Classic Smash Burger
Crispy-edged beef patties pressed thin onto a hot skillet, topped with melted cheese and classic fixings. This diner-style burger is ready in under 30 minutes and delivers maximum flavor with minimal fuss.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 520
- Protein
- 28g
Ingredients
- ½ lb ground beef, 80/20
- 2 whole burger buns
- 2 whole American cheese slices
- ½ medium white or yellow onion
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- 1
Slice the onion crosswise into thin rings about 1/8-inch thick, like cutting an onion for a salad—you'll use roughly half the onion and set the rest aside.
- 2
Divide the ground beef in half with your hands, forming two loose, flat mounds on a clean cutting board—do not pack the meat tightly.
- 3
Place a 10-inch or 12-inch cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat and wait until a drop of water flicked onto the surface sizzles and evaporates in under 1 second, about 2 minutes.
- 4
Place one beef mound in the center of the hot skillet, then immediately press it flat with a sturdy spatula—press down hard for 2–3 seconds so the bottom side browns and sticks to the pan.
- 5
Season the top side with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper, then cook without moving for 2–3 minutes until the bottom is deep golden brown and crispy.
- 6
Flip the burger, place one cheese slice on top of the cooked side, and cook the second side for 1–2 minutes until the edges look brown and the cheese begins to melt.
- 7
Transfer the burger to a clean plate, then repeat steps 4–6 with the remaining beef mound, the second cheese slice, and the remaining salt and pepper.
- 8
Reduce the heat to medium, then place the onion rings directly on the skillet and cook, stirring every 30 seconds, until they turn golden and smell sweet, about 3–4 minutes.
- 9
Melt the butter in the now-empty skillet over medium heat, then place both burger buns cut-side down and toast them until light golden, about 1 minute.
- 10
Place one burger on the bottom half of each toasted bun, divide the caramelized onions evenly between them, then top with the bun's upper half and serve immediately.
Tools you’ll need
- 10-inch or 12-inch cast iron or stainless steel skillet
- sturdy metal spatula
- cutting board
- chef's knife
Cook smarter
Get matched recipes for what’s in your fridge
CookSnap is a free iOS app that finds real recipes from the ingredients you already have. No more grocery-list aspirations.
