Smash Burger Bowl
A crispy, cheesy smash burger bowl loaded with seasoned ground beef, fresh toppings, and a tangy burger sauce. All the flavor of a classic burger, served over rice or lettuce in under 30 minutes.
Equipment
- Cast iron skillet
- Spatula
- Small mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, 80/20 blend
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups cooked white rice or shredded lettuce for the base
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced white onion
- 1/2 cup diced pickles
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- 4 slices American cheese
- 1 tbsp neutral oil for the pan
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp pickle juice
Instructions
- Make the sauce. Mix mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and pickle juice in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Heat the pan. Place a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and let it get very hot until shimmering.
- Smash the beef. Portion ground beef into 4 oz balls. Add to the hot pan and immediately smash flat with a spatula. Press firmly and hold for a few seconds.
- Season. Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper over each patty right after smashing.
- Cook undisturbed. Let the patties cook for about 2 minutes until a deep brown crust forms on the bottom. Flip once.
- Add cheese. Place one slice of American cheese on each patty after flipping. Cook for 1 more minute until melted. Remove from heat.
- Build the bowls. Add rice or lettuce to each bowl as the base. Place a beef patty on top, then add tomatoes, onion, pickles, and shredded lettuce.
- Finish with sauce. Drizzle burger sauce over each bowl generously. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use cold beef straight from the fridge for better smashing results.
- Cast iron gives the best crust - avoid non-stick pans for this recipe.
- Store beef and toppings separately for meal prep, assemble fresh before eating.
- Reheat beef in a dry skillet over medium heat to restore the crust.