Oh me. This is why today was a happy day. A very happy day. I made smash burgers with zesty sauce. Nothing could make me happier. Perfectly cooked patties with that awesome smash burger crust. Lettuce. Onion. And then there’s the sauce. The amazing sauce. Everything good is in the sauce. Including soy sauce. That’s where this sauce went from fantastic to amazing.
I can’t say enough how great these smash burgers with zesty sauce were. And they checked one of my required boxes for burgers: messy. The messier, the better. If it isn’t messy it doesn’t have enough ‘stuff’ on it. These burgers have stuff and then some.
Making these burgers isn’t difficult. You don’t need a bunch of fancy equipment or a lot of time. Just a hot griddle and a burger press. Any griddle will do, whether it’s on a grill (I use my Weber), cooktop, stove or even a standalone outdoor flattop. Just get those patties nice and thin and use quality fresh toppings. And a great sauce.
Also try my steakhouse smash burgers.
Smash Burgers with Zesty Sauce
Ingredients
For the sauce (makes extra)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons ketchup
- 1 dash soy sauce
For the burgers
- 1 pound ground beef formed into four 4-ounce patties
- kosher salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- 4 hamburger buns
- 4 slices cheddar cheese or American cheese
- 4 pieces iceberg lettuce torn or chopped
- 4 slices tomato
- 4 slices onion
- 6 slices dill pickle
Instructions
For the sauce
- Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
For the burgers
- Fire up your grill for direct medium-high heat cooking. You can also use an outdoor or indoor griddle or a large skillet on a stove.
- Season the burger patties with salt and pepper on both sides. Don’t be shy with the seasoning.
- Place the patties on grill. Smash down with a spatula or grill press.
- Grill the burgers for 2-3 minutes per side.
- Top the patties with cheese and grill until they’ve reached your desired doneness and the cheese is melted. Remove from the grill.
- Toast the buns as desired.
- Make the burgers by first spreading some of the sauce on the bun bottoms.
- Add a burger patty.
- Add onion, lettuce, tomato and pickle slices.
- Slather the top bun with more of the sauce and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional values are approximate.
