Easy Smash Burger Recipe
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
10 minutes
Servings:
4 Servings
Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef, cold
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon ketchup
  • ½ teaspoon dill pickle brine
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 4 slices American cheese
  • 8 slices thinly sliced tomato
  • 4 pieces of leafy romaine lettuce
Directions
  1. Separate the ground beef into 4 equal portions. Make a hockey puck-sized patty with each portion.
  2. Combine the salt and pepper to make a seasoning mix, and sprinkle half on the tops of the 4 burgers. Refrigerate for 5 minutes, or until ready to cook.
  3. Melt 1 tablespoon butter and brush the melted butter onto the inside of each bun. Toast the buns, buttered side down, in a skillet over medium heat, until browned and crispy on the edges. Remove them from the heat.
  4. To make the sauce, mix together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, ketchup, pickle brine, and cayenne until well-incorporated. Spread the sauce on the tops of the toasted buns.
  5. To cook the burger patties, heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Melt the remaining butter, and once sizzling, place a cold burger patty into the skillet, seasoned side down. Immediately press down firmly with a grill press or large spatula. Flatten the burger completely, and once it's beginning to brown, remove the grill press.
  6. Season the top of the burger and cook until deeply browned. Flip, pressing down again if the burger begins to puff upwards.
  7. Add cheese to the top of the burger. Cook until the burger is deeply browned and the cheese is melted, about 1-2 minutes, then remove it from the heat.
  8. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining 3 burgers.
  9. To build the smash burger, layer the cheeseburger on the bottom bun, and top it with 2 slices of tomato and lettuce. Complete the burger with the sauced bun top.