Smashed Sliders Recipes

SMASHED MEATBALL BURGERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the egg, breadcrumbs, milk and Parmesan and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and fennel seeds and cook for another minute. Set aside to cool.
• Add the ground beef and ground pork to a medium bowl, spreading it out, and sprinkle the surface evenly with 1 teaspoon salt, a few turns of black pepper, a good pinch of crushed red pepper, the oregano and the parsley. Add the cooled onion mixture to the meat mixture. Mix with your hands quickly until just combined (don't overmix). Divide into 6 parts and shape into balls. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet or a griddle over medium heat and add a thin layer of oil. Cook the meatballs on one side until a brown crust is formed, 1 to 2 minutes, then flip and cook for 2 minutes; then smash with a big metal spatula. Top each with a slice of cheese and cook until the cheese is melted and the internal temperature is 160 degrees F, about 5 more minutes.
• Toast the rolls or focaccia either in a skillet or the oven, then spread each side with marinara sauce. Top each with a patty and 2 big leaves of basil. Enjoy!

SMASHED HAMBURGERS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large (12-inch) sauté pan over medium heat, add the onions, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender and starting to brown. Add the sugar, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are browned and caramelized. Add the vinegar and cook for 30 seconds to deglaze the pan.
• Meanwhile, combine the dry mustard, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Place the ground beef in a medium bowl and sprinkle on the mustard mixture. With your fingers, lightly work the mustard into the beef and shape into four 1-inch-thick patties. Place them on a plate and freeze for exactly 15 minutes.
• Heat a large (12-inch) cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 1/2 tablespoons oil. From the freezer, place the burgers directly in the hot skillet. With a large metal spatula, firmly press each burger into the pan. Cook the burgers for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, without moving them, so the bottoms get browned and crusty. Flip the burgers, then spoon on the onions and sprinkle the Gruyère on top. Place a lid on the skillet and cook the burgers for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the burgers are medium-rare inside. Place one burger on each roll and serve hot with ketchup on the side.

BLACKSTONE CLASSIC SMASH BURGERS

Steps:

• Set 2 burners to high and 2 burners to medium on a 36-inch Blackstone® Griddle Cooking Station and preheat for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir the ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and chopped pickle in a small bowl and set aside. Stir the garlic powder, onion powder, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a separate small bowl. Set aside.
• Loosely form the beef into 8 balls; set aside. Working in batches, lightly brush butter onto the medium-heat side of the griddle and toast the buns cut-side down until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Flip and keep warm while you cook the burgers.
• Brush butter onto the high-heat side of the griddle and add the onions. Cook, tossing with a metal spatula occasionally, until starting to brown slightly, about 3 minutes. Divide the onions into 4 equal piles, spacing them a couple inches apart. Top each pile with 1 ball of beef. Smash each ball with the back of a spatula or a burger press until the patty is about 1/4 inch thick. Repeat with the remining 4 beef balls directly on the griddle. Season the patties with half the seasoning mixture and continue cooking, undisturbed, until well browned, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Flip the patties, sprinkle with the remaining seasoning mixture and top each plain patty with 1 cheese slice. Continue cooking until the cheese is melted around the edges and the bottoms of the patties are browned, about 1 more minute.
• Spread the ketchup mixture on the bun tops. Fill each bun with 1 onion patty, 1 plain patty, 1 tomato slice, 1 lettuce leaf and some of the onions, if any, that were left on the griddle.