Smash-Style Cheeseburgers with Caramelized Edges

Prep: 10m Cook: 10m Total: 20m Serves: 4
Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb ground beef (80/20)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 4 slices of American cheese
• 4 burger buns
• 1 tbsp oil
• Pickles, onion, lettuce (optional)
  Sauce
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tsp mustard
• 1 tsp pickle juice

Directions

1. Mix sauce: mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice. Chill while cooking.
2. Divide beef into 8 loose balls (don’t compress loose meat = better “lacy” edges). Season outside with salt + pepper.
3. Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot (you want an aggressive sizzle).
4. Add oil, then place 2 beef balls in the pan.
5. Immediately smash hard with a spatula (use parchment between the spatula and the meat). Smash thin for crisp edges.
6. Cook for 2 minutes without moving, until the edges are browned and lacy.
7. Flip, add cheese, and cook 1–2 minutes until melted.
8. Repeat with remaining patties.
9. Toast buns if desired. Spread sauce on buns.
10. Stack 2 patties per burger, add pickles/onion/lettuce, close, and serve.