Onion Smash Burgers are delicious and will be the star of your next summer cookout! They are juicy, meaty and packed with flavor. Serve them on sesame seed buns with melted cheese, bacon, shredded lettuce and pickles for the best burger you’ll eat this summer.
Onion Smash Burgers are nothing new, they were originally made in the 1920’s in Oklahoma at the Hamburger Inn by Homer and Ross Davis as a way to stretch the use of ground beef in their patties. Their burger, originally known as the Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger, has retained its appeal over the years and now many of the best burger joints across the country offer their own version of this flavorful sandwich.
This recipe is SUPER easy to make and takes only minutes to cook on a griddle. The burgers are made with a mixture of ground beef and ground pork, then lightly seasoned. Once on the hot flattop, they are smashed until very thin, then piled high with thinly sliced onions. As the meat begins to brown and the edges get crispy, the burgers are flipped, smashed again, and the onions are seared into the meat.
Before being removed from the griddle, Onion Smash Burgers are topped with extra-thick slices of American cheese that melt nicely across the super thin patties. Sesame seed buns can be warmed on the grill while the burgers finish cooking. Top the burgers with slices of seasoned bacon, dill pickles, shredded lettuce and Thousand Island Dressing for the perfect bite.
What toppings should I put on a smash burger?
The choices are endless, but we like to keep it classic. Overloading your smash burgers with too many toppings can mask the amazing flavors of the onion burger. Here are some ideas for the most tasty additions.
AMERICAN CHEESE– Kraft makes extra-thick slices of American cheese, which is the classic choice for a smash burger. Cheddar and Pepper Jack are also good choices.
BACON– Oven Roasted Bacon is easy to make and packs a punch of flavor when added to any burger or sandwich. I seasoned the bacon with brown sugar and freshly ground black pepper before roasting it until crispy.
LETTUCE– Some might skip the lettuce altogether, but we like it for the added freshness and crunch it provides. Shred it very thin before adding it to your burgers.
PICKLES– In my opinion, it just isn’t a burger without them. These vinegary little gems add a bright pop of acidic flavor. SO yummy!
CONDIMENTS– Ketchup, mustard and mayo are all good choices, or a combination of all three combined with a little bit of dill relish mixed in makes a tasty topping. But Thousand Island Dressing is such a great shortcut when looking for a quick and easy special sauce.
Onion Smash Burgers Recipe
Key Ingredients:
MEAT– Use a 2:1 mixture of ground beef and ground pork for your burger. The addition of pork gives the burgers some added fat, which keeps them moist and juicy.
ONIONS– White onions get shaved or sliced thin to use on top of each smash burger. Once flipped over, the onions get seared into the meat making the burgers so flavorful.
SPICES– Garlic salt and black pepper are used to season each patty before cooking on the griddle. Do not add seasoning to the meat mixture made to use the patties. You really want to let the flavor of the meat shine through.
TOPPINGS– American cheese, crispy bacon, shredded lettuce and dill pickles make the best toppings for your burgers.
BUNS– Sesame seed buns or potato buns are perfect for these smash burgers. They taste great and hold up well to the burger and toppings. Crisp them up by putting them on the grill or lightly toast them on the top rack.
How to make Onion Smash Burgers
Step-by-Step Instructions:
It is important to have everything near the griddle/flattop and ready to go, because these burgers cook quickly.
- Preheat the outdoor griddle to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine the ground beef and the ground pork in a medium bowl. Using a 1/2-cup measuring cup, form the patties and place them on a small sheet pan. Season each portion with garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Thinly slice the onion and place it in a bowl. Unwrap the cheese slices and place them on a plate.
- Place the burgers on the griddle and smash each one to 1/3-inch thickness using a cast-iron burger press. Top each smash burger with a small stack of onions. Cook for 3-4 minutes until edges get brown and crispy.
- Flip the burgers, smash again and cook until no longer pink and onions are cooked through. Place the burger buns on the top rack of the grill to warm and crisp while cooking the burgers. (We like to use this Blackstone Cast-Iron Griddle Press for smashing burgers.)
- Add a slice of cheese to each burger and allow it to melt. Remove the burgers to a platter. Serve them on toasted buns with bacon, lettuce and dill pickles. Recipe makes 6 smash burgers.
What to serve with Onion Smash Burgers
- Hearty Baked Beans
- Creamy Coleslaw
- Basil Pesto Pasta Salad
- Cowboy Caviar
- Grilled Corn Salad
- Classic Potato Salad
- 7 Layer Salad
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Onion Smash Burgers
Ingredients
- 2/3 pound ground beef
- 1/3 pound ground pork
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large white onion, sliced thin
- 6 slices American cheese
- 6 sesame seed buns
- bacon, shredded lettuce and dill pickles, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the griddle to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine the ground beef and the ground pork in a medium bowl. Using a 1/2-cup measuring cup, form the patties and place them on a small sheet pan. Season each portion with garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Thinly slice the onion and place it in a bowl. Unwrap the cheese slices and place them on a plate.
- Place the burgers on the griddle and smash each one to 1/3-inch thickness using a cast-iron burger press. Top each smash burger with a small stack of onions. Cook for 3-4 minutes until edges get brown and crispy.
- Flip the burgers, smash again and cook until no longer pink and onions are cooked through.
- Add a slice of cheese to each burger and allow it to melt. Remove the burgers to a platter. Serve them on toasted buns with bacon, lettuce and pickles. Recipe makes 6 smash burgers.
Equipment
- 1 outdoor griddle or flattop
- 1 cast-iron smash burger press, or a large spatula
- 1 medium mixing bowl
