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–+ servings

Healthy Smash Burger Recipe

Double smash burger, served with waffle fries, topped with Big Mac sauce, cheese and shredded lettuce
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 323kcal
Protein: 35g
Carbs: 22g
Fat: 9g

Equipment

  • 1 6 in x 6 in square of baking paper
  • 1 Heavy spatula or burger press

Ingredients

  • 1 lb (500 g) ground beef 95/5
  • cooking spray
  • salt and pepper
  • 4 slices low-fat American cheese
  • water
  • 4 brioche buns
  • 12 thin slices dill pickles
  • iceberg lettuce shredded

Instructions 

Prep and cook the burgers

  • Season the ground beef in a bowl using salt and pepper (add or subtract to taste). Mix by hand until the seasoning is evenly incorporated.
  • Divide the ground beef into 4 round balls (¼ lb) and set aside. 1 lb = 4, ¼ lb portions.
    ¼ lb ground beef rolled into balls before smashing into smash burger patties
  • Pre-heat a non-stick or cast iron pan to medium high and lightly spray with cooking oil spray.
  • Prep the baking paper by cutting or folding about a 6 in x 6 in square (enough to cover the smashed burger in the pan).
  • Set 1 beef portion into the pan. Set the prepped sheet of baking paper on the beef ball, and smash it down with a heavy spatula or burger press. Smash it to about ¼ in thick.
    Smash burger patty cooking on the stove, being pressed by a spatula.
  • Remove the baking paper. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to the patty to further season. Cook until a crust has formed (roughly 90 seconds).
  • Flip with a spatula and add a final pinch of salt and pepper to season. Cook until a crust starts to form (roughly 60 seconds) or to your preference.
  • Add 1 slice of cheese on top of the patty. Add a teaspoon of water to the pan to create steam, cover the pan with a lid and cook until the cheese is just starting to melt. Remove the patty from the pan.
    Smash burger patty cooking on the stove with a slice of cheese added to melt it before assembling the burger.
  • Repeat for each patty, reusing the same baking paper for each burger patty.

Toast the buns

  • Lightly toast the hamburger buns in a pan with cooking spray until golden.
    Toasting brioche burger buns on the cooktop before assembling a smash burger.

Assemble the burger

  • Spread a dollop of your favorite sauce on each half of each bun.
    Toasted brioche buns prepped with Big Mac sauce and shredded iceberg lettuce.
  • Place the smash beef patty on the bottom bun, a layer of thin cut pickles, and shredded lettuce.
    2 assembled smash burgers laying open face on a wood plate. Big Mac sauce is spread on each half of the bun, with a patty, cheese, lettuce and pickles.
  • Top with the other half of the bun.
  • Serve and enjoy.
    double smash burger, with a side of waffle fries, served in a brioche bun with sesame seeds, topped with Big Mac sauce, cheese, pickles, and shredded lettuce.

Notes

  • Leftovers - Store burgers in an airtight container in the fridge. If you’re really organized, you may want to hold the lettuce and burger sauce and add those at the time of reheating.
  • Freezing - If you’re food prepping, store cooked and cooled burgers in an airtight container with a piece of baking paper between each patty to prevent them from sticking together.
  • Reheating - Microwave burgers or reheat them in the oven at 350 F. Wrap the patty in aluminum foil if reheating in the oven to ensure they heat evenly.
  • Substitutes
    • Gluten free - Use gluten-free buns.
    • Low calorie
      • Use lean ground beef like 90/10 or better. We use 95/5 in this recipe.
      • Use low carb buns, low-fat cheese, and low-calorie sauces. 
    • Vegan
      • Swap the ground beef for a plant based meat like Beyond Burger, and plant-based cheese.
  • Single vs Double
    • Nutrition estimates are calculated based on a single burger
    • Make it a double and add an extra patty with cheese.
    • Key nutrition comparison:
      • Single - 324 calories - 35 g protein - 9 g fat - 22 g carbs
      • Double - 530 calories - 66 g protein - 17 g fat - 23 g carbs
Nutrition Facts
Healthy Smash Burger Recipe
Serving Size
 
1 burger
Amount per Serving
Calories
323
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
9
g
14
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Trans Fat
 
0.4
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Cholesterol
 
76
mg
25
%
Sodium
 
624
mg
27
%
Potassium
 
485
mg
14
%
Carbohydrates
 
22
g
7
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
3
g
3
%
Protein
 
35
g
70
%
Vitamin A
 
97
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
198
mg
20
%
Iron
 
4
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.