Learn How To Make Smash Burgers On the Grill with this easy recipe! This juicy burger with a perfectly crispy crust will instantly become your new favorite - and it cooks in less than 10 minutes!
If you love this recipe, check out my Big Mac Smash Burger Tacos next!
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Editor's Note: This post was originally published on April 28, 2023. I recently updated it on January 19, 2025, with more information and helpful tips, but the recipe remains the same.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- It cooks in about 10 minutes.
- You can use a grill, skillet, or griddle.
- You will love the crispy edges.
- You can make as many or as little as you want.
- They make great leftovers for meal prep or busy weeknights!
Recipe ingredients
All ingredients for these grilled smash burgers are shown in the picture below, and special notes are made in the bulleted list below to assist you.
- Ground meat. You can use any type of ground beef for a smashed burger, such as ground chuck or ground sirloin - even ground venison. Use a ¼ pound for each burger.
- Seasoning. I used seasoning salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Hamburger buns. Toast the burger buns for the best burgers. You can use my Super Soft Hamburger Buns, Brioche or potato buns, or my easy-to-make Mennonite Air Buns. Use gluten-free buns for a gluten intolerance or skip the bun for low carb.
- Cheese slices. I used white cheddar cheese, but you could use American, Swiss, or Gouda Cheese.
- Smashburger sauce: This is made with mayonnaise, yellow mustard, ketchup, pickle juice, and chopped pickles.
- Fried onions: I fried some yellow onion sliced thin on the grill while the homemade smash burgers were cooking. So good!
- Burger toppings: Use your favorite toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, bacon, and pickles.
See the printable recipe card below for quantities and a full list of ingredients.
How to make smash burgers on grill
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1:
First, preheat your grill to 450 degrees F. Depending on your grill, this could take 5-15 minutes. Heat your cooking surface over medium-high heat, and ensure it's hot before cooking. You can use a Blackstone griddle, a Traeger Flatrock grill, or a good old cast iron pan. I used a Camp Chef griddle and placed it on my Traeger pellet grill. You can even use a regular electric griddle or a cast iron pan on the stove.
Step 2:
While the grill is preheating, mix together ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon ketchup, 1 tablespoon pickle juice, and ¼ cup chopped pickles in a small bowl to make the special sauce. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Step 3:
Mix 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon seasoning salt, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. Add the ground beef and mix until well combined. Divide the burger into eight equal portions, each about a quarter pound or 4 ounces. You can eyeball it or use a kitchen scale to be precise. Cut a piece of parchment paper into a square slightly larger than your beef balls.
Step 4:
Now it's time to smash the burger! Place the ball of ground beef on the hot surface and place a piece of parchment paper on top. Use a sturdy spatula, burger press, or the bottom of a cast iron skillet to flatten it into a thin patty about ½ inch thick.
Press down hard to create thin patties so you get crispy edges. You may have small holes in the patty, and that's okay! Cook the patty for 3-5 minutes, until the edges start to brown and the bottom is golden brown and nicely seared.
Repeat with the rest of the beef balls. While the burgers are cooking, add some sliced onions to the grill to cook and caramelize. Close the lid of the grill to trap the heat and cook the burgers more evenly.
When the burgers are almost done cooking, flip the patty over and add a slice of cheese to the top of the burger. Close the lid and cook for another 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and the burger is cooked.
Step 5:
Cut a bun in half and butter it. Place the bun buttered side on the hot grill for 30 seconds until lightly browned. Keep an eye on it; it cooks quickly!
Step 6:
Now it's time to assemble the perfect smash burger! Assemble the burgers by spreading the burger sauce on the bottom bun, then adding the patty with melted cheese, and caramelized onions (if using).
Top your burger patty with any other favorite toppings you like. Finally, add the top bun, and voila! You've just created the most delicious smash burger!
Top tips
- Preheat your grill to at least 400°F-450°F or high heat for best results.
- Prepare your condiments, toppings, sauce, and buns beforehand, as the burger cooks quickly.
- If using a cast-iron skillet or griddle, use cooking spray to prevent the burger from sticking to the pan.
- Flip the burgers only once.
- Use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the burgers. The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Serving suggestions
Serve your burger on a toasted bun with homemade burger sauce, Small Batch Cowboy Candy, Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Smoked Baked Beans, and Air Fryer French Fries.
They also go great with Old-Fashioned Cucumber Salad With Mayo or Creamy Coleslaw With Mayo, Smoked Corn on the Cob, Smoked Baked Potatoes, and Hawaiian Macaroni Salad.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use a regular frying pan, griddle, or even an indoor grill to make these smash burgers. Just use a pan or griddle that gets hot (ideally over medium-high heat) and follow the same instructions.
Use a higher fat-content ground beef (such as 80/20) and avoid flipping it more than once during cooking.
Cook the burgers for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until desired doneness is achieved.
Place leftover smashed burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. If you want to freeze the burgers, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container or a zip-top bag and freeze for 2-3 months. To reheat, microwave them or warm them up on a hot grill or in a frying pan for a few minutes until heated through.
A smash burger is a hamburger made by smashing a ball of ground beef onto a hot griddle, flattening it into a thin patty, and allowing it to cook quickly to create a crispy, caramelized crust on the outside while still remaining juicy on the inside. It's like the ones you get at the best burger joints - but way better!
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Printable Recipe
How To Make Perfect Smash Burgers On The Grill
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 slices of cheese American cheese or cheddar cheese
- 1 large onion sliced, optional
- 8 hamburger buns
For the Homemade Burger Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped pickles
Instructions
- Preheat your grill or griddle to 450°F, or use a cast iron skillet on medium-high heat.
- Make the special sauce by mixing together ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon ketchup, 1 tablespoon pickle juice, and ¼ cup chopped pickles in a small bowl. Set aside in the fridge.
- Combine 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon seasoning salt, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper to the ground beef in a large bowl. Divide the meat mixture into eight equal portions, each about a quarter pound or 4 ounces.
- Once the grill is preheated, place the balls of meat directly on the grill. Use a spatula, burger press, or the bottom of a cast iron skillet to smash each patty down until it is about ½ inch thick.
- Close the lid and let the patties cook for about 3-5 minutes, until the edges start to brown and the bottom is golden brown and nicely seared.
- While the burgers cook, saute your onions on the grill or in a skillet on your stove.
- Flip the patty over and add a slice of cheese to the top of the burger. Cook for another 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and the burger is cooked.
- Butter a bun and place it on the hot grill or griddle for about 30 seconds until lightly browned.
- Assemble the burger by spreading the burger sauce on the bottom bun, then adding the patty with melted cheese and caramelized onions (optional). Add any other favorite toppings and top with the other half of the bun.
- Serve with your favorite side dishes and enjoy!
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Notes
- Preheat your grill to at least 400°F-450°F or high heat for best results.
- Prepare your condiments, toppings, sauce, and buns beforehand, as the burger cooks quickly.
- If using a cast-iron skillet or griddle, use cooking spray to prevent the burger from sticking to the pan.
- Flip the burger only once.
- Use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the burgers. The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
This recipe was originally published on April 28, 2023. It was completely updated on January 19, 2025.
Amy Liu Dong says
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