If you've ever wished you could recreate those crispy, juicy burgers from your favorite burger joint at home, this homemade smashburger recipe is the answer. With crispy edges, a juicy center, and a simple homemade burger sauce, these burgers come together in less than 30 minutes and are perfect for busy weeknights, cookouts, or whenever you're craving a classic burger.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy, caramelized edges and a juicy center create the perfect homemade smash burger every time.
- Made with simple ingredients and an easy homemade burger sauce that takes just minutes to whisk together.
- Ready in less than 30 minutes, making it a great weeknight dinner.
- Easy to customize with your favorite cheese, buns, and fresh toppings.
- Cooks entirely in a cast iron skillet or on a hot griddle, so you don't need a grill.
Do you love burgers? Try one of our variations on the classic hamburger here:
Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef - An 85/15 or 90/10 lean ground beef works well for this recipe. A little fat helps create juicy smash burgers while still developing a delicious crispy crust. If you use 93/7, you may need to add a little oil to the pan.
- Burger buns - Potato buns and brioche buns are both excellent choices because they're soft enough to compress around the thin patties while still holding up to the burger sauce and toppings.
- Worcestershire sauce - A small amount mixed into the beef adds extra savory flavor without overpowering the burgers.
- Cheese - we love having melty cheese on our burgers! If you use cheese we love cheddar, pepper jack, havarti, and muenster. American cheese is also an option.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements or these homemade smash burgers.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Wait until your cast iron skillet or hot griddle is fully heated before adding the beef. A hot surface is the key to developing a delicious crust.
- Smash the burgers immediately after placing the meat on the pan. Press firmly with a sturdy spatula or burger press and hold for a few seconds to create a thin patty.
- Toast the hamburger buns for the best texture and to help prevent them from becoming soggy.
- Swap the homemade burger sauce for BBQ sauce, spicy mayo, or your favorite burger spread.
- Add fresh toppings like red onion, lettuce, tomato, pickles, sautéed onions, or jalapeños.
- Serve the juicy burger with French fries, potato salad, tater tots, roasted vegetables, or a simple side salad.
How to Make A Good Smash Burger
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, ketchup, mustard, and pickle juice (or relish) until smooth. Set the burger sauce aside in the fridge while you prep the patties.
Step 2: In a large bowl, add the ground beef, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
Step 3: Gently mix with your hands until just combined.
Step 4: Divide the meat mixture into 4-6 equal portions and roll each into a loose ball. You'll smash these directly in the pan, so there's no need to shape them into patties ahead of time.
Step 5: Heat a large cast iron pan or skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Lightly grease the pan with oil spray. Once hot, add the meat balls to the pan, leaving space between each one.
Using a large spatula (or a burger press), immediately smash each ball into a thin patty, about ¼ inch thick. Press hard and hold for a few seconds. Let the patties cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy on the bottom.
Flip the patties (if you’re adding cheese, add it on top now) and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until cooked through and the cheese is melted.
Step 6: While the patties finish cooking, toast the burger buns in a separate pan or under the broiler until lightly golden.
Spread the burger sauce on the toasted buns. Layer on the patties and any toppings of choice, like onion, tomato, lettuce, or pickles. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Homemade Smash Burger FAQs
A smash burger is cooked by pressing a ball of ground beef onto a hot cooking surface to create a very thin patty with crispy, caramelized edges. Traditional burgers are usually thicker and retain more of their rounded shape while cooking.
Store leftover burger patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the burger sauce separately if possible. Reheat the patties in a skillet over medium heat for 1–2 minutes per side, or microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through. Toast fresh buns before serving for the best texture.
Yes. Let the cooked patties cool completely, then freeze them in a freezer-safe container or bag with parchment paper between each patty for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Yes, as long as you're using a flat-top griddle or griddle insert. Smash burgers need a flat, hot cooking surface to develop their signature crispy crust, so they won't turn out the same on standard grill grates.
For a gluten-free smash burger, ensure your Worcestershire sauce is gluten free and use a gluten free bun. For a dairy-free smash burger, simply omit the slice of cheese.
Other Delicious Recipes That Use Ground Beef
If you make this homemade smash burger recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished product—it makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Homemade Smashburger With Burger Sauce
Ingredients
For the meat mixture:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
For the burger sauce:
- ½ cup light or regular mayo
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice or dill relish
For the burgers:
- Burger buns of choice
- Toppings of choice - cheese, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, etc.
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, ketchup, mustard, and pickle juice (or relish) until smooth. Set the burger sauce aside in the fridge while you prep the patties.
- In a large bowl, add the ground beef, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Gently mix with your hands until just combined.
- Divide the meat mixture into 4-6 equal portions (depending on preference—they can be easier to flatten with a smaller amount) and roll each into a loose ball. You'll smash these directly in the pan, so there's no need to shape them into patties ahead of time.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Lightly grease the pan with oil spray. Once hot, add the meat balls to the pan, leaving space between each one (cooking in batches if needed).
- Using a sturdy spatula (or a burger press), immediately smash each ball into a thin patty, about ¼ inch thick. Press hard and hold for a few seconds. Let the patties cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy on the bottom.
- Flip the patties (if you’re adding cheese, add it on top now) and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until cooked through (165 degrees F) and the cheese is melted.
- While the patties finish cooking, toast the burger buns in a separate pan, in the toaster, or under the broiler until lightly golden.
- Spread the burger sauce on the toasted buns. Layer on the patties and any toppings of choice, like onion, tomato, lettuce, or pickles. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Mix together the burger sauce up to 3 days ahead and store it in the refrigerator.
- Measure and combine the seasonings ahead of time so dinner comes together even faster.
- Chop your burger toppings in advance and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Portion the beef into four equal-sized balls a few hours ahead of time. Store covered in the refrigerator, then smash and cook just before serving for the best results.
- For a gluten-free smash burger, ensure your worcestershire sauce is gluten free and use a gluten free bun. For a dairy-free smash burger, simply omit the slice of cheese.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Homemade Smashburger." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
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