Three Napkin Skillet Smash Burgers

In a huge hurry?  Here's a super quick, but incredibly satisfying recipe for the juiciest, most delicious burgers ever.  Be sure to serve them with extra napkins.

Start with a cool cast iron skillet - use a hamburger press (or a heavy duty spatula) to press 4-ounce burgers very thin (1/4-inch thickness).

Sprinkle well with kosher salt and pepper.

Turn heat on medium-high and cook burgers on 1st side until they begin to brown.  This should only take a couple of minutes.

Then flip the burgers over and sprinkle them with my secret ingredient.

Grill Mates “Hamburger” Seasoning by McCormick is my favorite (it’s great on cheesesteaks too!).

You could just use more salt and pepper if you don't have hamburger seasoning, but it makes them taste more hamburgery, if you can believe it.

We're almost ready to eat!  Top each burger with a slice of your favorite cheese and continue to cook until the burgers are done and the cheese is melted and gooey.  Total cook time is less than 5 minutes.  Can't beat that!

Oh how I wish you could smell these burgers!

Serve with lettuce and tomato (be sure to sprinkle the tomato with salt and pepper).  Despite their thin nature, they're remarkably juicy.  Okay, I can't stand it, my mouth is watering - time to eat!

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• cast iron skillet https://amzn.to/34ia16v

• mccormick hamburger seasoning https://amzn.to/3IQR2PC

• hamburger press https://amzn.to/3GhDuL4

• heavy duty spatula https://amzn.to/3s08uuc

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Three Napkin Skillet Smash Burgers

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef

• kosher salt and pepper

• hamburger seasoning

• 4 slices of cheese

• 4 rolls

• 4 crispy lettuce leaves

• 8 slices ripe tomato

Directions

1. Divide beef into 4 equal portions.

2. Press each portion of beef into 1/4-inch thick burgers; place in cool nonstick or cast iron skillet.

3. Sprinkle each burger with kosher salt and pepper.

4. Turn heat on to medium-high and cook burgers on 1st side until brown.

5. Flip burgers and sprinkle with Hamburger seasoning.

6. Top each burger with a slice of cheese; cook until melted.

7. Serve on rolls with lettuce and tomato slices that have been sprinkled with salt and pepper.

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Add another level of amazing to your burgers with a generous mound of tangy pickled onions! Enjoy!

Rotisserie Chicken Salad with Craisins

All I'm going to say is this chicken salad is the bomb.  I usually make chicken salad "on the fly", but so many people asked for the recipe at a recent get-together that I decided jot down approximations.  Feel free to adjust this and that to suit your taste.

Rotisserie Chicken Salad with Craisins

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup real mayonnaise (we love Duke's)

• 1/2 cup homemade chicken stock

• 1/4 teaspoon celery seed (not celery salt)

• 1/4 teaspoon granulated onion

• 1/4 teaspoon shallot salt (optional, but oh so good)

• 1/4 teaspoon Jane's Krazy Mixed Up Salt

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1 tablespoon dried parsley, crushed in the palm of your hand

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

• 1 rib celery, minced

• 1/2 cup Craisins (dried cranberries)

• light and dark meat from 1 rotisserie chicken, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

Directions

1. In a very large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, chicken stock, celery seed, granulated onion, shallot salt, Jane's Krazy Mixed Up Salt, ground black pepper, dried parsley, and fresh parsley until well incorporated.

2. Stir in minced celery, Craisins, and chopped chicken until everything is coated evenly.

Notes

• This chicken salad tastes best served slightly cold or at room temperature and is excellent served on these Black Pepper and Chive Gougeres.

• Chill leftovers in an airtight container.  

• I use Costco's rotisserie chicken - they're the best.