Homemade Smash Burgers are juicy burgers that are smashed down onto a hot cast iron frying pan to deliver deliciously caramelized burgers! These easy-to-make burgers are ready to be introduced to your taste buds in just 35 minutes!
You can’t truly enjoy a burger without a side of fries! So grab a bag of potatoes and fry up a batch of my crispy, crunchy Homemade French Fries that are double-fried to golden brown perfection!
These Homemade Smash Burgers are juicy, yet crisp burgers that are served up on your favorite hamburger buns! Smother your burger with special sauce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and lettuce before digging in!
It takes just 35 minutes from start to finish to serve up these tall, juicy burgers! They’re a great weeknight meal option for your family or a fun dish to share with friends on the weekend!
What Is A Smash Burger?
Smash Burgers are burgers that started as balls of ground beef. Then as soon as they hit the hot cooking surface they’re smashed down!
This is done by using a burger smasher such as a meat press, meat mallet, or large metal spatula.
What Is The Point Of A Smash Burger?
The point of this burger cooking technique is to serve up juicy, flavorful burgers that you just don’t get from patties! Since the burger is smashed down on the hot skillet, the burger gets a crisp, well-browned crust without overcooking the inside!
How Do These Cast Iron Smash Burgers Get Their Flavor?
Most make their homemade burgers by mixing in their choice of seasonings when forming the patty. However, doing so actually causes the burger to not be as tender.
Therefore, the seasoning for these burgers is added after they’ve been smashed onto the hot frying pan! For smash burger seasoning I like to sprinkle ours with seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
When making smash burgers, the less handling of the meat also means they’ll be more flavorful! So this means there’s no binding agent such as eggs mixed in.
Instead, the chilled meat holds itself together and creates more flavor when it hits the hot cooking surface. This is because the burger cooks in its own fatty juice, caramelizing it up to tasty perfection!
What Toppings Can I Put On These Burgers?
The best smash burgers have all of YOUR favorite toppings on them! So whatever you normally like on burgers can also be piled onto these!
I prefer mine with melty cheese, turning them into a smashed cheeseburger. From there I load on shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, purple onions, and dill pickles.
But most importantly don’t forget to smother these with Burger Sauce!
This easy-to-make sauce has a base of mayo, ketchup, and dill relish. From there a handful of seasonings are added to pack a punch of delicious flavor!
Can I Still Make This Recipe If I Don’t Have A Cast Iron Skillet?
You can definitely still make these burgers even if you don’t have a cast-iron skillet! Instead, you can just use a well-heated, heavy-bottomed skillet or frying pan.
You could even make these on a griddle or Blackstone. Regardless if they’re Blackstone Smash Burgers or Cast Iron Skillet Smash Burgers the important part is that they’re safe to eat!
For the burgers to be safe to eat their internal temperature needs to be at least 160 degrees F. The temperature can easily be checked using a meat thermometer.
When Cooking Smashed Burgers, How Do You Prevent The Meat From Sticking To The Utensil Used To Smash The Meat?
When the chilled ball of ground meat is placed onto the hot cooking surface a piece of parchment paper is carefully placed over it. Then you smash the meat by placing your utensil of choice onto the parchment paper and firmly pressing down.
Once the meat has been flattened out you just carefully peel the parchment paper off of the meat!
How Do I Store Leftover Smash Burgers?
Place the Smash Burgers into an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them for up to 4 months.
If the Smash Burgers have already been assembled with a bun, toppings, and dressings, I’d just toss them out.
Smash Burgers At Home are a mouthwatering way to switch up how you cook burgers for friends and family! Cook up another satisfying and delicious burger recipe that their taste buds will love just as much!
- Classic Patty Melt – Made with swiss cheese, caramelized onions, and sliced bread!
- Burger Bowls – This Keto-Friendly cuts down on carbs while still enjoying the flavor of a real burger!
- Meat Lovers Cheeseburger – Tender pulled pork and crispy bacon piled onto a juicy cheeseburger!
- Oven Burgers – An easy, go-to weeknight recipe served up on delicious pretzel buns!
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Smash Burgers In Cast Iron Skillet
Equipment
- Cast iron frying pan
- Parchment paper
- Firm spatula
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef 80/20 preferred
- ¼ cup salted butter melted
- 4 hamburger buns
- 2 tablespoons seasoning salt
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 8 slices cheese
- sliced tomatoes for serving
- sliced red onions for serving
- shredded lettuce for serving
- dill pickles for serving
Instructions
- Divide the ground beef into 8 equal portions and shape each portion into a ball, handling the meat as little as possible. Place the balls onto a plate or cookie sheet and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. The meat will stick together better if it goes onto the grill hot.2 pounds ground beef
- Prepare pieces of parchment paper to use while smashing the burgers but cutting them into 5 or 6-inch squares. Set aside.
- Next, butter the buns generously then either place them cut side down on a grill or frying pan and cook over medium heat until they are toasted. Or, place the buttered bun cut side up on a baking sheet and bake them in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes, or until toasted.¼ cup salted butter, 4 hamburger buns
- Heat a cast-iron frying pan over medium-high heat with a little bit of oil then place one of the balls of meat into the pan. Place a piece of parchment paper over the ball and use a spatula to hold it flat on the ball and press down hard on the spatula (use a meat mallet or meat press) to create a thin patty. Once you remove the parchment paper, sprinkle on a little seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder (I use a sprinkle of each).2 tablespoons seasoning salt, 1 tablespoon ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 2 tablespoons onion powder
- Add and press balls but do not crowd the pan. You will need to do a couple of batches. Do not crowd the patties.
- Cook the patties for 2 to 4 minutes or until charred and brown on the bottom, the patties are ready to flip when the juices begin pooling on top. Do not disturb, move, poke, or flatten the patties while they are cooking. The only time you will move them is when you flip them. Flip them over (make sure to scrape up the browned bits from the pan) and allow to cook for another 2 to 4 minutes, or until cooked to desired doneness.
- Add a slice of cheese to every patty as you remove the burgers from the grill so the cheese melts over the hot burgers.8 slices cheese
- Place the burgers on the buns and add whatever optional garnishes you prefer.sliced tomatoes, sliced red onions, shredded lettuce, dill pickles
Notes
- This recipe makes 4 double cheeseburgers.
- You don’t want to mix the seasonings into the meat because it will overwork the meat and change the texture of the burger. The less handling the better.
- How To Store: Place the Smash Burgers into an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them for up to 4 months.
- Can I Still Make This Recipe If I Don’t Have A Cast Iron Skillet? You can definitely still make these burgers even if you don’t have a cast-iron skillet! Instead, you can just use a well-heated, heavy-bottomed skillet or frying pan. You could even make these on a griddle or Blackstone. Regardless if they’re Blackstone Smash Burgers or Cast Iron Skillet Smash Burgers the important part is that they’re safe to eat!
Nutrition
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