Smash Burger with Special Burger Sauce by Derek Chen

Ingredients

• 1 lb 75/25 or 80/20 ground beef, formed into 4 oz balls
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 slices American cheese
• 4 brioche buns
• Pickles, for serving
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/4 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tbsp pickle juice
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder

Instructions

1. Thinly slice the onion using a mandolin or knife and set aside.
2. Form ground beef into 4 oz balls and set aside.
3. Combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, pickle juice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl; taste and adjust seasoning, then refrigerate until needed.
4. Heat a cast iron or stainless steel pan (not non-stick) over medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes until a drop of water beads and rolls across the surface.
5. Place beef balls onto the hot pan and season generously with salt and pepper.
6. Add a small handful of sliced onions on top of each ball, then smash down as hard as you can with a spatula to form a thin patty.
7. Cook for 2 minutes until the edges are deeply browned and crispy, then scrape and flip each patty.
8. Immediately place a slice of American cheese on each patty, then lay the top bun followed by the bottom bun on top to steam for 1–2 minutes until cheese is melted.
9. Assemble burgers with pickles and burger sauce, and serve immediately.