Crispy Smashed Burgers with Old Bay Fries and Caramelized Onion Special Sauce

Get ready for the ultimate burger experience: thin, crispy-edged patties smashed to perfection in a hot pan, topped with gooey white cheddar and sweet caramelized onions. A tangy special sauce ties it all together, while Old Bay seasoned fries on the side add a flavorful crunch.

The secret to these burgers is the technique-pressing balls of ground beef flat with a spatula creates maximum surface area for browning, resulting in irresistible crispy bits. Paired with soft potato buns, this is a meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.

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Ingredients

12 ounce PotatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup White Cheddar CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Old Bay SeasoningView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit KetchupView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon MayonnaiseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit Potato BunsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Dijon MustardView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon (tsp) SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 425°F. Wash and dry produce. Cut potatoes into ½-inch-thick wedges. Halve, peel and thinly slice onion.
2. Toss potatoes on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil and half the Old Bay Seasoning. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Roast on top rack until browned and crispy, 20-25 minutes.
3. While potatoes roast, heat a large drizzle of oil in a medium nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and softened, 8-10 minutes. Add 1 tsp sugar and a splash of water; cook until caramelized and jammy, 2-3 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small bowl.
4. In another small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and remaining Old Bay Seasoning to taste. Set aside. Form beef into two equal-size balls; season all over with salt and pepper.
5. Heat a drizzle of oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add beef balls. Firmly flatten each with a spatula to create very thin patties. Cook 3-4 minutes per side. In the last 1-2 minutes, top patties with cheddar; cover pan to melt cheese. Remove from heat.
6. While patties cook, halve and toast buns. Divide buns between plates and fill with patties, caramelized onion and half the special sauce. Serve burgers with Old Bay fries and remaining special sauce for dipping.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different cheese?

Yes, you can substitute white cheddar with another melting cheese like provolone or American.

How do I prevent the patties from sticking?

Make sure the pan is well-oiled and hot before adding the beef. A nonstick pan also helps.

Can I make the fries ahead of time?

For best crispiness, serve fries immediately. If needed, reheat in a 400°F oven for a few minutes.