If you’re looking for new burger recipes, you’re sure to come across smash burgers. These amazingly delicious patties put a fresh spin on traditional burgers. They’re quick to fix and only need a few ingredients.

Keep reading to learn how to make mouth-watering grilled smash burgers!

What’s a Smash Burger?

A smash burger is exactly what it sounds like. A burger that you make by smashing the ground beef onto the griddle.

Smash burgers have a crispy outside, but the inside stays deliciously juicy. Plus, the patties are thin just like from your favorite burger joint. My kids love them!

Equipment for Making Grilled Smash Burgers

You don’t need any special equipment to make grilled smash burgers. Here are the essentials:

• Flat top grill or griddle
• Sturdy, wide spatula
• Hamburger press

You can smash the burgers with two spatulas if you don’t have a hamburger press. A press is really fun to use, though!

Smash Burger Ingredients

You don’t need too many ingredients for smash burgers:

• 80/20 ground beef
• Cheese slices
• Seasonings
• Buns
• Burger toppings

An 80/20 ground beef (80% lean, 20% fat) usually gives the best flavor and texture. It has enough fat to be flavorful but not so much that the burgers are greasy.

You can use any kind of cheese you want. American cheese slices work great because they melt quickly.

Choose your favorite burger seasonings for grilled smash burgers. I like a simple blend of salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Use whatever condiments and toppings your family likes.

Smash burgers pair well with sides like baked beans or my Spicy Blistered Green Beans.

How to Make Great Smash Burgers

The key to a great smash burger is to get as much meat touching the heat as possible. That’s what gives it the crisp, seared texture you want.

You need to crank the heat on the grill. This is one time when you want it as hot as it will go. If the grill isn’t hot enough, you won’t get a good sear.

Press down evenly on the beef to be sure the burger is totally flat. Don’t press for too long, though, or the patty will dry out. You only need to hold it for a few seconds so the heat from the griddle really sears the meat.

Don’t try to flip the patty until you see juices coming through the top. You need to work the spatula under the burger crust to get it off the griddle. Once you flip your smash burgers, add a slice of cheese to each patty and let it melt.

Smash burgers cook really quickly, so be sure all your prep work is done before you start cooking. I don’t put more than four burgers on the grill at the same time. Otherwise, by the time you’re done smashing all the burgers and go to flip them, the first ones are overcooked.

Make Smash Burgers for Dinner Tonight

When you’re looking for dinner ideas to get on the table fast, you can’t do better than grilled smash burgers. All you need are ground beef, a few seasonings, and a scorching hot griddle. Follow my simple tips and your family won’t want you making burgers any other way!

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