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Smash Burgers

Smash Burgers are a special kind of burger that has you saving the flattening for ON the grill. It makes sure as much of the actual burger as possible is in contact with your flat top, and makes the BEST crust.

Smash Burgers

These smash burgers are not only easy to make,  but they are also fast and everyone will LOVE these one-of-a-kind burgers.

These burgers are cooked on a flat-top griddle, which gives them their signature “crust”. It also gives them all the flavor. If you’ve never had a burger like this, don’t wait. You’ll never go back.

How do you cook Griddle Smash Burgers?

The only way to really cook a smash burger is by using a proper flat top. Outside of a commercial kitchen, that usually means firing up your propane-powered flat top grill, such as the Blackstone or Camp Chef Flat Top Griddles. 

You could also use a gas stove and a high-quality cast-iron pan, but smashing in that type of setup can get a little difficult if you don’t have an actual burger press. (There’s a link for the one I recommend down in the recipe if you are interested.)

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You gently roll the meat into a ball that’s about the size of an orange, season with salt and pepper, and place on the pre-heated grill.

More Blackstone Recipes here!

Then, as soon as you have them on the grill you smash them down until they are flat.

You could use a bacon press if you have one, or long spatulas. Just make sure they are STRONG spatulas because you really need to apply significant pressure.

When you smash your burgers, don’t be alarmed. Your edges will not be uniform, and that’s exactly what you want to achieve.

Make this with a Smoked Baked Potato!

Cook until your edges are nice and brown, season the uncooked side, and then flip. The beauty of these burgers it that they cook quickly, and they are thin enough that you don’t really have to worry about undercooking them. 

Top with your favorite kind of cheese, cover with a melting lid (also linked below), melt that cheese and GET EATING.

Get the ULTIMATE Bacon Onion Smash Burgers recipe!

How do I serve Smash Burgers?

Choose your favorite kind of bun, and take into consideration how many toppings you plan on serving. If you are offering “the works”, choose a sturdy bread that will hold up to lots of toppings and condiments. I also recommend giving the buns a good toast on the oiled griddle before the burgers go on. 

Different types of rolls that would be GREAT for Smash Burgers:

  1. Pretzel Roll
  2. Kaiser Roll
  3. Onion Roll
  4. Potato Roll
  5. Sesame Seed Bun
  6. Ciabatta Roll

With a lot of toppings you want to choose a roll that is sturdy, but not hard.

If you are just serving a cheeseburger, potato buns or brioche buns would work. Even just plain old cheapy generic hamburger buns would be just fine, really. That’s what you see pictured here. 

What toppings and condiments go on Smash Burgers?

Condiments:

  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Mayo
  • Aioli
  • Thousand Island Dressing (can we say Big Mac?)
  • Ranch Dressing
  • Steak Sauce
  • BBQ sauce
  • Pizza sauce (Pizza burgers)

Toppings:

  • Lettuce
  • Tomato
  • Onion (raw or grilled)
  • Bacon
  • Pickles
  • Avocado
  • Chiles

Don’t forget the cheese! Any variety you want, as long as it melts well. Cheddar, American, Pepper Jack, Provolone, Mozzarella, Colby Jack, Gouda, etc. Pick your favorite!

I like to set up a buffet-style table, and let your family or guests go wild.

What should I serve with these easy griddle smash burgers?

As with any classic burger bash, you can choose what you and your family or guests love the most. Any kind of potatoes from French fries to smashed potatoes will work. Any kind of veggie selection either raw or cooked. Pasta salads such as my Grilled Caesar Pasta Salad, Greek Pasta Salad, or my classic Tuna Pasta Salad with Dill.

Keeping it simple? Serve on paper plates and offer a big bowl of chips. You can go big or you can go small, depending on the occasion.

These Smash Burgers will become a regular on your rotation of quick, easy, and delicious meals to serve when you are short on time and don’t want to hit up the drive-through. 

Yield: 8 servings

Smash Burgers

Blackstone Griddle Smash Burgers

These easy flat top grilled smash burgers will be the hit of your dinner rotation. Skip the drive-thru and make restaurant-quality burgers right at home.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds ground beef
  • salt and pepper
  • 8 slices cheese
  • 8 hamburger buns
  • 16 slices bacon

Instructions

  1. Form the burgers into 8 equally-sized balls. Season the tops with salt and pepper.
  2. Preheat your griddle or flat top or cast iron over medium-high to high heat.
  3. Place the burger balls onto the grill, and immediately smash down with a burger smasher, bacon press, or heavy-duty spatula.
  4. Cook for several minutes until a dark-brown crust forms, season the uncooked side of the burger, and then flip.
  5. Top with cheese, cover with a melting lid (if necessary), and cook another couple of minutes until the bottom also has the crust formed.
  6. Remove from the flat top and serve hot!

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 812Total Fat: 49gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 202mgSodium: 989mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 65g

Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate. If you are tracking these things for medical purposes please consult an outside, trusted source. Thanks!

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Nicole Johnson

Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.

Carlos Montoya

Thursday 22nd of June 2023

Size of an orange????? A 3" orange or a 1.4" orange?? big difference! I did a 2" and it was way too much. Please be more accurate.

Nicole Johnson

Thursday 22nd of June 2023

A 1.4" orange would be known as a tangerine. I didn't say tangerine, I said orange. Oranges are fairly uniform in size. We like them big, so that's what we did. With this recipe (and all of our other recipes) you need to use your own best judgement and adjust to your own tastes and preferences. Please be more polite. ;)

BB

Tuesday 18th of January 2022

These are just hamburgers. I've made them this way ever since I can remember.

Nicole Johnson

Tuesday 18th of January 2022

Okay?

Ronnye Miller

Wednesday 21st of April 2021

When do made smash burgers they stuck to the griddle even thought it had oil on it!

Nicole Johnson

Wednesday 21st of April 2021

Is your griddle well-seasoned? They are kind of supposed to stick a little. That's the burgers developing a crust. Then you need to use a sharp sturdy spatula to take the crust off and keep it attached to the burger where it belongs.

Frank Petty

Tuesday 19th of November 2019

Looks great

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