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Crispy Smash Burger Bar Recipe Easy Homemade Special Sauce Included

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This recipe recreates the crispy, juicy smash burgers from a beloved Portland burger joint, featuring a homemade special sauce and a build-your-own burger bar style perfect for entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef, 80/20 blend
  • Salt and black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
  • Vegetable oil or canola oil (for cooking)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp pickle relish
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp onion powder
  • Hot sauce (optional)
  • Soft hamburger buns, lightly toasted (brioche recommended)
  • American or cheddar cheese slices
  • Thinly sliced onions (red or white)
  • Fresh lettuce leaves (iceberg or romaine)
  • Tomato slices
  • Pickles (dill or bread and butter)

Instructions

  1. Slice onions, tomatoes, and pickles thinly. Tear lettuce leaves into burger-sized pieces. Set out cheese slices and buns, ready to toast.
  2. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, pickle relish, garlic powder, onion powder, and hot sauce if using. Mix well and refrigerate until serving.
  3. Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions and loosely roll into balls without overworking the meat.
  4. Heat a cast iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add a thin layer of vegetable oil and heat until shimmering but not smoking.
  5. Place each beef ball on the hot skillet and immediately smash down firmly with a spatula or press to about ¼ inch thick (6 mm). Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until edges are dark golden brown and crispy.
  6. Flip patties carefully, place a cheese slice on top, and cook another 1-2 minutes until cheese melts and burger is cooked through.
  7. Toast buns face down in a separate pan or under the broiler until golden and slightly crisp.
  8. Assemble the burger bar with buns, patties, special sauce, and toppings. Let everyone build their own burgers.
  9. Serve immediately while burgers are juicy and crispy.

Notes

Use cold ground beef and handle minimally to keep patties juicy. Smash patties once firmly on a hot skillet to get crispy edges. Avoid over-smashing to prevent drying out. Let patties rest briefly after cooking. Special sauce tastes better after resting in the fridge. For gluten-free options, use lettuce wraps or gluten-free buns like Udi’s. Cheese options and protein alternatives can be swapped to suit preferences.

Nutrition

Keywords: smash burger, crispy burger, homemade special sauce, burger bar, easy burger recipe, cast iron skillet burger

Find it online: https://milaspoon.com/crispy-smash-burger-bar-recipe-easy-homemade-special-sauce-included/