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A close-up photo of a smashed burger with melted cheese, tomato, lettuce, and secret sauce on a toasted bun

Easy Smash Burgers with Secret Sauce

Juicy smash burgers with a secret sauce, served on toasted buns with lettuce, tomato, and cheese.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef
  • sprinkle of kosher salt
  • sprinkle of black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons of secret sauce
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • ½ head of iceberg lettuce finely shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 4 portions of cheese
  • 4 tablespoons of secret sauce for bun tops
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
  • 2 clove of garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • pinch of kosher salt

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Prepare the secret sauce: Place all of the ingredients for the sauce into a small bowl and stir together until combined. Reserve 4 tablespoons of the sauce (for burger smashing) to the side. Cover the remaining to dress and be served with the burgers.
  2. Portion the burgers: Using a scale, divide ground beef into 8, 3-ounce portions. Gently shape each portion into a ball. Place onto plate or platter, cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.
  3. Heat griddle to high heat. If using a barbecue, place griddle onto the grate, turn to high heat and close the lid. Leave barbecue undisturbed for 15 minutes or until the temperature reaches 500°F.
  4. Prepare buns: Open buns onto a parchment-lined baking tray. Place under broiler to toast. Brush with butter, then close buns, leaving them in a warm location until served. If toasting buns on the barbecue, watch closely to prevent burning.
  5. Cook patties: Place the first 4 balls of beef onto the griddle, leaving ample room between each. Working quickly, place parchment-lined grill press over each ball and press down quickly and firmly. When all of the patties have been pressed, season each with a sprinkle of kosher salt and pepper. Using a basting brush, apply a generous swipe of the reserved secret sauce to each patty. Cook patties for one minute, then flip them over. Add another swipe of the secret sauce. Add cheese to each and cook for 1 minute more. Transfer cooked patties to a stainless platter. Scrape any burger bits towards the back of the griddle. Repeat process with remaining portions of meat, adding cheese to the second round only if desired. Transfer each of these patties onto one of the previous ones. Return to the work area to assemble.
  6. Assemble: Place bun bottoms out on work surface and add a handful of shredded lettuce onto each. Place a slice of tomato on top of the lettuce. Add a stack of 2 patties on top of the tomato slice. Apply a generous amount of sauce to the underside of each bun top before placing on top of each burger.
  7. Serve immediately with remaining secret sauce on the side.