Shake Shack's Classic Cheeseburger Recipe | Tasting Table
Prep Time:
20 minutes
Cook Time:
10 minutes
Servings:
4 burgers
Ingredients
  • ½ cup Hellman's mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Heinz ketchup
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher dill pickle brine
  • Pinch cayenne pepper
  • 4 hamburger potato buns
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • ShackSauce
  • 4 pieces green-leaf lettuce
  • Eight ¼-inch slices plum tomatoes
  • 1 pound cold ground beef, formed into four 1-inch-thick pucks
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • 4 slices American cheese
Directions
  1. Make the ShackSauce: In a small bowl, stir all of the sauce ingredients until smooth, then set aside.
  2. Make the ShackBurgers: Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Meanwhile, open the hamburger buns and brush both sides liberally with the melted butter. Working in 2 batches, place the buns onto the heated skillet, buttered-sides down, and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and spoon 1 tablespoon of sauce on each top bun, along with a piece of lettuce and 2 slices of tomato.
  3. Increase the heat to medium and let the pan heat up for 2 to 3 minutes. On a plate, season both sides of each puck of ground beef with salt and pepper.
  4. Place the pucks into the cast-iron skillet, leaving plenty of room between them. Using a large, sturdy metal spatula, firmly smash each puck into a ⅓-inch-thick round patty. Cook the burgers without touching them until the edges are brown and crisp, 2½ minutes, then flip them. Place a slice of American cheese on each burger and continue to cook until medium, 1 minute more.
  5. Transfer a cheeseburger to each bottom bun, then sandwich with the top bun and lettuce and tomato, and serve.