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A perfectly caramelized hamburger on the outside but nice and juicy on the inside. The trick is in the smash.
Why We Love This Burger
One bite and you’ll be hooked on this cheeseburger. It tastes like a nostalgic classic diner burger right off a hot griddle. Add cheese and make it a double-decker because…why not?!
Ingredients
- Ground Beef – I prefer this recipe’s 80/20 mix of ground beef.
- Yellow American Cheese – you can use any cheese you like. But if you want the classic, use yellow American cheese slices.
- Pretzel Buns – sesame seed buns would also be a good choice for this burger.
- Yellow Mustard – this is my single choice for the smash burger condiment. Ketchup lovers can feel free to use it too.
- Fresh Tomato Slices
- Shredded Iceberg Lettuce
Let’s Make Smash Burgers
- Form the ground beef into equally-sided round balls. Do not smash burger balls or try to make them into a burger shape.
- Place the beef balls onto a lightly oiled griddle or in a frying pan.
- Using the back of a grill spatula, flatten each burger ball into a thin patty.
- Let them cook, without flipping or touching until the bottoms are brown and the edges start to look crispy.
- Flip the burgers and let them continue to cook until the bottoms brown.
- While the burgers are grilling, toast the tops and bottoms of each bun.
- Top the burgers with cheese.
- To assemble the burger, smear mustard on the bottom bun.
- Add the shredded lettuce on top of the mustard.
- Next comes the tomato slices.
- Place two cheeseburgers on the tomato slice and add the top bun.
Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips
- Do not flatten the burger balls before you place them on the grill. Place the balls on a preheated grill and then smash them.
- Resist flipping the burgers more than once. Wait for them to brown on one side and then flip them to brown and caramelize on the second side.
- The best way to toast the buns is to lightly butter both sides and place them on the grill, butter side down while the burgers are grilling.
More KKM Recipes
- Amish Macaroni Salad
- Peach Panzanella Salad
- Sand Dollar Snickerdoodles Cookies
- Citrus Shrimp with Citrus Remoulade
Smash Burgers
A perfectly caramelized hamburger on the outside but nice and juicy on the inside. The trick is in the smash.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. 80/20 ground beef
- 4 pretzel buns or hamburger buns
- 1 sliced tomato
- 1/4 head shredded iceberg lettuce
- 8 slices yellow American cheese
- yellow mustard
Instructions
- Preheat griddle pan on the grill or a stovetop frying pan
- Form the ground beef into equally-sided round balls.
- Do not smash burger balls or try to make them into a burger shape.
- Place the beef balls onto a lightly oiled griddle or in a frying pan.
- Using the back of a grill spatula, flatten each burger ball into a thin patty.
- Let them cook, without flipping or touching until the bottoms are brown and the edges start to look crispy.
- Flip the burgers and let them continue to cook until the bottoms brown.
- While the burgers are grilling, toast the tops and bottoms of each bun.
- Top the burgers with cheese.
- To assemble the burger, smear mustard on the bottom bun.
- Add the shredded lettuce on top of the mustard.
- Next comes the tomato slices.
- Place two cheeseburgers on the tomato slice and add the top bun.
Notes
Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips
- Do not flatten the burger balls before you place them on the grill. Place the balls on a preheated grill and then smash them.
- Resist flipping the burgers more than once. Wait for them to brown on one side and then flip them to brown and caramelize on the second side.
- The best way to toast the buns is to lightly butter both sides and place them on the grill, butter side down while the burgers are grilling.
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