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Man with tattooed arm holding cheeseburger

Smash Burgers

A perfectly caramelized hamburger on the outside but nice and juicy on the inside. The trick is in the smash.
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Course: dinner, hearty lunch, lunch
Cuisine: All American
Keyword: burgers, cheeseburger, hamburger
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 double-decker cheeseburgers
Author: Laura Franco

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.