Smash Burger Sloppy Joes (Printable version)
Smashed beef in tangy sauce with melted cheese on toasted buns. A family favorite ready in 35 minutes.
# What you need:
→ Meat & Main
01 - 1 lb ground beef, 80/20 blend preferred
02 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1/2 cup dill pickles, finely chopped
→ Sauce & Seasonings
06 - 1/2 cup ketchup
07 - 2 tbsp yellow mustard
08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
12 - Salt to taste
→ To Serve
13 - 4 hamburger buns, toasted
14 - 4 slices American or cheddar cheese
15 - Sliced tomato and shredded lettuce, optional
16 - Butter for toasting buns
# How To:
01 - Place a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp unsalted butter and allow it to melt completely, coating the surface evenly.
02 - Add the ground beef to the skillet, spreading it into an even layer. Press down firmly with a spatula to create a flat smash-burger crust. Let it cook undisturbed for 2 to 3 minutes until a deep brown sear forms, then break the meat apart into crumbles.
03 - Add the finely diced onion to the beef and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in the chopped dill pickles, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens into a rich, saucy consistency.
05 - While the meat mixture simmers, butter the cut sides of the hamburger buns. Place them face-down on a separate pan or griddle over medium heat and toast until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes.
06 - Lay the cheese slices directly over the hot beef mixture. Allow them to soften and melt slightly from the residual heat, then remove the skillet from the burner.
07 - Spoon the cheesy beef mixture generously onto the bottom half of each toasted bun. Add sliced tomato and shredded lettuce if desired. Cap with the top bun and serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It takes one skillet and about thirty minutes from the moment you start craving it to the moment you are eating it.
- The smash technique gives the beef a crusty, caramelized edge that regular Sloppy Joes never dream of having.
02 -
- Do not stir the beef immediately after pressing it down, because the crust that forms is where all the burger flavor lives.
- A splash of pickle juice stirred into the sauce at the end is a trick that will change your entire relationship with this dish.
03 -
- Press the beef thin and leave it alone, because patience during those first two minutes is what separates a smash burger from a regular one.
- Toast the buns in the leftover beef drippings for an extra layer of flavor that costs zero extra effort.