Easy Smash Burgers

5 from 2 votes
Jump to Recipe

This post contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

My kids are insanely picky – they ask for one thing every day, then suddenly won’t eat it again for months – but the one thing they ask for over and over are my husbands Smash Burgers.

These burgers are pressed on the griddle (this is an awesome Blackstone recipe!) for a perfect thin, crispy burger bite, stacked double for the cheesiest burgers at home! If you love In n Out or Freddy’s, you’re going to love these easy burgers.

Griddled smashed cheeseburger in a bun on a metal plate

Don’t want all the extras in a recipe post? We provide a skip to recipe button in the top left corner, as well as a clickable table of contents, just below, to help make this page easier to navigate.

At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Smashburger in a bun on a metal plate

Easy Thin Griddled Burgers

Smashburgers are an easy, fun take on the summer grilling classic.ย These are easy, and only take a few minutes to cook and will be a huge hit with your family and friends!

Smash burgers are all about the Maillard reaction – the cooking process where the high heat, meat, amino acids, natural sugars and fat come together to brown into delicious, concentrated flavor.

Smashing the burgers onto the griddle top creates more surface area for the Maillard reaction to work its magic. The more brown, and more crunch you get on your smash burger, the better itโ€™s going to taste! 

We hope you love this delicious classic American recipe as much as we do!

Check out my web story about these easy Smash burgers!

How To Make Smashburgers

To make this recipe, youโ€™ll need:

Smashburger Ingredientsย 

  • Ground beef – Use 80/20 ground beef. That number indicates the meat-to-fat ratio of that particular blend of ground beef. The first number is the percentage of beef, the second number is the percentage of fat included in the blend. 80/20 ground beef is the classic burger blend, because it includes enough fat to provide rich beef flavor and keep your burger moist.
  • Cheese– Use Kraft Deluxe American Cheese. Donโ€™t overthink it, literally nothing melts on a burger better than American cheese. Use it.
  • Salt and pepper – Salt and pepper are indispensable 
  • Butter or Avocado oil – I use a combination of both. Butter provides flavor, and avocado provides a higher smoke point. Together they help keep the griddle non-stick and provide plenty of flavor
  • Buns – Pick your favorite bun. Since these are diner classic hamburgers, Iโ€™d go for a classic white bun. 

Condiments –  Condiments like mustard, relish, and ketchup are great ways to bring balance to the rich meat and cheese on your burger. Mayonnaise on the bun can actually help keep the bread from getting soggy, by creating a layer that keeps the melted cheese and fat from the burger from being absorbed into your bun.

Smashburger Method:

One youโ€™ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:ย 

picture of ground beef in a ball on a scale

Prep.

Take your meat out of the fridge, using a food scale portion, and roll it into 2.5 oz balls and place it on parchment paper. I make double burgers, so each burger takes two 2.5 oz balls.

Bring your griddle to temperature, and add the butter and oil to met. When the butter melts and the oil begins to smoke you are ready to cook.

picture of smashed burger patty on a griddle

Griddle.

Place meat on the griddle. I try to keep each โ€œpairโ€ of patties close together on the grill for ease of cooking. Once your balls are on the griddle, use your spatula to smash them flat on the cooking surface. Press down hard with you spatula to flatten them. Once all the patties are smashed, season aggressively with salt and pepper.

picture of browned smashed burger patty cooking on a griddle

Flip.

Flip your burgers when the edges of the patties begin to brown. Season again with salt and pepper.

picture of slice of american cheese on a ground beef patty on a griddle

Add Cheese.

When the patties are close to being cooked through, add a piece of cheese to the top of each patty.

picture of lid over beef patty on a griddle

Steam.

You can speed up the melting process by using a squeeze bottle to spray a small amount of water onto the grill and then cover with a metal bowl or cover to trap the steam.ย 

An easy smashburgers recipe featuring ketchup and cheese on a plate.

Serve.

When the burgers are done and the cheese is melted remove from the griddle and place on a rack and sheet pan. Serve immediately while hot.

Tips and Tricks to Perfect Smashburgers and FAQs

Toast your buns. After the grill has come to temperature, but before you cook your burgers, lightly butter the inside of your buns and toast them 35-45 seconds on your griddle, or until they reach your desired level of toast

Push down and away to avoid sticking. To avoid having the burger meat stick to your spatula when you smash them, push down and away on one half and the patty and pull toward the edge of the meat. This will keep the meat from sticking to your spatula.

Smashburgers can’t be too thin. You canโ€™t press down too much! The lacier and thinner the edges of the meat are, the more they will brown and get crunchy. If the patties come apart a bit, donโ€™t worry, the cheese will melt and hold them together. 

Flip when burgers brown. Youโ€™ll know when to flip the smash burgers when the lacy edges of the meat start to brown and the center of the patties start to turn from red to brown and fat begins to form drops on the top of the patties. 

Let cheese crisp.  For an extra blast of flavor, let the edges of the melted cheese start to brown and crisp on the griddle before you take off your smashburgers. This extra-bit of crunchy cheese will add an amazing textural and flavor element to the smash burgers. 

Use parchment if needed.  Really worried about the patty sticking to your spatula when you smash it? Place a piece of parchment paper on top of the ball of meat and then smash with the spatula through the paper. 

FAQs

How long does it take to cook these easy smash burgers?

It will only take 3-5 minutes to cook the 2.5 oz, approximately 2-3 minutes per side, until the edges of the meat starts to brown. Actual cooking times will vary depending on the temperature of your grill.ย 

Do I need a special tool to make smashburgers?

No special tools are needed for these easy smash burgers. Use a spatula and a piece of parchment paper. If you really want extra leverage, use another spatula, wooden spoon, or a bench scraper to press down on the smashing spatula.ย 
We love using a steaming dome for our blackstone (you can use any lid or cover, or even an upside down pan if you don’t have one) or buy one here.

Can I cook smashburgers in a pan?

You can cook these easy smash burgers on your stove top by using a large cast iron skillet to cook the patties.
Cook them in batches, depending on the size of your cast iron skillet. Remember not to crowd the pan. Leave enough room between the smashed patties to let the steam cook off. The patties wonโ€™t brown if you crowd the pan.ย 

What should I cook smashburgers on?

We prefer making smashburgers on a Blackstone outdoor griddle grill – but the burgers can also be made in a cast iron or heavy pan or using a griddle pan.

When are smashburgers done?

Smashburgers are very thin, so it is easy to tell when your ground beef is fully cooked, unlike regular thicker burgers. Burgers are fully cooked when they are browned well on both sides.
Since the burger is so thin, there isn’t enough space to get a reliable temperature – go off the look of your burger instead of the temperature (which will be above the FDA recommended temperature of 145 degrees) for these burgers.

How long does it take to grill smashburgers?

Smashburgers cook incredibly fast since they are so thin – only about 3-4 minutes per side, and less than a minute to melt cheese – around 7-9 minutes total, depending on your griddle and how thin you press your burgers.

Do I need to weigh burgers?

Technically you can skip weighing burgers – but we found it really helps to keep your burgers at an even cooking time, and gives the absolute best results for thin burgers at home without any burger press or special equipment.

What to Serve With Smashburgers

Classic diner burgers like these easy smash burgers call for classic diner sides. I would recommend french fries to complete this perfect summer meal. 

Try my Best Easy Air Fryer french fries. Theyโ€™re fast, and the airfryer wonโ€™t heat up your house in the summer.

Donโ€™t have an airfyer? Donโ€™t worry, flash-fry home made french fries are delicious.

If you looking for something a little more fresh and healthy to go with your burger try coleslaw like my Best Easy Coleslaw that has just four ingredients.

Potato Salad is another great accompaniment to the easy smash burgers.

You can also check out some of our favorite cookout and BBQ sides:

Close-up of a cheeseburger with melted cheese and sauce in a bun. Text overlay reads "Griddle Smashburgers" and "Easy Smashburgers Recipe.

If you love this easy recipe please click the stars below to give it a five star rating and leave a comment! Pease also help me share on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!

Share on Facebook

Share

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It

Follow on Instagram

Follow

Only have 30 minutes to get dinner on the table? Sign up for my 30 minute dinner plans direct to your inbox!
Find and shop my favorite products in my Amazon storefront here!

Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week – and be sure to tag @sweetcsdesigns on social media – I love to see your creations!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
5 from 2 votes

Best Easy Smash Burgers

By: Courtney O’Dell
Servings: 6
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
smashburger in a bun with mustard, cheese, and ketchup
Delicious easy smash burgers are a great way to enjoy a burger in rain or shine!

Equipment

  • Blackstone Griddle Accessories – 12 Inch Round Basting Cover
  • Blackstone 4-Burner 36" Griddle Cooking Station
  • BBQ Heavy Duty Spatula Scraper Cleaning Kit

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Form the ground beef into 12 round even balls.
  • Bring your griddle to medium high. Add the butter and oil. When the butter melts and the oil begins to smoke you are ready to cook.
  • Place your meat on the griddle, use your spatula to smash them hard to flatten on the cooking surface.ย 
  • Season aggressively with salt and pepper.
  • Flip your burgers when the edges of the patties begin to brown.ย  Season again with salt and pepper.
  • When the patties are close to being cooked through, add a piece of cheese to the top of each patty.ย 
  • When the burgers are done and the cheese is melted remove from the griddle.
  • Add two patties to each bun and enjoy.

Notes

You can speed up the cheese melting process by using a squeeze bottle to spray a small amount of water onto the grill and then cover with a metal bowl or cover to trap the steam.ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 1burgerCalories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 52gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 750mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Burgers & Sandwiches
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetcsdesigns or tag #sweetcsdesigns!

About Courtney

Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style. Courtney writes the popular creative lifestyle blog Sweet Cโ€™s Designs- a site devoted to delicious everyday recipes, home decor, crafts, DIY inspiration, and photography tips to help make your every day extraordinary.

You May Also Like

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating