Air Fryer Smash Burger – Quick and Juicy Recipe
A classic smash burger, quickly cooked in the air fryer, with a crispy crust and juicy interior.
Steps
- 1
Divide the ground beef into two equal portions. Do not shape into tight balls – press them flat and thin immediately, like a classic smash burger. Season generously on both sides with coarse salt and black pepper.
- 2
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F).
- 3
Place the patties in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- 4
In the last minute of cooking, place a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty to melt.
- 5
(Optional) Remove the burgers. Toast the buns in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 1–2 minutes.
- 6
Assemble the burgers: spread mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard on the buns, then add your preferred toppings (lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion). Enjoy!
Shopping list
300 g ground beef, 2 slices cheddar cheese, Pepper, Salt, 2 burger buns, 1 onion, Lettuce, Tomato, Pickles, Mayonnaise, Ketchup, Mustard
Recipe story
In the 1920s, in Oklahoma, a cook discovered that pressing beef onto a hot griddle creates a crispy crust that seals in juiciness. The 'smash' technique was perfected in roadside diners, where speed and flavor were key. Today, this iconic burger is reinterpreted in the air fryer for equally delicious results.
Ingredient Secrets
Black pepper
Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Onion
Probably originating in Central or West Asia, onions were cultivated in ancient Egypt, where they were considered a symbol of eternity and placed in tombs. In ancient Greece, athletes ate them to balance their blood, and in Rome, they were a staple food for soldiers. During the Middle Ages, onions were believed to protect against arrows and the plague.
Tomato
Although today the tomato is indispensable in global cuisine, it was long viewed with suspicion in Europe, considered a toxic ornamental plant. It wasn't until the 19th century that Italian immigrants popularized it in the United States, turning it into an iconic ingredient of Mediterranean cuisine. Native to South America, the tomato was domesticated in Mexico and brought to Europe by Spanish conquistadors.
