Smash Burger Sloppy Joes (Print Version)
Smashed beef in a tangy, cheesy sauce piled on toasted buns — a family-friendly comfort food classic.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meat & Base
01 - 1 lb ground beef, 80/20 blend preferred
02 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1/2 cup dill pickles, finely chopped
→ Sauce & Seasonings
06 - 1/2 cup ketchup
07 - 2 tbsp yellow mustard
08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
12 - Salt to taste
→ To Serve
13 - 4 hamburger buns
14 - 4 slices American or cheddar cheese
15 - Sliced tomato, shredded lettuce (optional)
16 - Butter for toasting buns
# How to Make It:
01 - Set a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp unsalted butter and allow it to melt completely, coating the surface evenly.
02 - Add the ground beef to the hot skillet, spreading it into an even layer. Firmly press down with a spatula to achieve a thin, crisp smash-style crust. Let it cook undisturbed for 2 to 3 minutes until deeply browned on the bottom, then break the meat apart into smaller pieces.
03 - Add the finely diced onion to the beef and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in the chopped pickles, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly and let the mixture simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the beef evenly.
05 - While the meat simmers, butter the cut sides of each hamburger bun. Place them face-down on a separate pan or griddle over medium heat and toast until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes.
06 - Lay a slice of cheese over the hot beef mixture in the skillet. Allow it to rest for about 30 seconds until slightly melted, then remove the skillet from heat.
07 - Spoon a generous portion of the cheesy beef mixture onto the bottom half of each toasted bun. Add sliced tomato and shredded lettuce if desired. Cap with the top bun and serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The smash technique gives you crispy bits of beef that a regular Sloppy Joe never dreams of achieving.
- Everything cooks in one pan, which means dinner lands on the table in about half an hour with barely any cleanup.
02 -
- Do not stir the beef immediately after smashing it because that crust is where all the burger flavor lives and moving it too soon means you lose it.
- A splash of pickle juice stirred into the sauce at the end is a total game changer that I discovered by accident and now refuse to skip.
03 -
- Use a heavy spatula and really lean your weight into pressing the beef flat because the thinner you smash it the more surface area browns and the closer you get to that real smash burger taste.
- Toast the buns in the same pan right after the meat comes out so they soak up every bit of residual flavor left behind.