Double-Stacked Homemade Smash Burger
Double-Stacked Homemade Smash Burger
Ingredients
For the Burger Sauce
- 1/2 cup gherkins, finely diced (dill pickles work too)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons ketchup, or 3 tablespoons, to taste
- 1 tablespoon pickle brine
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, freshly cracked, to taste
- hot sauce, to taste
For the Smash Burgers
- 1 onion
- vegetable oil, as needed, for cooking
- salt, for onions and patties
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, divided into 8 equal balls (about 3 ounces each)
- parchment paper, for smashing patties
- black pepper, freshly cracked, for patties
- 4 slices yellow cheddar cheese
- 4 slices white cheddar cheese
- 4 brioche buns
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Burger Sauce: Finely dice the gherkins (or dill pickles) as small as possible. In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and ketchup. Whisk until smooth.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Fold the diced gherkins and pickle brine into the sauce mixture. Season with salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and hot sauce to taste. Stir well. For best flavor, let the sauce sit for 15-20 minutes while you prepare the other components.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Prepare the Caramelized Onions: Slice the onion into thin rings. Heat a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the sliced onions to the hot pan and a pinch of salt.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Cook the onions, stirring and shaking the pan occasionally, until they are deeply caramelized and jammy. This will take about 15-20 minutes. Adjust heat as needed to prevent burning. Once caramelized, remove from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min
- 5
Prepare the Ground Beef: Divide the ground beef into 8 equal-sized balls (approximately 3 ounces each).
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Cook the Smash Burgers: Heat a clean, heavy-bottomed skillet or cast-iron pan over high heat. Add a small amount of vegetable oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Once the pan is smoking hot, place two ground beef balls into the pan, leaving space between them.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Immediately place a piece of parchment paper over each beef ball. Using a sturdy burger press or a heavy, flat spatula, firmly smash each beef ball into a thin patty, about 1/4-inch thick. Remove the parchment paper.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Season the smashed patties generously with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes until a deep brown crust forms on the bottom.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Flip the patties over. Immediately place one slice of yellow cheddar cheese on one patty and one slice of white cheddar cheese on the other patty. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese is melted and the patties are cooked through.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Using a spatula, carefully stack the white cheddar patty on top of the yellow cheddar patty. Remove the double-stacked patty from the pan and set aside. Repeat steps 6-10 for the remaining beef balls and cheese slices.
⏱️ 8 min
- 11
Toast the Brioche Buns: While the burgers are cooking, lightly toast the brioche buns in a separate dry pan, under a broiler, or in a toaster until golden brown.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Assemble the Burgers: Spread a generous amount of the prepared burger sauce on the bottom half of each toasted brioche bun.
⏱️ 1 min
- 13
Place the double-stacked, cheesy patties onto the sauced bottom bun. Top the patties with a spoonful of the jammy caramelized onions.
⏱️ 1 min
- 14
Spread more burger sauce on the top half of the brioche bun. Place the top bun onto the burger to complete the assembly. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Double-Stacked Homemade Smash Burger
For the Burger Sauce
- 1/2 cup gherkins, finely diced (dill pickles work too)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons ketchup, or 3 tablespoons, to taste
- 1 tablespoon pickle brine
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, freshly cracked, to taste
- hot sauce, to taste
For the Smash Burgers
- 1 onion
- vegetable oil, as needed, for cooking
- salt, for onions and patties
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, divided into 8 equal balls (about 3 ounces each)
- parchment paper, for smashing patties
- black pepper, freshly cracked, for patties
- 4 slices yellow cheddar cheese
- 4 slices white cheddar cheese
- 4 brioche buns
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Burger Sauce: Finely dice the gherkins (or dill pickles) as small as possible. In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and ketchup. Whisk until smooth.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Fold the diced gherkins and pickle brine into the sauce mixture. Season with salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and hot sauce to taste. Stir well. For best flavor, let the sauce sit for 15-20 minutes while you prepare the other components.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Prepare the Caramelized Onions: Slice the onion into thin rings. Heat a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the sliced onions to the hot pan and a pinch of salt.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Cook the onions, stirring and shaking the pan occasionally, until they are deeply caramelized and jammy. This will take about 15-20 minutes. Adjust heat as needed to prevent burning. Once caramelized, remove from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min - 5
Prepare the Ground Beef: Divide the ground beef into 8 equal-sized balls (approximately 3 ounces each).
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Cook the Smash Burgers: Heat a clean, heavy-bottomed skillet or cast-iron pan over high heat. Add a small amount of vegetable oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Once the pan is smoking hot, place two ground beef balls into the pan, leaving space between them.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Immediately place a piece of parchment paper over each beef ball. Using a sturdy burger press or a heavy, flat spatula, firmly smash each beef ball into a thin patty, about 1/4-inch thick. Remove the parchment paper.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Season the smashed patties generously with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes until a deep brown crust forms on the bottom.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Flip the patties over. Immediately place one slice of yellow cheddar cheese on one patty and one slice of white cheddar cheese on the other patty. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese is melted and the patties are cooked through.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Using a spatula, carefully stack the white cheddar patty on top of the yellow cheddar patty. Remove the double-stacked patty from the pan and set aside. Repeat steps 6-10 for the remaining beef balls and cheese slices.
⏱️ 8 min - 11
Toast the Brioche Buns: While the burgers are cooking, lightly toast the brioche buns in a separate dry pan, under a broiler, or in a toaster until golden brown.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Assemble the Burgers: Spread a generous amount of the prepared burger sauce on the bottom half of each toasted brioche bun.
⏱️ 1 min - 13
Place the double-stacked, cheesy patties onto the sauced bottom bun. Top the patties with a spoonful of the jammy caramelized onions.
⏱️ 1 min - 14
Spread more burger sauce on the top half of the brioche bun. Place the top bun onto the burger to complete the assembly. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 1 min