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North American · 3 creator versions · prices for Ontario

Smash burgers

Brian LagerstromJ. Kenji López-AltSAM THE COOKING GUYVersions tested by J. Kenji López-Alt, Brian Lagerstrom, SAM THE COOKING GUY

3 creators made smash burgers. Here's how their versions compare on time, cost per serving at Ontario grocery prices and difficulty, and which ingredients set each one apart.

Cheapest: J. Kenji López-Alt ~$2.28*/serving

  1. 68score*
    Time
    not stated
    Per serving
    ~$2.28*
    You save
    ~$13.72* (86%)
    Difficulty
    Easy
    Health index
    50
    Ingredients
    6

    What’s different

    • cheese slice
    • sauce

    Full recipe →Watch on YouTube ↗Machine-read

  2. 35score*
    Time
    not stated
    Per serving
    ~$5.45*
    You save
    ~$10.55* (66%)
    Difficulty
    Medium
    Health index
    42
    Ingredients
    17

    What’s different

    • boneless beef short ribs
    • ketchup
    • sriracha
    • bread and butter pickles
    • shallot
    • dill pickle
    • green leaf lettuce
    • American cheese slices
    • +2 more

    Full recipe →Watch on YouTube ↗Machine-read

  3. 27score*
    Time
    not stated
    Per serving
    ~$6.64*
    You save
    ~$9.36* (59%)
    Difficulty
    Involved
    Health index
    49
    Ingredients
    21

    What’s different

    • water
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • bacon
    • jalapeno
    • Fresno chile
    • brown sugar
    • maple syrup
    • apricot jam
    • +5 more

    Full recipe →Watch on YouTube ↗Machine-read

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about Smash burgers

What makes J. Kenji López-Alt's Smash burgers recipe and technique special?

J. Kenji López-Alt's take on Smash burgers focuses on home kitchen precision, balancing north-american flavors with an estimated under 30 minutes total preparation time. Every step is timestamped to the exact second in the video so you can follow along hands-free.

How much does it cost to make Smash burgers at Ontario grocery prices?

Based on Statistics Canada benchmark consumer food pricing, this Smash burgers recipe costs approximately $2.28 CAD per serving (yielding 2 to 4 portions). Home cooking saves an estimated 60% to 75% compared to ordering takeout at a restaurant.

Can I make Smash burgers ahead of time or store leftovers?

Yes. Leftover Smash burgers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. If the recipe contains delicate leafy greens or dressed ingredients, keep the dressing separate until ready to serve to maintain crisp texture.

What substitutions can I make in J. Kenji López-Alt's Smash burgers?

This recipe utilizes approximately 6 ingredients across 5 steps. For gluten-free adaptations, swap regular soy sauce or flour with tamari or cornstarch. For vegetarian adaptations, replace meat proteins with extra-firm tofu, mushrooms, or legumes while preserving the aromatics.

Where can I watch the video tutorial for Smash burgers?

The official cooking video by J. Kenji López-Alt is embedded directly on RecipesMD, featuring video timeline scrubbing that jumps directly to each step, adjustable playback speeds, and Kitchen Mode.