Smash Burger Bowl (Printable)

Crispy beef patties with fresh vegetables, tangy pickles, and special sauce served over mixed greens.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Beef Patties

01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
02 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
03 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Vegetables & Greens

04 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, iceberg, spinach)
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1 cup dill pickles, sliced
08 - 1 avocado, sliced

→ Toppings

09 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
10 - 1/4 cup crispy fried onions (optional)

→ Smash Sauce

11 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tbsp ketchup
13 - 1 tbsp yellow mustard
14 - 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
15 - 1 tsp white vinegar
16 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
17 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, sweet pickle relish, white vinegar, smoked paprika, and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
02 - Place a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and allow it to get thoroughly hot.
03 - Divide ground beef into 8 equal portions and form into balls. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on all sides.
04 - Place beef balls onto the hot skillet. Press each ball down firmly with a heavy spatula to smash into thin patties. Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until a dark crust forms. Flip and cook an additional 1-2 minutes for medium doneness. Remove from heat.
05 - Distribute mixed salad greens evenly among four serving bowls. Arrange cherry tomatoes, red onion, pickles, avocado, and shredded cheddar cheese on top of the greens.
06 - Place the cooked smashed burger patties over each bowl, distributing evenly among servings.
07 - Drizzle smash sauce generously over each bowl. Sprinkle with crispy fried onions if desired. Serve immediately while patties are still warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • All the satisfaction of a smash burger without the bun coma hitting you by 3 PM
  • The crispy edges against cool crisp greens creates this ridiculous texture situation
  • You can throw it together in under 30 minutes even when youre operating on autopilot
02 -
  • A heavy flat spatula is worth buying just for this recipe. The flimsy ones will bend when you try to smash properly.
  • Do not crowd the pan or the beef will steam instead of sear. Work in batches if your skillet is not big enough.
  • Letting the smashed patties cook undisturbed is where the magic happens. Every time you check you are losing precious browning time.
03 -
  • Pat your beef extra dry with paper towels before smashing for maximum crispiness
  • Let the skillet come back up to heat between batches if you are cooking in rounds

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