Juicy, crispy-edged smash burger with melty cheese and tangy creamy secret sauce, ready in 25 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Smash Burgers
01 - 1 lb ground beef, 80/20 blend
02 - 1 tsp kosher salt
03 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
04 - 4 slices American cheese
05 - 4 soft burger buns
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
09 - 8 dill pickle chips
→ Secret Sauce
10 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
11 - 1 1/2 tbsp ketchup
12 - 1 tbsp yellow mustard
13 - 1 tbsp finely chopped dill pickles
14 - 1 tsp white vinegar
15 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
16 - 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
17 - Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, chopped pickles, white vinegar, garlic powder, smoked paprika and a pinch of cayenne in a small bowl until smooth; cover and chill or leave at room temperature while cooking.
02 - Divide the ground beef into four equal portions (about 4 oz each) and loosely roll each into a ball without compacting the meat.
03 - Melt the butter in a skillet or on the griddle over medium heat, place buns cut-side down and toast until golden-brown; set aside.
04 - Preheat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over high heat until it is smoking hot to ensure rapid searing.
05 - Place the beef balls on the hot surface with spacing between them; using a sturdy metal spatula or press, smash each ball firmly into a thin patty approximately 1/4 inch thick; immediately season with salt and pepper.
06 - Cook the patties without moving for 2 minutes to develop crisp, deeply browned edges; flip each patty, place a slice of cheese on top and cook 1 minute more until the cheese melts.
07 - Spread secret sauce on both bun halves, layer shredded lettuce, pickle chips and sliced red onion on the bottom bun, place the cheesy patty on top and cap with the toasted bun.
08 - Serve immediately while patties are hot and edges are crisp; accompany with fries or preferred sides.
