I tried Ina Garten’s Caramel Onion Smash Burger recipe and it was easy and delicious. Lloyd Bishop/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Images; Erin McDowell/Business Insider
- I made Aina Garten’s Smashed Cheeseburger with Caramelized Onions.
- This recipe requires just a few ingredients and doesn’t even require you to fire up the grill.
With Memorial Day weekend approaching, I decided to try out celebrity chef Ina Garten’s cheeseburger recipe.
Ina Garten has created a variety of burger recipes over her decades-long career. Her recipe for smashed burgers with caramelized onions appealed to me for its simplicity. Many of the ingredients were already in my pantry, saving me money on ingredients. It was also a testament to Garten’s talent for simple, delicious recipes.
Learn how to make Aina Garten’s Caramel Onion Cheeseburgers.
This recipe only requires a few basic ingredients, including onions.
Slice red onion. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
A full ingredients list and recipe instructions can be found on Garten’s website.
First, prepare the caramelized onions: The recipe calls for thinly slicing 2 medium sized red onions.
I added 2 tablespoons of canola oil to a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and added the onions.
Cooking sliced red onion. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Garten says it takes about 8 to 10 minutes for the onions to start to brown, and I love that this recipe doesn’t require a grill, making it perfect for making in my apartment over Memorial Day weekend in New York City.
While I was waiting for the onions to brown, I started preparing the burgers.
A package of lean ground beef. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
This recipe calls for a pound and a half of 20% fat ground beef, which I found at my local grocery store for $5.31, which I thought was a great deal considering it feeds four people.
To assemble the burgers, season the meat with Colman’s mustard powder, black pepper, and kosher salt.
Colman’s mustard powder, black pepper, and kosher salt. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I’ve never used mustard powder in a recipe before, but I was excited to see if it would add more flavor to the burgers.
Combine ground beef and seasonings in a glass bowl.
Ground beef in a glass bowl. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I followed Garten’s instructions, shaped the meat into four burger patties and placed them on a plate in the freezer.
Hamburger patties in the freezer. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chef told me the burgers needed to be in the freezer for exactly 15 minutes, so I set a timer to make sure they didn’t go over or under the mark, a step I assumed was to ensure the burgers wouldn’t lose their shape when I placed them in the cast iron skillet.
I sautéed the onions with a teaspoon of sugar for a few minutes until they caramelized, then added a tablespoon of red wine vinegar.
Red wine vinegar. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Garten explains that this step helps remove any burnt bits from the pan.
Within a minute, the onions were lightly caramelized and ready to add to the burgers.
Caramelized onions. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I removed it from the heat while I waited until the burgers were ready to be added to the skillet.
I heated up a couple of tablespoons of oil in my trusty cast iron skillet and left it in the freezer to wait for the burgers to cook.
Add oil to a cast iron skillet. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
This recipe calls for two different pans, but doesn’t require a lot of extra bowls or utensils, which was a great help when it came to cleanup.
I placed the hamburger patties into the cast iron, careful not to move them once they made contact.
Hamburger patty. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Each burger patty should be about 1 inch thick, and while they weren’t all the exact same size, I think it worked well enough and allowed me to use up every last bit of the meat mixture.
To add the “smash” to the “smashburger,” I pressed the burger down firmly with a spatula.
Hamburger patty. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Using a metal spatula, as Garten recommends, would no doubt have worked a little better, but I made do with what I had in my kitchen. In the end, the burgers came out just fine.
Cook the burgers for 3 minutes on each side until crisp, then flip them over and add your toppings.
Hamburgers being cooked in a cast iron skillet. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I grated some Gruyere cheese on top of the burgers and added some caramelized onions, then covered the pan and waited until the cheese was completely melted before cooking the burgers.
About 2 minutes later the burger was done.
The finished hamburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Garten suggests using a sandwich potato roll, like Martin’s, for the burger, so I did that too.
When I cut into the burger it was a perfect medium rare.
The finished hamburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I’m not the best at telling if a burger is cooked to my liking, but Garten’s timing was perfect.
I was blown away by this burger – it was juicy and flavorful, and the onions added just the right amount of sweetness.
The finished hamburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
This recipe is perfect for grilling experts and burger newbies alike. You only need a few ingredients to make a delicious burger. Even my roommate was amazed at how delicious this simple burger turned out.
I will definitely be making these burgers again for an easy dinner or summer party with friends.
