Smash Burger Recipe with Grilled Onions and Cheddar Cheese
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This Smash Burger Recipe with Grilled Onions is the ultimate summer cookout classic!
Smash Burgers are all about bold flavor, crispy edges, and juicy goodness. This Smash Burger Recipe features melty cheddar, caramelized onions, and a tangy homemade burger sauce stacked on soft buns. Grilled to perfection on a flat top or griddle, these burgers are easy to prep and guaranteed to satisfy. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or craving the ultimate burger night at home, this Smash Burger delivers that diner-style bite with a summery twist.
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Why You’ll Love This Smash Burger Recipe
- Bold, juicy flavor with crispy edges and melty cheese.
- Easy to make on a griddle or flat top—perfect for cookouts.
- Features a tangy homemade burger sauce that takes it to the next level.
- Stacked with grilled onions and fresh toppings for that classic diner vibe.
- Simple ingredients and fast prep for the ultimate burger night.
Ingredients for Smash Burgers
The ingredients and tools for this recipe are conveniently linked to online retailers, including Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart. The quantities are in the recipe card.
- Protein: Ground Beef (80/20) or Beef Mince (UK, about 20% Fat)—ideal for juicy, flavorful burgers
- Fresh Produce: Onion, Tomato, Lettuce
- Dairy & Chilled: Cheddar Cheese, Mayonnaise
- Pantry: Ketchup, Salt, Black Pepper
- Spicy Mustard—use Hot English Mustard or a spicy Dijon-style Mustard
- Onion Powder—adds extra savory depth to the sauce
- White Vinegar—provides tang in the burger sauce
- Minced Garlic—fresh or jarred (not granules)
- Frank’s RedHot Sauce—adds heat and tang
- Burger Seasoning—use your favorite pre-made burger spice blend, or a simple mix of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder
- Hamburger Buns
The complete list of ingredients, along with their measurements, is provided on the recipe card. The Purple Pumpkin Blog uses both cups and weighted measurements in its recipes, making American cups and kitchen food scales valuable tools for trying all the recipes. We provide measurements in US customary, imperial, and metric units. Still, it’s essential to note that while you can combine cup measurements with weighted measures, never mix US customary/imperial units (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.) with metric units (kilograms, grams, liters, etc.).
How Do I Make Smash Burgers?
Check out the recipe card below—you can print or save it for later—and don’t forget to leave a star rating!
Continue scrolling for more information about this recipe, including food pairings.
Smash Burgers with Grilled Onions
Ingredients
For the Smash Burgers
- 2 pounds ground beef 80/20
- 2 tablespoon burger seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 slices cheddar cheese
- 1 onion sliced thick
- 2 tomatoes sliced thick
- ½ leaf lettuce trimmed
- 4 hamburger buns
For the Burger Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup spicy mustard
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon minced garlic
- ⅛ teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Frank's RedHot Sauce
Instructions
Make the burger sauce:
- Add all sauce ingredients to a blender.
- Blend on medium-high until smooth and combined.
- Transfer to a container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Prepare the burger patties:
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, burger seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined.
- Cover and refrigerate for 1–2 hours.
- Remove from fridge. Using a large ice cream scoop, portion the beef into 8 balls.
Cook the burgers and onions:
- Preheat your flat top grill to medium heat.
- Add sliced onions and cook until lightly golden on each side. Set aside.
- Place burger balls on the grill. Smash each down with a large spatula until about ¼ inch thick.
- Season patties with burger seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Cook 5 minutes, then flip and smash again if needed. Cook to medium temperature.
- Add a slice of cheddar to each patty. Cover and cook 1–2 minutes until melted.
Assemble the burgers:
- Toast burger buns if desired.
- Spread burger sauce on the top and bottom buns.
- Place lettuce on the bottom bun. Top with two burger patties, grilled onion, and a slice of tomato.
- Finish with the top bun. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- This Smash Burger Recipe is best cooked fresh and served hot for the crispiest edges.
- The burger sauce can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Top your Smash Burgers with extras like pickles, crispy bacon, or jalapeños.
- Best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Cooked patties can be frozen; wrap them well and freeze for up to 2 months. To thaw frozen patties, defrost overnight in the fridge. Reheat on a hot griddle or pan until heated through and edges crisp up again.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
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Pair Your Smash Burgers With…
Here are some of our favorite sides, drinks, and desserts to serve with this Smash Burger Recipe:
- Side: Parmesan Truffle Potato Wedges—crispy, cheesy, and full of flavor
- Side: Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges—a sweet and spicy twist with a cool dip
- Side: Tangy Carolina Coleslaw Recipe (No Mayo!)— light and zesty to balance the burger
- Drink: Pomegranate Orange Margarita—fruity and refreshing for summer
- Drink: Watermelon Mint Lemonade—cool, fruity, and perfect for summer cookouts
- Dessert: Grilled Fruit and Pound Cake Skewers—a light, sweet finish that keeps the summer BBQ vibe going
- Dessert: Sweet & Tangy Lemon Bars—bright, citrusy bars that are a refreshing way to end burger night
- More Ideas: Explore our BBQ and Grilling Recipes for more cookout inspiration
Ready to Dig In?
Stacked high with all the good stuff, this Smash Burger Recipe is a total game-changer for your summer cookouts. Serve them with crispy wedges, slaw, and a refreshing drink for the ultimate backyard meal.
Don’t forget to ♥ save this recipe and share it with fellow burger lovers! And if you give it a try, we’d love to hear how it went—leave a comment or tag us in your creations.
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