Air Fryer Smash Burgers
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I love making smash burgers in the air fryer when I don’t feel like firing up the grill. The patties cook in just 10 minutes and still turn out juicy, cheesy, and loaded with crispy edges.
Smash burgers have taken over social media and burger joints for good reason. If you’re unfamiliar, a smash burger is simply a burger patty that’s pressed onto a hot cooking surface, creating crispy, caramelized edges and tons of flavor.
I love making them up for my partner and me, but when I don’t want to fire up the grill, I turn to the air fryer instead.
Since there is no hot griddle to smash the burgers on, I had to test a few options to recreate the texture. I found that pressing the patties thin before cooking and using a high temperature produced the closest result. The burgers cook quickly, stay juicy in the middle, and develop beautifully crisp edges. I like to stack two patties per burger, then finish them with melty cheese and my homemade smash burger sauce.
Arman’s tips before starting
80/20 beef is non-negotiable. I’ve tested smash burgers with leaner ground beef, and they’re just not the same. The extra fat really does keep the patties juicy and helps create those crispy edges we’re chasing.
Preheat the air fryer. I know it’s tempting to skip this step, but a hot air fryer gives the burgers a head start and helps them brown much better.
Season right before cooking. I always season the patties just before they go in the air fryer. If they sit around too long after being salted, they can lose some moisture and won’t be quite as juicy.
Add cheese at the end. Trust me on this one. Add the cheese during the last two minutes of cooking, and it’ll melt perfectly without overcooking the burgers.
Key Ingredients
- Ground beef. 80/20 ground beef keeps the patties juicy and creates those crispy edges.
- Seasonings. I’m keeping things simple with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- American-style cheese. If you want that classic smash burger experience, this is the cheese to use. It melts beautifully and gets perfectly gooey.
- Smash sauce. I’ve made my own version using mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, smoked paprika, and my secret ingredient: pickle brine.
- To serve. Brioche burger buns, lettuce, and sliced pickles.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1- Smash. Divide the ground beef into four portions. Place on parchment paper, add another piece on top, and press down hard using a glass or rolling pin until 1/4-inch thick.
Step 2- Season. Sprinkle the seasonings over each patty.
Step 3- Air fry. Place the patties in a preheated, greased air fryer and air-fry for 4 minutes.
Step 4- Cheese. Flip the patties, add cheese, and air fry for another 2 minutes.
Step 5- Sauce. Whisk the smash burger sauce together.
Step 6- Assemble. Toast the brioche buns and spread sauce on both sides. Add lettuce to the base, followed by two patties and pickles, and enjoy.
Air Fryer Smash Burgers
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14 ounces ground beef 80/20, 400g
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 slices American cheese
- 2 brioche buns toasted
- 1/2 cup iceberg lettuce shredded
- 2 pickles thinly sliced
- 1/4 white onion thinly sliced
Smash burger sauce
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 425°F (220°C). Grease the basket generously.
- Divide the ground beef into four equal balls, roughly 3.5 ounces each.
- Place the balls of ground beef on parchment paper. Place another sheet on top. Press down hard on each ball of ground beef using the flat bottom of a glass, jar, or rolling pin. Each patty should be 1/4-inch thick.
- Season the top of each patty with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Place two patties into the greased air fryer basket. Air fry for 4 minutes.
- Flip the patties and immediately place a slice of cheese on each one. Air fry for a further 2 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the edges are dark and crispy. Repeat with the remaining two patties.
- While the smash burgers are cooking, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle brine, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
- Build the burgers by spreading smash sauce on both sides, lettuce on the base, two patties stacked, pickles, onion, and the top bun. Serve immediately.
OH my gosh! Can’t wait to try this!