Smash Burger Sauce

Get ready to transform your burger game with a smash burger sauce that’s as unforgettable as the burger itself.

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My oldest son is obsessed with bacon cheeseburgers. When my family went to Disney World a few years ago, he literally ate his way across the entire park in cheeseburgers. Since purchasing our Blackstone griddle last year, we’ve delved into the phenomenon that is the smash burger.  There are a lot of factors that go into making a delicious burger — a slice of American cheese, your favorite toppings, lightly toasted hamburger buns. But burger lovers everywhere know that the magic of a smash burger lies not just in its crisp edges and juicy center, but also in the special sauce that ties it all together. This amazing sauce tastes just like the secret sauce found at your favorite burger joint.

In addition to smash burgers, this sauce recipe also pairs well with these Avocado Chicken Burgers.

What is a smash burger?

A smash burger is a method of cooking ground beef on a hot griddle over high heat. A loosely formed burger patty is placed directly on the hot surface, then flattened by smashing it into the very hot griddle. We use a cast iron burger press to do this, but any heavy object with a flat surface, like a large skillet, will work. This technique sears the outside of the burger, trapping all the juices within the thin patty while the burger cooks. Don’t feel like you have to miss out if you don’t own an outdoor griddle. I’ve made smash burgers on my indoor electric griddle and even in a cast iron skillet.

How to make smash burger sauce

1. In your mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, oil, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, water, and hot sauce until it is smooth and lump-free.
2. Stir in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and pickle relish until the ingredients are well combined.
3. Spread the sauce on the top bun as you would your favorite condiment, or spoon a generous drizzle over the top of your favorite burger toppings and let it drizzle down the sides.

Tasty variations

One of the great things about this easy smashburger sauce recipe is that it’s more of a guideline than set in stone. You can make additions or subtractions to the ingredients so the flavor suits your tastes.

• Use dill pickles instead of sweet pickles.
• Add chopped jalapenos in replacement of or in addition to the pickle relish.
• Substitute some of the mayonnaise with a couple of tablespoons of prepared horseradish.
• Substitute some of the ketchup with a couple tablespoons of chili sauce.
• Replace the yellow mustard with dijon mustard, spicy brown mustard or whole grain mustard.
• Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra heat.

Storage instructions

Transfer the sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate. The sauce should last for up to two weeks if stored properly. This recipe does not freeze.

Frequently asked questions