Ultimate Smashed Burger with Caramelized Onion and Old Bay Fries

There’s something magical about a burger with crispy, craggy edges and a juicy center. This smashed burger technique-where you press seasoned ground beef into a hot pan to create thin, lacy patties-delivers exactly that. Topped with melted white cheddar and sweet caramelized onions, then tucked into a soft potato bun with a tangy special sauce, every bite is pure bliss.

On the side, crispy potato wedges get a kick from Old Bay seasoning, making them the perfect companion for dipping into extra special sauce. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or a weekend cookout, this recipe will have everyone asking for seconds.

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Ingredients

1 unit Yellow OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

12 ounce Yukon Gold PotatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit OLD BAY® SeasoningView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon MayonnaiseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon KetchupView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Dijon MustardView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup White Cheddar CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit Potato BunsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Salt, to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Pepper, to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 teaspoon Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F with a rack in the top position. Wash and dry produce. Cut potatoes into ½-inch-thick wedges. Halve, peel and thinly slice the onion.
2. On a baking sheet, toss potato wedges with a drizzle of oil and half the Old Bay seasoning. Season lightly with salt and pepper (the seasoning already contains salt). Roast on the 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 sliced onion and 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 and set aside.
4. In another small bowl, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and remaining Old Bay seasoning to taste. Set aside. Form ground beef into 2 equal balls (4 for 4 servings). Season all over with salt and pepper.
5. Heat a drizzle of oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. Add beef balls and immediately flatten each with a spatula into very thin patties (watch for splatters). Cook until desired doneness, 3-4 minutes per side. In the last 1-2 minutes, top patties with cheddar and cover pan until cheese melts. Remove from heat.
6. Halve and toast potato buns. Divide buns among plates and fill with patties, caramelized onion and half the special sauce. Serve Old Bay fries on the side with remaining sauce for dipping.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different cheese instead of white cheddar?

Yes, any good melting cheese like provolone, Monterey Jack or yellow cheddar works well.

Can I make the fries in an air fryer?

Absolutely! Toss the potato wedges with oil and Old Bay, then air fry at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and crispy.

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

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