Classic Double Smash Burger
By the QuiteRecipes team (Jamy & Kaïna) | Food Service Professional, Early Childhood Expert & Parents
Learn how to make restaurant-quality double smash burgers with crispy edges, melted cheddar, and homemade sauce in under 25 minutes.
The burger with the crispy, caramelized edge that smash-burgers are famous for. Two thin beef patties, melted cheddar, and a signature sauce on toasted brioche — your kitchen, no drive-thru.
🥄 Ingredients
- 🫗 1 1/2 lbs ground beef (80/20 ratio), divided into 8 portions (3 oz each)
- 🫗 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 🫗 Salt, to taste
- 🫗 Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
- 🫗 Garlic powder, to taste (optional)
- 🫗 4 slices medium cheddar cheese (thick-sliced)
- 🫗 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 🫗 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 🫗 4 brioche burger buns
- 🫗 2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 🫗 1 large tomato, sliced
- 🫗 1/2 red onion, sliced into thin rings
- 🫗 2 dill pickles, cut into 12 slices
Nutrition Facts*
*Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients, brands and portion sizes. Values are provided per serving.
👨🍳 Instructions
Whisk together mayonnaise and yellow mustard in a small bowl to make the burger sauce, then set aside.
Divide the ground beef into 8 equal 3 oz portions and shape them loosely into balls without overworking the meat.
Preheat a cast-iron skillet or flat-top griddle over high heat until smoking hot, then brush with melted butter.
Toast the brioche bun halves cut-side down on the hot griddle until golden brown, then set aside.
Place beef balls onto the sizzling griddle, cover with parchment paper squares, and smash down firmly with a burger press until thin with lacy edges.
Season the smashed patties generously with salt, black pepper, and optional garlic powder.
Sear for 2 minutes until the edges are dark and crispy, flip the patties, and immediately place a slice of cheddar cheese on 4 of them.
Stack a plain patty over each cheesy patty to form four double smash patties.
Assemble burgers by spreading sauce on the bottom buns, topping with shredded lettuce, tomato slices, onion rings, double patties, pickle slices, and the top bun.
🎥 Video Tutorial
Classic Double Smash Burger
Video credit: embedded from YouTube. All rights belong to the original creator, who allows sharing on other websites.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ✕
Using lean ground beef instead of an 80/20 mix, which makes patties dry instead of juicy.
- ✕
Smashing the patties after they start cooking, which presses out all the juices and destroys the texture.
🔄 Variations
Bacon Smash Burger: Add two strips of crispy cooked bacon on top of the cheese slice.
Spicy Smash Burger: Mix chopped jalapeños into the sauce and use pepper jack cheese.
🧊 Storage
- 📦
Patties are best served fresh, but leftover cooked beef patties can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
💡 Chef Tips
Use parchment paper squares between the press and the meat to prevent sticking and ensure a smooth, thin smash.
Get your pan smoking hot before adding the beef to guarantee the signature crispy caramelized crust.
🔗 Related Recipes
About the Authors
This recipe and guide was developed, tested, and approved in our home kitchen and daily life. Jamy is a retired Food Service District Manager and Early Childhood Program Manager who spent his career overseeing multi-site restaurant operations, large-scale culinary production, and daycare menu management. Kaïna brings the ultimate real-world test: making sure it brings ease and joy to our kids on a busy weeknight.
Read more about our professional background and philosophy →