Crispy Smashed Cheeseburgers with Old Bay Broccoli and Special Sauce

These smashed cheeseburgers are all about texture-crispy, craggy edges achieved by pressing ground beef balls into a hot pan. Topped with gooey white cheddar and nestled in soft potato buns with caramelized onions and a homemade special sauce, every bite is a flavor explosion.

On the side, roasted broccoli tossed with Old Bay seasoning adds a spicy, savory crunch. The same special sauce doubles as a dip for the broccoli, making this a complete, crowd-pleasing dinner.

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Ingredients

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

1 unit BroccoliView 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) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView 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 (you’ll use more later). 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 onion is caramelized and jammy, 2-3 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small bowl.
4. In a second small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and as much remaining Old Bay Seasoning as you like. 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. Firmly flatten each ball 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 on the side and remaining special sauce for dipping.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different cheese?

Yes, you can substitute white cheddar with provolone, Monterey Jack or American cheese for a different flavor.

Can I make the special sauce ahead of time?

Absolutely! The sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

What can I use instead of Old Bay seasoning?

You can use a mix of paprika, celery salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper as a substitute.