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Jalapeño-Onion Smash Burgers

A delicious twist on the classic hamburger with juicy beef, crispy onions, and spicy jalapeños, perfect for BBQs and weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Burger Sauce
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1.5 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
  • 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 0.25 teaspoon kosher salt
Burger Patties
  • 1.5 pounds high-quality 80% lean ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, very thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
  • 1 large jalapeño chile, very thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1.25 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 0.75 teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 4 slices American cheese
  • 4 pieces soft hamburger buns, split and toasted

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Stir together all burger sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and chill until ready to use.
  2. Divide the beef into 8 (3-ounce) portions and shape each portion into a loose ball. Cover and chill while preparing the grill.
  3. Cut a 3-inch square of parchment paper and set it aside. Preheat the grill to high (450°F to 500°F). Place a large cast-iron skillet or griddle on the grill to preheat.
Cooking
  1. Drizzle the skillet evenly with oil. Arrange onion slices in 8 small mounds (about 1/4 cup each), spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Top each mound with jalapeño slices and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook undisturbed for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  2. Place 1 meatball on each onion mound. Top with the parchment paper square and press firmly to flatten using a sturdy spatula to form a 4-inch-wide patty. Remove the parchment paper.
  3. Repeat with remaining meatballs and onion mounds. Sprinkle the smashed patties with remaining salt and pepper. Cook undisturbed until the patties begin to crisp around the edges, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Flip the patties so that the onion-jalapeño mixture is on top. Place 1 cheese slice on each of 4 patties and cook until well browned and cheese is melted, about 1 minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
  5. Top each cheese-covered patty with a plain patty to create 4 double stacks. Transfer each stack to a bottom bun.
Serving
  1. Spread about 1 tablespoon of burger sauce on each top bun and place them on top of the patties. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor. Don’t rush the cooking process; let the patties develop a good crust. Feel free to adjust the spice level by using more or fewer jalapeños.