Smash Burger Recipes
Crispy edges, juicy centers, melted cheese — smash burgers are the ultimate comfort food. These top-saved recipes from the Pepper community will have you firing up the griddle tonight.
★ Fan Favorite
Fan FavoriteClassic Smash Burgers
Classic Smash Burgers — Made with ground beef, cajun seasoning, and onion powder.
Brittany KhamilleIngredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- cajun seasoning
- onion powder
- mustard powder
- white pepper
- black pepper
- about 1 cup thinly sliced yellow onion
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- cheese
- tomato
- lettuce
- 1 cup mayo
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- cajun seasoning
- hot sauce -to taste
- 1/8 cup freshly chopped parsley
- 1/8 cup freshly chopped dill
- 3 tablespoons freshly chopped chives
Instructions
- 1In a bowl, combine all the ingredients for the ranch. Season to taste and place into the fridge while you make the burgers
- 2In another bowl, combine the ground beef with your seasonings of choice. Roll into 4oz balls and set aside.
- 3On a cast iron skillet or griddle, heat the oil until sizzling hot. Place down a few of the sliced onions & one burgers patty. Smash down.
- 4Cook for about 2 minutes on medium high heat. When it’s browned, flip and add a slice of cheese. Let sear another 2 minutes. Remove and repeat with all the patties.
- 5dress the burgers with whatever makes ya little heart happy (:
P.S. We update the recipes on this page every few days. If you want to cook this recipe over and over again, we'd love it if you downloaded Pepper 🤝.
More to try
Fan FavoriteSmashed Burger
Jake Aronskind
Fan FavoriteSmash Burger Tacos
Andrea Drinen
BurgerSmash burgers
Bryan L
BurgerSALMON SMASH BURGER
Professor Pepper
BurgerUltimate Smash Burgers on the Griddle with Caramelized Onions and Burger Sauce
BurgerSmash Burger Crunchers
BurgerSmash Burger Skillet
Bethany Haga
BurgerSmash Burgers
Sabrina Zanco
BurgerSmash Burger Tacos
Seneca Webb53+ more smash burger recipes
Join 1M+ cooks discovering, organizing, and sharing their recipes on Pepper
Open in Pepper →Why Smash Burgers Hit Different
The magic of a smash burger is in the technique: pressing a ball of seasoned beef onto a screaming-hot surface creates maximum contact, which means maximum Maillard crust. That lacy, crispy edge is what separates a smash burger from every other patty.
Our community has taken the classic smash burger and run with it — from cajun-spiced doubles with homemade ranch to taco-style smash burgers wrapped in tortillas. Each recipe brings its own twist while staying true to the fundamentals.
Whether you're a cast-iron purist or a griddle enthusiast, these recipes prove that the best burgers don't come from a restaurant — they come from your kitchen.
Quick Tips
- 1
Use High Heat
A screaming-hot cast iron or griddle is essential for that signature crispy crust. Don't be shy with the heat.
- 2
Don't Overwork the Meat
Loosely form your beef into balls — overworking makes the patty dense and tough instead of juicy.
- 3
Smash Once, Hard
Press the ball flat in one firm motion within the first 30 seconds. After that, leave it alone to develop the crust.
- 4
Season Simply
Salt and pepper go a long way. Season the outside after smashing for the best flavor.
Browse More Recipes
Never lose a recipe again
Save everything. Stay organized. Share with friends.
