Smashed Burger

🧑‍🍳 How to Make a Classic Smashed Burger:

Ingredients:

• 80/20 ground beef (fat helps with flavor & crust)

• Salt & pepper

• Burger buns

• Cheese (American cheese melts perfectly)

• Butter (for toasting buns)

• Toppings (pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, sauces — your choice)

Tools:

• Cast-iron skillet or griddle

• Sturdy spatula (or a burger press)

🔥 Step-by-Step:

1. Form Loose Balls
   Roll ground beef into 2-3 oz balls. Don’t overwork it — you want them loose.

2. Preheat Skillet
   Heat it until very hot — a few drops of water should sizzle and evaporate on contact.

3. Smash the Burger
   Place a beef ball on the skillet and immediately smash it flat (1/4 inch thick) with a spatula. Hold for 10 seconds to get that sear.

4. Season
   Sprinkle salt & pepper while the first side cooks.

5. Flip After ~1.5 Minutes
   When edges are brown and crispy, flip. Add cheese immediately.

6. Toast the Buns
   While the burger finishes (another 1-2 minutes), toast the buns in butter.

7. Assemble
   Add toppings and sauce. Classic includes pickles, diced onions, and burger sauce.