Chalo Kochen
← All recipes
Smash Burger
Smash Burger: a ball of beef smashed thin on a smoking-hot pan for crispy, lacy edges and melty cheese, for about €1.75 each!
- €1.75 each
- Serves 2
- 20 min
- American
What it costs
| Beef mince, 250 g | €2.00 |
| Burger buns, 2 | €0.50 |
| Onion & pickles | €0.35 |
| Cheddar slices, 2 | €0.30 |
| Burger sauce | €0.20 |
| Butter, salt & pepper | €0.10 |
| Total | €3.45 |
Estimated from German discount supermarket prices (Aldi and Lidl) in October 2026. Only the amount used is counted, not the whole pack. Prices vary by store and country.
Ingredients
- 250 g beef mince (about 20% fat), kept cold
- 2 soft burger buns
- 2 slices cheddar
- ½ onion, sliced paper-thin
- A few pickle slices
- Burger sauce: 2 tbsp mayo, 1 tbsp ketchup, 1 tsp mustard, 1 tbsp chopped pickles
- 1 tsp butter
- Salt and black pepper
Steps
- Mix the burger sauce.
- Split the beef into two loose balls. Keep them cold.
- Butter the cut sides of the buns and toast them in a hot pan. Set aside.
- Get a heavy pan smoking hot. Add a ball, lay the onion slices on top and smash it flat with a sturdy spatula. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for about 2 minutes until the edges are deep brown and crispy, then scrape and flip.
- Add the cheese and cook 1 minute more until melted.
- Build it: bun, sauce, pickles, patty, bun.
Momo's tips
- Smash it in the first 30 seconds: that's when the crust forms.
- Keep the beef cold and don't overwork it.
- Scrape under the crust when you flip so it stays on the patty.
Handy to have
- Cast-iron pan
- Sturdy metal spatula
