Smash Burgers with Cheese and Bacon
Juicy smashed beef burgers topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon, pickles and burger sauce. Cooked quickly in the air fryer and served in soft burger buns, these loaded burgers make an easy Friday-night dinner for four.
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 200°C.
- 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 jalapeños.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
Serving: 285 gr | Calories: 710 kcal | Carbohydrates: 34 g | Protein: 43 g | Fat: 44 g | Saturated Fat: 16 g | Sodium: 1390 mg | Sugar: 7 g