Smash Burger Sloppy Joes (Printable)
Saucy ground beef smashed and simmered with tangy pickles, melted cheese, on toasted buns.
# 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
→ For Serving
13 - 4 hamburger buns, toasted
14 - 4 slices American or cheddar cheese
15 - Sliced tomato (optional)
16 - Shredded lettuce (optional)
17 - Butter for toasting buns
# Directions:
01 - Set a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp unsalted butter and allow it to melt completely, coating the cooking surface.
02 - Add the ground beef to the skillet and spread it out evenly. Press down firmly with a spatula to achieve a smashed crust. Let it cook undisturbed for 2 to 3 minutes until a deep brown sear forms, then break the meat apart into crumbles.
03 - Stir the finely diced onion into the beef and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
04 - Add the chopped dill pickles, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Stir thoroughly to combine and let the mixture simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until thick and saucy.
05 - While the beef simmers, butter the cut sides of each hamburger bun. Place them butter-side down on a separate pan or griddle and toast until golden brown.
06 - Lay a slice of cheese over the hot beef mixture. Allow it to melt slightly from the residual heat, then remove the skillet from the burner.
07 - Spoon the cheesy beef mixture generously onto the bottom half of each toasted bun. Add sliced tomato and shredded lettuce if desired. Cap with the top bun and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- That crispy smashed beef crust gives you all the diner magic without standing over a grill for an hour.
- The sauce comes together from pantry staples, so you probably already have everything you need.
- It takes thirty five minutes from cutting board to plate, which is faster than delivery and honestly tastes better.
02 -
- Do not use lean beef, because 90/10 will give you a dry crumbly mess that no amount of sauce can rescue.
- Pressing the beef flat and leaving it undisturbed is the single step most people skip, and it is the reason this recipe works.
- A splash of pickle juice stirred into the sauce at the end is a move that sounds weird until you taste it and realize it is genius.
03 -
- Crowd the beef into the pan and press it into one big flat patty before breaking it up, because maximum contact with the hot surface means maximum flavor.
- Let the assembled sandwich sit for exactly thirty seconds before biting so the cheese has time to glue everything together and the sauce soaks just slightly into the bun.