Big Mac-Style Smash Burgers

Just like the fast-food classic, this Big Mac-Style Smash Burger is made with two thin Canadian beef patties, topped with cheddar cheese, diced onions, lettuce and pickles, then drenched in our “mac” sauce. This recipe was adapted from Chef Mattai and Lago’s original to cook at home.
Yield 4 Servings Prep. Time 15 min Cooking Time 10 min Total Time ??? min

Ingredients

Here are the following ingredients:

Burgers

  • 1 lb (500 g) Medium Ground Beef
  • Salt and pepper
  • 8 slices Cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup (60 mL) butter, divided
  • 4 sesame seed buns, cut horizontally into thirds
  • ½ cup (125 mL) minced white onion
  • 2 cups (500 mL) shredded iceberg lettuce
  • 2 dill pickles, thinly sliced into rounds (16 to 24 slices)

“Mac” Sauce

  • 1 cup (250 mL) mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup (60 mL) minced dill pickle
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) minced white onion
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) prepared yellow mustard
  • 4 tsp (20 mL) pickle juice or white wine vinegar
  • 4 tsp (20 mL) ketchup
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) sweet paprika
  • ½ tsp (2 mL) garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper

Shopping List

Here are the following shopping items to buy:

Directions

Follow these cooking methods/directions: 1. Burgers: Divide the ground beef into 8 equal portions and loosely shape into balls. Place on a tray, cover and refrigerate while preparing remaining ingredients. 2. “Mac” Sauce: Combine mayonnaise, minced pickle, onion, mustard, pickle juice, ketchup, paprika and garlic powder in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside. 3. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Place 1 ball of meat in the pan, off centre, and quickly smash it firmly with a flat metal spatula or burger press until it is about ¼ inch (5 mm) thick. Repeat with 1 to 3 more balls, as the size of the skillet allows. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes, until the edges are browned and crispy. Flip the patties, season with salt and pepper and lay a cheese slice on each. Cook for 1 minute more, or until browned and cooked to 160°F (71°C) doneness at the least. Transfer to plate and set aside to rest. Repeat with remaining beef. 4. Drain any excess fat from pan and discard. Return skillet to medium-high. Melt 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the butter and arrange one of the buns, cut-side down, to toast until just golden, flipping the middle slice to toast on the other side. Set aside. Repeat with remaining butter and buns. 5. To assemble, for each burger, place bottom bun on a plate. Spread with “Mac” Sauce, sprinkle with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of onion, ¼ cup (60 mL) lettuce, 1 patty with cheese facing down, then 3 pickles. Top with middle bun and repeat topping with “Mac” Sauce, onion, lettuce, burger patty and pickles. Drizzle with remaining sauce and sandwich with the top bun and give it a squeeze.