Easy Smash Burger Recipe with Crispy Edges
These easy homemade smash burgers have perfectly seasoned beef, crispy edges, melty cheese, grilled onions, and toasted brioche buns. Make them on a Blackstone, griddle, or flat stovetop for an easy Friday night dinner the whole family can customize.
Equipment
- Blackstone, flat griddle, flat stovetop, or large skillet any flat cooking surface
- Burger press or sturdy spatula I just use a sturdy spatula
- large mixing bowl
- Knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 1.3 lbs ground beef I use the organic ground beef from the Costco 3-pack
- 1-2 Onions
- 8 slices American or cheddar cheese
- 8 brioche hamburger buns
- 1 tbsp Kinder's Butcher's Burger Blend
- 1 tbsp Sweet Onion Bacon Seasoning
- garlic to taste
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
For Serving
- ketchup
- pickles
- mayo
- burger sauce
- grilled onions
- any other favorite burger toppings
Instructions
- Add the ground beef to a large bowl. Season with Kinder’s Butcher’s Burger Blend, Sweet Onion Bacon seasoning, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix until the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the beef.If you like onions mixed into your burgers, finely dice some of the onion and mix it directly into the ground beef. Otherwise, save the onion for grilling.
- Divide the seasoned ground beef into 8 evenly sized balls. Don't flatten them into patties yet. Lightly form each portion just enough for it to hold together without tightly packing the meat.
- Thinly slice the remaining onion.Preheat your Blackstone, griddle, flat cooktop, or large flat skillet until hot.Cook the sliced onions until softened and grilled to your liking.Toast the brioche buns directly on the cooking surface or in a toaster. Set aside. Have your cheese and toppings ready before you begin cooking the burgers because they cook quickly.
- Place the beef balls directly onto the hot cooking surface. Immediately use a burger press or sturdy spatula to smash each ball into a thin patty.Work in batches if necessary so you don't overcrowd the cooking surface.
- Let the patties cook undisturbed until a browned crust and crispy edges develop, approximately 90 seconds.Flip each patty and continue cooking until it reaches your desired doneness.Top each patty with a slice of cheddar or American cheese and allow it to melt.
- Place the smash burger patties onto the toasted brioche buns. Top with grilled onions, burger sauce, ketchup, pickles, or whatever toppings you like.For a double smash burger, stack two patties together with cheese and serve immediately.
Notes
- Get your cooking surface hot. You want to hear an immediate sizzle when the beef hits it.
- Smash once. Don't continue pressing down on the patties while they cook.
- Prep everything first. These burgers cook quickly, so have the buns, cheese, onions, and toppings ready before you start smashing.
- Toast your buns. It makes a difference. 😂
- Watch the salt. The seasoning blends already add plenty of flavor, so season generously without going overboard on additional salt.
- Make them doubles. The 8 patties are intentionally thin, so two patties make a filling double smash burger.
- No Blackstone required. I use the flat cooktop on my stove, but a Blackstone, cast iron griddle, or large flat skillet works too.
- Store leftover patties separately from the buns and toppings in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat the patties and assemble with a freshly toasted bun.