Learn how to make the best Blackstone Smash Burgers with crispy edges, juicy centers and caramelized onions. This tried and true recipe makes restaurant quality burgers at home!
The first time I used my Blackstone griddle to make smash burgers I felt like I had discovered a whole new way to enjoy a classic. There’s something so cool about the beef sizzling as it hits the griddle, the smell of caramelized onions in the air and that golden crust forming on the edges of the burger. It’s simple but so rewarding, makes any meal an event.
I’ve refined this recipe over the years using quality ingredients and simple techniques that work every time. 80/20 ground beef gives you the perfect balance of flavor and juiciness, garlic powder, kosher salt and black pepper lets the beef be the star and the caramelized onions are the secret ingredient that adds just the right amount of sweetness to the savory burger.
I’ve made these burgers for family and friends countless times and they are always a hit. The Blackstone griddle gives you that crispy sear on the outside and tender juicy center. And if you don’t have a Blackstone, a cast iron skillet works just as well. Trust me once you make these smash burgers you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!
You will love these Blackstone Smash Burgers
- Prepared Fresh from Home | Fresher is always better; better flavor and better for you!
- Authentic Flavor | This is the best burger! It tastes even better than the original Smashburger.
- Super Simple Ingredients | Only meat and a few spices to make this juicy burger!
So why does a flat top griddle make such a difference when making a “smashed burger”? I’m glad you asked! The griddle’s even heat distribution lets you achieve crispy, caramelized edges on your burger while preserving the juicy, flavorful center. Summer never tasted so good!
Blackstone Smash Burger Recipe Ingredients
Smash Burger Ingredients
- Ground Beef Chuck | Angus is best for its exceptional marbling and flavor. 80/20 ground chuck makes the juiciest burgers. Feel free to use other blends and ground meats.
- Spices | Garlic powder, fresh ground pepper, kosher salt.
- Beef Bouillon | Better-than-Bouillon Beef is a great option to ramp up the flavor but is also optional.
- Onions | Use yellow, sweet or a white onion, sliced super thin (love this simple mandolin slicer). Caramelized or grilled onions make this burger better, give them a try, you’ll also need a little butter and kosher salt.
Smash Burger Sauce Ingredients
See how to make this delicious and easy Smash sauce!
- Mayonnaise | I like to use Chosen Foods Avocado Mayo for a healthier alternative and better flavor. However, you may use whatever mayo is your favorite.
- Sweet Pickle Relish | Adds a sweet taste and a subtle tanginess.
- Dijon Mustard | Tangy and sharp Dijon gives a kick to this sauce.
- Lemon Juice | Freshly squeezed for the freshest flavor.
- Seasoning Salt | Enhances the flavor of any dish. I like Lawry’s.
Favorite Topping Ideas
- Hamburger Buns | I love Brioche buns however, pretzel buns or even a soft potato bun would be great!
- Butter | A quick slather of softened butter makes a toasty bun.
- Veggies | Shredded lettuce, onions, pickles, tomatoes – yum!
- Cheese | A slice of American cheese is classic (I prefer organic American cheese), but white or regular cheddar cheese or pepper jack would make flavorful burgers.
Healthy Twist
- Use 93/7, 90/10 or even 85/15 ground beef in this recipe to lower the fat content.
- The fat from the ground meat is what gives the burger the crispy edges, so you may need to add a bit of heart-healthy oil (like avocado oil) to the hot griddle or hot skillet pan to achieve those crispy burger edges and to prevent the patty from sticking.
- If you’re not a fan of ground beef, try ground bison, which is leaner, but still produces a tender, juicy burger. Try my bison burger, also!
Recommended Tools
- Parchment Paper to make your pressing quick and easy!
- Meat Press or Hamburger Press | handy for this Smashburger recipe with onions
- Griddle Spatula | Long-handled and sturdy spatulas!
- Blackstone Grill or other Hibachi-style grill surface!
- Infrared Thermometer | Measure the temp of the surface on the griddle/pan.
- BBQ Gloves | These will be a lifesaver when working over these high heats!
How to make Smash Burgers on Blackstone
Step 1 | Prep Burger Balls
In a medium bowl add ground chuck, and sprinkle the following evenly over the meat; kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and if using, bouillon. Mix quickly, careful not to overwork the meat.
Divide meat into 8 similar-sized globs of ground beef and loosely roll each into a ball, being careful not to over-pack the meat. Each ball should weigh about 3-4 ounces (at 4 ounces, you will only get 6 total burgers).
Place the ground beef balls in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to grill, no longer than 20 minutes in the freezer.
Pro Tip
- Cold burger meat helps to create a better sear on the outside of the burger, giving you the crispy, caramelized crust smash burgers are famous for. It also keeps the burger patty from falling apart.
Step 2 | Prepare the Smash Sauce
Mix all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, and place in the fridge until ready to use. Check out my detailed post on how to make this amazing smash burger sauce.
Step 3 | Prep Buns and Additional Toppings
Butter both sides of buns and set them aside. If caramelizing onions, slice paper thin, place in a bowl, sprinkle with salt and toss. Chop lettuce, slice tomatoes and have cheese ready to add quickly once the burger is done.
Step 4 | Grill Onions and Buns
Preheat the Blackstone Griddle to medium heat, about 400°F (205° C). Once hot, over medium heat, melt butter and add sliced onions, sprinkling with salt if you haven’t already done so.
Grill, tossing fried onions occasionally until caramelized, about 10-15 minutes. Scoot grilled onions to the back and side, where they can continue cooking, stirring occasionally.
While the onions are cooking, grill buns until golden brown and set aside.
Step 6 | Cook the Burgers
Increase grill temperature to the higher side of medium-high heat. Once the cooking surface is hot, place 4 burger balls onto the center of the griddle.
To keep the meat from sticking, place a piece of parchment paper onto the top of the meatball, then using a burger press, or larger spatula, immediately and evenly smash straight down on the burgers so they become a thin patty.
Grill for 2-3 minutes, flip the burger patties, add a slice of cheese if desired, and cook for 2-4 minutes or until desired doneness.
Pro Tip
- This smashburger recipe with onions cooks quickly! Put only as many on a time that you can smash and turn.
Step 6 | Build Your Burger
For perfect smash burgers, slather smash sauce on the bottom bun, your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce, a slice of tomato, and dill pickles, then add burger(s) and top with caramelized onions and a toasted top bun. These burgers are thin, so two burgers make satisfying onion burgers!
Fresh Tips for the Best Smashburger Recipe with Onions
- Screaming Hot | Make sure your griddle is good and hot, around 400°F-500°F (204°-260° C), before you start to grill your hamburger meat. If the grill is not hot enough, the meat will not sear properly, and it may stick to the griddle’s surface, making it challenging to flip.
- SMASH 101 | To “smash” the burger, use a large metal spatula (placing it on the burger and pressing it down with your hand), a hamburger press, a bacon press, or the bottom of a large glass jar. A press will give you the thinnest and most evenly sized burgers.
- Parchment paper is a must to keep your burger from sticking to whatever tool you use to press your smash burger.
Blackstone Smash Burgers Variations
- Not a Beef Eater? Try ground turkey or chicken when making these homemade smash burgers. These leaner proteins may require additional seasoning and a touch more fat on the griddle to enhance the flavor.
- Gluten-free Smash Burgers | Replace buns with a high-quality GF alternative, and use GF garlic powder. I recommend McCormick.
- Dairy Free | This recipe can even be made dairy-free! Substitute butter with oil and use your favorite dairy-free cheese brand to top it off. Or, omit the cheese if you’d prefer.
- Hungry for Breakfast? | Switch out your hamburger with pork breakfast sausage and make a delicious breakfast sandwich!
- Oklahoma Burgers: Skip a step and grill your onions simultaneously as your burger. Place equal portions of sliced onions on your griddle, and top each with a hamburger ball. Press, cook for a few minutes, flip, and continue grilling until done. Add a slice of cheese, and Voila! I am told that’s how an Oklahoma native does it!
Tips for Two
- If making smash burgers for two, I recommend still making the entire batch and freezing the unused hamburger balls for another meal. Buns freeze beautifully as well.
How to store Blackstone Smash Burgers
These burgers are just as delish the next day, so make sure you save your leftovers! Store the -ingredients separately and assemble them when you’re ready for another burger.
- Refrigerator: Once your burgers have cooked and cooled, place them in an airtight container. Store cooked patties in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing the cooked patties. Instead, freeze the portioned raw balls of meat. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and cook the patty as instructed.
- Reheat: A great way to reheat leftover smash burgers is in the air fryer at 350° F (178°C ) for 5 minutes, flipping halfway through. Warming the patties in the microwave for 1-2 minutes is also an option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Serve with Your Smash Burger
Well, classic french fries like these crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Steak Fries are a no-brainer, but why stop there? Mix things up with sweet potato fries, or try these scrumptious Zucchini Corn Fritters for a healthier alternative. Sip on a cool and smokey Cherry Bomb Cocktail and indulge in these delectable Easy Chewy Blondie Bars to complete your summertime (or anytime!) meal!
These burgers cook fast! Make sure you have everything prepped and ready to go before cooking!
Best Side Dishes to Serve with Smash Burgers
Nothing like the irresistible scent of burgers on the Blackstone gets me dreaming of summer barbeques. No summer cookout is complete without adding my mouth-watering Best Ever Cowboy Baked Beans, infused with rich smoky flavors.
Best Steakhouse Wedge Salad Recipe (with Romaine)
Healthier Romaine wedge salad is topped with creamy blue cheese dressing, bacon bits, blue cheese crumbles, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and candied pecans; the best Steakhouse wedge salad.
Best Italian Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes
All the right flavors, bright and colorful, packed into this beautiful pasta salad. Great for a crowd or your family, the leftovers are even better!
Best Desserts to Serve with Smash Burgers
Every good burger meal needs to end with a couple of delectable desserts. Take a bite of my zesty and tangy Old Fashioned Lemon Squares or indulge in my creamy, dreamy Magnolia Banana Pudding. Or is a no-bake dessert is more your speed, try my ice creams!
Easy Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe (no eggs)
Five ingredients — that's it, just five simple and basic ingredients to this AMAZING, creamy, no-cook, old-fashioned homemade chocolate ice cream, no eggs! Keep it basic or get creative with your mix-ins, regardless this is an amazing ice cream.
Old-Fashioned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Creamy, homemade old fashioned ice cream, with gorgeous flecks of vanilla beans and no sweetened condensed milk! This churn ice cream has simple ingredients that will be ready in no time for your ice cream maker.
How to Season Your Blackstone Griddle
If this is your first use, make sure to season your Blackstone Griddle before using it.
- Simply wash the griddle with some cold, soapy water.
- Turn the burners on high for 10-15 minutes; it will darken during this time; turn the heat off.
- Select an oil of your choice (flaxseed is recommended) and cover the cooktop with a thin layer of oil. Use tongs and grab some paper towels rubbing them over the surface like you are trying to rub off the oil; it should be a really thin layer.
- Be sure to let the oil smoke; this is much like seasoning a cast iron pan.
- Turn the heat back up to full blast; you want it to be really smokin’; this is the blackening phase that will give you a beautiful surface. It might take up to 30 minutes, so be patient; make yourself a margarita — once it stops smoking, turn off the heat.
- For the best surface, repeat the oil-smoke process above 2-3 times! Check out this tutorial for more information
More Delicious Food from the Griddle/Grill:
- Chicken Fried Rice on the Blackstone Griddle
- Asian Marinated Grilled Pork Tenderloin
- The Best Bison Burger Recipe with Caramelized Onions
- Famous Flank Steak Marinade
- Coconut Lime Chicken
I hope you loved this Smashburger recipe with onions on the Blackstone — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!
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Equipment
Ingredients
Smash Burgers
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef chuck 80/20 is the best, most flavorful, see notes for others
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons beef bouillon I like organic Better-than-Bouillon
- 6 slices cheese use your favorite, American, cheddar, pepper jack
- 3-6 Brioche buns
- 2-3 tablespoons butter to grill buns
Caramelized Onions
- 2 large onions sweet, yellow or white, sliced thin
- 3-4 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- pinch kosher salt
Suggested Optional Toppings
- 6 tablespoons Smash Sauce see notes for how to make
- shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pickles
Instructions
Prepare Smash Burger Balls
- In a medium bowl add ground chuck, and sprinkle the following evenly over the meat; kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and if using bouillon. Mix quickly, careful not to overwork the meat. Divide meat into 8 similar-sized meatballs.
- Return the burger balls to the refrigerator or freezer until ready to grill, no longer than 20 minutes in the freezer.
Prepare Smash Sauce (optional)
- Mix all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, and place in the fridge until ready to use.
Grill Onions
- If making caramelized onions, on the flat top grill, over medium heat, melt butter and add sliced onions, sprinkling with salt. Grill, tossing occasionally until caramelized, about 15 minutes. Scoot to the back and side, where they can continue cooking, stirring occasionally.
Grill Buns
- Butter buns and grill until golden brown, set aside. Have toppings sliced and ready to build your smashburger.
Grill Smash Burgers
- Increase grill temperature to the higher side of medium-high heat. Once hot, place 4 burger balls onto the griddle, to keep the meat from sticking, place a square of parchment paper onto the top of the meatball, then immediately smash straight down on the burgers, so they become a thin patty.
- Grill for 2 minutes, flip, add cheese if desired, and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add cheese during last minute or two until melted.
- Build your burger, by adding smash sauce to the bottom bun, adding shredded lettuce, a slice of tomato, and pickles, then add burger(s) and top with caramelized onions topping with the top bun.
Notes
- ½ cup mayonnaise, good quality, I like Avocado mayo
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon seasoning salt (like Lawry’s)
Nutrition
Jules
I grew up eating burgers cooked on a blackstone but hadn’t been able to make them at home. This recipe talked my hesitant hubby over the edge and this was the first recipe we cooked on it! Thank you, they were even better than I thought they would be and that sauce is delicious!
Yay! Thanks Jules, love hearing that.
Lynn
So so good! We love a good smash burger and this was the perfect way to do it at home!
So glad you loved it, Lynn!
Thanks, Lynn, glad you liked them.
Tasia
We had a friend make smash burgers for us one time and with your awesome instructions, I now get to cook these fantastic burgers for others! Thanks for always making me look good 😉 and for a recipe my kids happily eat. Now to clean up the mess I made…..
Right?! They are a little messy but so worth it!!
Lima Ekram
Have never used beef bullion in my burgers – great tip – cant wait to try it!
It’s so good!
Anjali
Omg this really was the ultimate burger recipe!! We made it for dinner tonight and it was perfect for enjoying with some homemade fries!!
Thank you so much!!
Dina
Used dill pickle in the sauce. These were amazing!
Yummy!!! Love your twist, Dina!
Jeff
Outrageously good. I love the carmelized onions.
Thanks so much, Jeff!
Kim
Delicious! The higher heat is definitely key to get that great flavor! Super easy to make
So true, Kim!!