Smash Burger

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 15 min.
Yield 4 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
In this smash burger recipe, each patty gets delightfully crispy edges cooking in a cast-iron skillet. Add a slice of cheese and a few crunchy pickles, and these smash burgers taste like they were made in a restaurant.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef (preferably 80% lean)
  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper, divided
  • 4 hamburger buns, split
  • Optional: Mayonnaise, sliced American cheese, sliced tomato, dill pickle slices, lettuce, ketchup and yellow mustard

Directions

  1. Place a 9-in. cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Meanwhile, gently shape beef into 4 balls, shaping just enough to keep together (do not compact).
  2. Increase burner temperature to medium-high; add oil. Add 2 beef balls. With a heavy metal spatula, flatten each to 1/4- to 1/2-in. thickness; sprinkle each with 1/8 tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Cook until edges start to brown, about 1-1/2 minutes. Turn burgers and sprinkle each with additional 1/8 tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Cook until well browned and a thermometer reads at least 160°, about 1 minute. Repeat with remaining beef.
  3. Serve burgers on buns with toppings as desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 burger: 339 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 70mg cholesterol, 760mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein.

Now is not the time to cut the calories or skimp on the salt. Go for ground chuck that is at least 80/20. If you can find a blend with ground brisket or short rib, all the better. The best burger comes with being liberal with the kosher salt—it's beef's best friend, trust me. — James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Recipe Creator

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