Smash Burgers with Cheese and Bacon
Equipment
- Bowl, small
- spatula
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 4 burger buns
- 4 cheese slices
- 4 tablespoons burger sauce plus extra for serving
- 8 bacon rashers
- 8 pickles sliced
- 500 g beef mince
- Black pepper freshly ground, to taste
- Sea salt flakes to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 200ยฐC.
- Cook the bacon for 8 to 9 minutes, turning once, until crisp and browned. Remove from the air fryer and set aside.
- Season the beef mince with sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, then divide it into four equal portions.
- Shape each portion into a loose ball, taking care not to overwork the meat.
- Place the beef portions in the air fryer basket and flatten each firmly with a spatula to create thin burger patties.
- Air fry the burgers for 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until browned and cooked through.
- Place one cheese slice on each burger during the final minute of cooking and allow it to melt.
- Split the burger buns and arrange lettuce and tomato on the bases if desired.
- Top each bun with a cheesy smash burger, two crispy bacon rashers and sliced pickles.
- Add burger sauce, close with the bun tops and serve immediately with extra pickles and burger sauce.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve these smash burgers immediately while the cheese is melted and the bacon is still crisp. They are excellent with French Fries, potato wedges, coleslaw or a fresh Salad. Put extra burger sauce and sliced pickles on the table for serving.Recipe Notes
Do not overwork the beef mince when forming the portions. Keeping the meat relatively loose helps produce a more tender burger. Flatten each portion firmly to create the characteristic thin smash-burger shape. The bacon is cooked first so its rendered fat can add extra flavour when the burgers are subsequently cooked in the air fryer. Cooking times can vary depending on the thickness of the patties and the particular air fryer.Variations
Use your favourite cheese slices, such as cheddar or American-style cheese. Add sliced onion, lettuce or tomato for extra toppings. For additional heat, mix chilli sauce into the burger sauce or add sliced jalapeรฑos.Storage Advice
Store leftover cooked burger patties and bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the buns, sauce, pickles and fresh toppings separate. Reheat the patties thoroughly in the Airfryer before assembling the burgers.Wine Advice
A fruity red wine works particularly well with the rich beef, bacon and melted cheese. A Merlot is a good choice because its soft fruit character complements the burger without overpowering it. A Cabernet Sauvignon is another suitable option when you prefer a fuller-bodied wine.Nutrition values
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About Smash Burgers with Cheese and Bacon
Smash Burgers with Cheese and Bacon bring together juicy beef, melted cheese, crisp bacon, pickles and creamy burger sauce in a soft bun. It is the kind of substantial Burgers recipe that works particularly well for an informal dinner, Game Day or Movie night. Cooking both the bacon and burgers in the air fryer also keeps preparation straightforward.
What Makes a Smash Burger Different?
A smash burger gets its name from the way the beef is firmly flattened during cooking. Instead of carefully shaping a thick, compact patty, the beef is divided into loose portions and pressed into thinner burgers. This creates more surface area for browning and gives the burger its characteristic combination of browned exterior and juicy centre.
For the best texture, avoid repeatedly kneading or compressing the beef before cooking. Simply divide the mince into four portions and loosely form them into balls. The actual flattening takes place immediately before cooking. More recipes built around beef can be found in the Beef collection.
Cooking Bacon Before the Burgers
The bacon goes into the Airfryer first. This allows it to become crisp without requiring another frying pan. Once cooked, remove the bacon and keep it nearby while preparing the burgers.
Two bacon rashers per burger provide plenty of smoky, salty flavour. Because bacon, cheese, pickles and burger sauce all contribute salt, season the beef carefully rather than automatically adding a large quantity of salt.
Cooking the Beef Patties
Once flattened, the burgers cook quickly because they are considerably thinner than traditional thick hamburger patties. Turning them once encourages even browning. During the final minute, each burger is topped with a slice of cheese so it melts directly over the hot beef.
The precise cooking time depends on the thickness of the patties and the performance of the air fryer. Beef mince should be cooked safely rather than judged only by exterior colour. This is particularly important with ground meat because bacteria originally present on the surface can become distributed throughout the meat during mincing.
Building a Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger
Once the burgers are cooked, assembly is simple. Start with a soft burger bun and add the cheesy beef patty, followed by crisp bacon and sliced pickles. Burger sauce adds moisture, sweetness and acidity, helping balance the richness of the beef, bacon and cheese.
Pickles play an especially useful role because their sharp acidity cuts through the fatty ingredients. Extra pickles can be served alongside the burgers for anyone who prefers a stronger tangy flavour.
Serving Ideas
These burgers make a substantial Main Course on their own, but classic sides turn them into a complete meal. French fries, potato wedges, onion rings, coleslaw or salad all work well. For a lighter contrast, serve the burgers with a crisp green salad rather than another fried side dish.
They are also well suited to a relaxed Family Dinner. Put the pickles, sauce and any additional toppings on the table so everyone can build their burger according to preference.
Easy Ways to Change the Burgers
The basic combination can easily be adapted. Cheddar gives a stronger cheese flavour, while a milder burger cheese melts particularly smoothly. Fresh onion adds crunch, caramelised onion provides sweetness and jalapeรฑos introduce extra heat.
You can also change the sauce without altering the cooking method. Barbecue sauce works particularly well with bacon, while a spicy mayonnaise creates a hotter burger. Keep the toppings reasonably balanced so the flavour of the browned beef does not disappear underneath them.
Storing and Reheating
If you have leftovers, store the cooked beef patties and bacon separately from the buns and cold toppings. Refrigerate them promptly in covered containers. Reheating the patties in the air fryer helps retain a better exterior texture than microwaving them.
Assemble leftover burgers only after the meat has been reheated. This prevents the buns from becoming soggy and keeps pickles and other cold toppings crisp.
Ground Beef Food Safety
Raw beef mince should be kept refrigerated and separated from ready-to-eat foods. Wash hands, utensils and preparation surfaces after they have been in contact with raw meat. For current guidance on storing, handling and safely cooking meat at home, consult the U.S. Food and Drug Administration food-safety information.
With browned beef, melted cheese, smoky bacon, sharp pickles and creamy sauce, these Smash Burgers with Cheese and Bacon deliver all the familiar elements of a loaded cheeseburger. The air fryer keeps the cooking process compact, while the toppings can easily be adjusted for each person at the table.