How to Make Flat Iron® Smash Burgers

The new Char-Griller Flat Iron® Gas Griddle is a lot of fun to cook on. From stir fry and breakfast to philly cheesesteaks and more, the options are endless. That being said, there is one recipe that is our standout favorite to cook on the griddle: Smash Burgers.

Usually found at your favorite diner, the Flat Iron® brings this flattop classic to your own backyard and we’re going to walk you through exactly how to make it!

Prepare the Meat

One of the keys to smash burgers is prepping the meat. Take your desired ground meat (or grind your own if you want to get fancy), season it thoroughly, mix, and start rolling it into balls about one inch to one and half inches in diameter.

Place all the balls on a sheet tray so you can easily grab them as you cook. This recipe goes fast so you’ll want to have everything accessible. Make sure to place the cheese (we recommend traditional American) and a tray for the finished burgers close by too.

Tip: Have someone help you unwrap the cheese as you go or unwrap it before you start.

Preheat the Griddle

Turn all the knobs on your Flat Iron® to high and light the burners. Turn the knobs down to medium or medium high and allow your griddle to preheat for 10 to 12 minutes. You want the flattop completely preheated for the best results.

Start Cooking

Once the griddle is preheated, add about two tablespoons of vegetable oil to the griddle top and spread with a paper towel. You can also cook bacon for the burgers and use the bacon grease.

Have a large metal spatula and a wooden dowel (rolling pins work great) or a spatula and a burger press at the ready. Place one of the meat balls on the oiled griddle top and press down with the spatula using the dowel to provide extra force to press the burger as flat as possible. If you want to get the crispy edges like you get in diners, slide the spatula across the burger before pulling it off.

If using the burger press, the same method applies but without the dowel.

Set a timer for 60 seconds and repeat the process with the rest of the burgers.

After 60 seconds, flip the burgers and place a piece of cheese on top and cook for an additional 60 seconds. If that seems like a short amount of time, remember that the key to good smash burgers is to get them super thin. They cook way faster than you would expect!

After the final 60 seconds, remove the burgers from the grill and onto the waiting tray. Place buns on the griddle top to toast for 2 minutes and then build your burger. We recommend stacking it two high and topping with bacon, lettuce and tomato for the best burger.

Enjoy with fries, griddle veggies, and more!

Have some great smash burger tips? Leave them in the comments below!