The Ultimate G-Way Smash Cheeseburger & Crispy Fries

There’s just something about a good smash burger—the crispy, caramelized edges, juicy center, melted cheese, and that soft, buttery brioche bun. Add a pile of hot, crispy seasoned fries on the side and you’ve got a restaurant-worthy burger night without leaving the house.

The secret is keeping the burger simple and letting that hard sear does the work. A hot skillet or griddle gives the beef those irresistible crispy edges, while American or cheddar cheese melts right into every nook and cranny.

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Servings: 4 burgers

Ingredients

For the Smash Burgers

• 1½ lbs. ground beef, preferably 80/20

• 4 brioche burger buns

• 8 slices American or cheddar cheese

• 1 small yellow or white onion, finely diced

• Dill pickle slices

• Salt, to taste

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 1 tablespoon butter, for toasting the buns

G-Way Burger Sauce

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 2 tablespoons ketchup

• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard

• 1 tablespoon finely chopped dill pickles or pickle relish

• 1 teaspoon pickle juice

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

For the Crispy Fries

• 1½ lbs. frozen French fries

• 1 tablespoon neutral oil, optional

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

• ½ teaspoon dried parsley

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Make the Burger Sauce

Add the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, pickle juice, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika to a small bowl.

Stir until smooth and creamy. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the burgers. Giving the sauce a few minutes to rest helps all those flavors come together.

2. Prepare the Beef

Divide the ground beef into 8 loose balls, about 3 ounces each.

Don't tightly pack or overwork the meat. Keeping the beef loose helps create those thin, crispy, craggy edges that make a smash burger so good.

3. Toast the Brioche Buns

Heat a large cast-iron skillet or flat-top griddle over medium heat.

Lightly butter the cut sides of the brioche buns and toast them cut-side down until golden brown, about 1–2 minutes.

Remove and set aside.

4. Smash the Burgers

Turn the heat up to medium-high or high and allow the skillet to get very hot.

Place 2–4 beef balls onto the hot surface, depending on the size of your skillet.

Immediately place a piece of parchment paper over each ball and firmly press it down with a burger press or sturdy spatula until the patty is very thin.

Season with salt and black pepper.

Cook without moving for about 1½–2 minutes, until the bottom develops a deep brown crust and crispy edges.

Scrape underneath each patty with a thin metal spatula and flip.

5. Add the Cheese

Immediately place a slice of cheese over each patty.

Cook for another 45–60 seconds, just until the cheese melts and the second side is browned.

Stack two cheesy patties together for each burger.

6. Make the Crispy Fries

Prepare the fries according to the package directions using your air fryer or convection oven.

For extra crispiness, lightly toss them with a small amount of oil before cooking.

Once they're golden and crispy, immediately season with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, parsley, salt, and black pepper.

Toss while they're still hot so the seasoning sticks.

7. Build Your Smash Burger

Spread a generous layer of G-Way Burger Sauce over the toasted bottom bun.

Layer with:

Burger sauce → diced onions → dill pickles → double smash patties with melted cheese → brioche top bun

Serve immediately with a pile of hot crispy fries on the side.

G-Way Tip

The SMASH matters!

For those crispy restaurant-style edges, your skillet needs to be extremely hot before the beef hits the pan. Smash the beef immediately and then leave it alone. Moving the patty too soon prevents that deep caramelized crust from forming.

And don't press the burger again after you flip it—you want to keep those juices right where they belong.

Make It Your Way

Want to switch it up? Try adding:

• Caramelized onions

• Jalapeños

• Turkey bacon

• Pepper Jack cheese

• Sautéed mushrooms

• A drizzle of spicy burger sauce

Or turn it into a G-Way Spicy Smash by adding Cajun seasoning to the patties and a little hot sauce to the burger sauce.

What to Serve with It

This burger is already a full meal with those crispy fries, but it also pairs perfectly with coleslaw, a crisp side salad, onion rings, or an ice-cold homemade lemonade.

Crispy edges. Melted cheese. Buttery brioche. Seasoned fries.

Sometimes the classics really do hit different.

Don’t Let Your Taste Buds Go to Waste.