Smash Burger

• ⏲️ Prep time: 20 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 25 min
• 🍽️ Servings: 4

Ingredients

Burger Sauce

• 3/4 cup (180g) mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup (80g) yellow mustard
• 1/3 cup (80g) ketchup
• 2 Tbsp (6g) chives, very thinly sliced
• 1 tsp (4g) granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp (15mL) worcestershire sauce
• Pinch of MSG
• 2 cloves garlic, grated
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Burger + Assembly

• 1 lb (454g) ground beef (75-80% lean), divided into 8x 2 oz (57g) balls
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• 8 slices American cheese
• 1/2 white onion, very thinly sliced
• 4 potato or milk burger buns, toasted
• Unsalted butter, for toasting buns
• Homemade burger sauce, for topping
• Homemade dill pickles, for topping

Directions

1. Make the burger sauce by combining mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, chives, sugar, worcestershire sauce, MSG, and grated garlic in a bowl. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Divide the ground beef into 8 equal balls of about 2 oz (57g) each. Keep them loosely shaped — do not compress.
3. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and toast the cut sides of the buns until golden. Set aside.
4. Heat a cast iron skillet or griddle over high heat until very hot. Place 2 beef balls in the pan and immediately smash flat with a spatula. Season the tops with kosher salt and black pepper.
5. Cook for about 90 seconds until the edges are deeply browned, then flip each patty and immediately top with a slice of American cheese.
6. Cook for another 30-60 seconds, then stack two patties together to make a double. Repeat with the remaining beef.
7. Spread burger sauce on both bun halves. Layer sliced onion and pickles on the bottom bun, add the double patty stack, and close with the top bun. Serve immediately.