🍳 Smash Burger Sauce
A smash burger is all crust and richness, so its sauce should lean tangy and sharp rather than sweet. This one dials up the mustard and adds a splash of pickle brine so it slices right through the beefy, browned patty.
🧾 Smash Burger Sauce — Recipe Card
From I Love Hamburger — ilovehamburger.com
Ingredients
- 0.5 cup mayonnaise (115 g)
- 1¾ tbsp yellow mustard (15 ml)
- 1¾ tbsp ketchup (15 ml)
- 2¾ tsp dill pickle brine (from the jar) (10 ml)
- 1¾ tbsp finely minced dill pickle (12 g)
- 0.25 tsp garlic powder (0.5 g)
Instructions
- Whisk the mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup together until smooth.
- Stir in the pickle brine, minced pickle, and garlic powder.
- Chill 15 minutes. Spread on the toasted bun before the hot patty so it clings.
🫙 Storage
Airtight in the fridge for up to 1 week. Stir before using if it separates slightly.
🔁 Substitutions
- Dijon in place of yellow mustard makes it a touch more grown-up.
- No pickle brine? Use 1 tsp white vinegar plus a pinch of sugar.
🍔 What to put it on
Pair it with American cheese, thin raw onion, and extra dill pickles. It especially shines on these burgers:
Burger HQ Picks Handy for sauce-making
Heavy-Duty Stainless Smash Burger Press
A flat, weighty press is the difference between a real lacy-edged smash burger and a sad steamed puck. Round, broad face for full patty contact.
Check price →Instant-Read Digital Meat Thermometer
Pulls a reading in 2–3 seconds so you can hit 160°F on ground beef every time without cutting into the patty and losing juices.
Check price →Pre-Seasoned 12" Cast Iron Skillet
Holds screaming-hot heat for the deep, even crust that makes a steakhouse-style burger. Lasts a lifetime.
Check price →Outdoor Gas Flat-Top Griddle
A big flat top cooks a dozen smash burgers at once with room for onions and buns. The backbone of burger night for a crowd.
Check price →Thin Flexible Stainless Turner (Smash Spatula)
A stiff, thin, bevelled edge slides under the crust and scrapes up every bit of the browned fond instead of tearing the patty.
Check price →Steakhouse Burger Seasoning Blend
For nights you do not want to measure. Salt-forward with garlic, onion, and pepper — exactly what a burger wants.
Check price →Stainless Grill Accessory Kit
Long tongs, a wide spatula, and a basting brush so you are not fighting your own tools over a hot grill.
Check price →As an affiliate site, I Love Hamburger may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This does not affect our recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
How is smash burger sauce different from regular burger sauce?
It is tangier and less sweet. Smash burgers are rich and crispy, so the sauce leans on mustard and pickle brine to cut through that richness rather than adding sweetness on top of it.
Why add pickle brine to burger sauce?
Brine adds acidity and salt without watering the sauce down the way plain vinegar can, and it echoes the pickles on the burger for a more cohesive flavor.