The Story Behind the Smash
The smash burger technique originated in the American Midwest, particularly at Freddy's Steakburgers in Kansas. But it was Shake Shack that truly popularized it globally, proving that smashing isn't burger blasphemy, it's burger brilliance.
Today, Au Cheval in Chicago is widely considered to make the world's best smash burger, with people waiting hours for their perfect stack of crispy-edged patties.
⏲️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
🔥 Cook Time: 8 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 2 burgers
📋 Difficulty: Medium
Ingredients
For the Patties:
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20)
- 6 slices American cheese
- 2 potato buns
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
For the Secret Sauce:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- ½ teaspoon white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Divide meat into 6 equal 2.5oz balls. Keep cold until cooking.
- Heat cast iron skillet/griddle until smoking hot.
- Place meat ball on hot surface, immediately smash thin (¼ inch).
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook 1-2 minutes until edges brown.
- Scrape and flip, add cheese immediately.
- Cook 30-45 seconds more.
- Stack three patties per burger.
- Serve on toasted buns with sauce.
Pro Tip from Andrej The Chef
"The real secret is in that first smash – you've got exactly 30 seconds to create maximum surface area. I learned this after destroying hundreds of spatulas before finding the perfect technique. Use a heavy-duty metal spatula and smash firmly and evenly. Don't be gentle – you want those edges to get super thin for maximum crispiness."
Top 10 List
Recipes
→ American triple smash burger
→ Maple Bacon Breakfast Burger
→ Spicy Jalapeno Tex Mex Burger
→ Triple Sliders With Secret Sauce
→ Blue Cheese Caramelized Onion Burger
→ Double Fried Chicken Cheese Coleslaw Burger
