Smash Burgers

double smash burger with melted cheese, crispy edges

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How to make crispy smash burgers at home.

Prep Time5

Cook Time9

Total Time14

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: smash burgers

Servings: servings

Calories: 366kcal

Equipment

Cast iron skillet or outside grill

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef 80/20
Kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 soft burger buns potato buns preferred
4 slices American cheese
pickles, onions, burger sauce optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat Your Cooking Surface

Heat a cast iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes — you want it hot enough that a drop of water sizzles and skitters across the surface the instant it lands.

Form the Beef Balls

Divide the beef into 4 equal portions (about 3 to 4 ounces each) and roll loosely into balls.

Don't pack them — loose meat is what keeps the finished burger tender instead of dense.

Toast the Buns

Lightly butter and toast buns in the pan until golden. Set aside.

Smash the Burgers

Place a beef ball on the hot surface and press it flat immediately with a spatula or burger press — this has to happen the second it touches the pan, not after.
Press firmly for about 10 seconds. A sheet of parchment paper between the spatula and the meat prevents the meat from sticking.

Season & Cook

Season with salt and pepper, then cook undisturbed for 1 to 2 minutes, until the edges are deeply crisp and browned.

Flip & Add Cheese

Scrape firmly under the patty with a metal spatula, then flip.
Add cheese immediately. Cook another 30 to 60 seconds.

If the crust was properly seared, it releases cleanly — if it tears or sticks, the pan probably needed another minute of heat before you started.

Assemble & Serve

Stack two patties per burger, add your toppings, and serve immediately — these don't hold, and they're not trying to.

Notes

Nutritional information is automatically calculated using the WP Recipe Maker nutrition database and should be considered only an estimate. Actual values may vary depending on ingredient brands, product variations, substitutions, and portion sizes.

Nutrition