and store them in a warm oven. We set a tray for finished patties so people can build their own. The smash burger recipe still tastes fresh even when cooked in waves.
For meal prep we keep patties raw and shaped as loose balls. We label and chill for a day. When dinner comes we heat the skillet and finish fast. This keeps the crust strong and the center juicy.
7 Storing Leftover Classic Smash Burgers
Leftover patties cool on a rack so they do not steam. We wrap them and chill for two days. The sauce keeps for a week in a sealed jar.
To reheat we set patties in a hot skillet for a short minute per side. We add a touch of water and cover if we want a softer bite. New buns taste best so we toast fresh.
For a twist we crumble cold patties and warm them on a griddle. Then we fill tortillas for a quick nod to the smash burger tacos recipe. The flavor stays bold and the meal lands fast.
8 Try these burgers next
9 Classic Smash Burgers Recipe
Smash Burger Recipe Classic Crispy Patties with Secret Sauce
Ingredients
For the Secret Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped dill pickles
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Burgers
- 1 pound ground beef 80 slash 20
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 slices American cheese or cheddar
- 4 soft burger buns
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion thinly sliced optional
- Lettuce tomato and pickles for serving
Instructions
Mix the Sauce
- Stir mayonnaise ketchup mustard pickle juice chopped pickles Worcestershire cayenne and paprika until smooth
- Cover and chill while you cook
Prep and Heat
- Divide beef into eight loose balls for double burgers or four for single
- Set a cast iron skillet or griddle over medium high until very hot
- Butter the cut sides of buns and set near the pan
Smash and Sear
- Add two beef balls to the hot surface and immediately press hard with a firm spatula or burger press until very thin
- Season with salt and pepper and do not move until the edges look deeply browned with lacy bits
- Flip once lay on cheese and cook just until melted
Toast and Build
- Toast buns in butter until golden
- Spread sauce on both sides
- Stack patties add onion lettuce tomato and pickles
- Close the burger and serve hot with more sauce
10 Nutrition
One burger with bun and sauce gives about six hundred twenty calories with thirty six grams fat fifteen grams saturated fat forty four grams carbs two grams fiber eight grams sugar and thirty one grams protein. Sodium lands near nine hundred eighty milligrams. Values shift with bun size cheese choice and sauce amount.
Author Linda for Cook Daily Recipe at https slash slash www dot cookdailyrecipes dot com
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