Crispy Smashed Cheddar Burgers with Chipotle Ketchup and Green Salad

Get ready to smash your way to the ultimate burger experience. These crispy smashed cheddar burgers are all about maximizing surface area for that deep, caramelized crust. Each patty is pressed thin and cooked until perfectly browned, then topped with melty cheddar cheese.

Serve them on toasted potato buns with smoky chipotle ketchup, fresh tomato, red onion and dill pickles. A simple green salad with lemon dressing and pickle spears round out the meal. It’s a flavor-packed dinner that’s sure to become a favorite.

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Ingredients

2 unit Dill PickleView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit Roma TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LemonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Red OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

20 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 cup Cheddar CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 unit Potato BunsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 ounce Mixed GreensView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon KetchupView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Chipotle PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Vegetable OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 teaspoon Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Salt to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Pepper to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Preheat your toaster oven or oven to 400°F (200°C). Wash and dry all produce. Slice one pickle into thin rounds; quarter the other pickle lengthwise to create four spears. Cut one tomato into thin rounds; dice the other tomato. Halve the lemon. Peel the red onion and slice four ¼-inch-thick rounds from the equator (use the rest as you like).
2. Divide the ground beef into four equal pieces and shape each into a ball. Flatten each ball with your palm into a wide circle about ⅓-inch thick. Season generously with salt and pepper.
3. Heat a large drizzle of vegetable oil in a large pan over high heat. Add the burgers to the pan and immediately press down firmly with a spatula to flatten them as much as possible. Cook until deeply browned and crisp on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Tip: Press down occasionally while cooking to maximize surface contact for extra crispiness.
4. Flip the burgers and cook on the other side for about 2 minutes. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the tops of the burgers. Cover the pan and cook until the cheese is melted, about 1 minute more.
5. While the burgers cook, split the potato buns in half and toast them in the preheated toaster oven or oven until lightly golden, 1-2 minutes (place on a baking sheet if using the oven). In a medium bowl, combine the mixed greens, diced tomato, a squeeze or two of lemon juice and 4 teaspoons olive oil. Toss to coat. Season with salt, pepper and additional lemon juice to taste.
6. In a small bowl, mix the ketchup with a pinch or two of chipotle powder (adjust to taste; set aside plain ketchup for kids if desired). Spread the chipotle ketchup onto the toasted buns. Assemble the burgers: place a cheesy patty on each bun bottom, then top with sliced pickle rounds, tomato rounds and onion slices. Cover with bun tops. Serve with the green salad and pickle spears on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of cheese?

Yes, you can substitute cheddar with other melting cheeses like American, Monterey Jack or provolone.

How do I prevent the burgers from sticking to the pan?

Make sure the pan is hot and use enough oil. Also, avoid moving the patties too soon; let them sear undisturbed until they release easily.

Can I make the chipotle ketchup ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can mix the ketchup and chipotle powder up to a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator.