The “Crack” trend has been floating around social media for a while, and I was excited to participate by creating Crack Smash Burgers. The rules of this trend are simple: add ranch dressing or seasoning to any recipe, creating an addictive dish. This flavor combination is dangerous, so be warned! It may lead to you finding a new favorite burger recipe.
This recipe features lean meat infused with creamy mayo, zesty ranch seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and bacon. The burgers are topped with caramelized onions, decadent Cheddar cheese, and a dollop of my All-American Burger Sauce. Toasted Texas Toast is the cherry on top! This recipe is great for family movie nights, game days, Sunday dinners, or just because. It’s better than anything you’ll get in a diner!
Crack Smash Burgers | Heath Riles BBQ
Crack Smash Burgers are just one of the awesome things I’ve cooked on the Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Grill. In fact, this particular pit is highly underrated. It’s great for those nights when you don’t want to heat the kitchen and gives you the satisfaction of making something BBQ-style. I love cooking tacos, hoagies, and even sloppy joes on the Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Grill. You can also whip up some awesome bacon and eggs! The sky’s the limit. If you have a Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Grill, I’d love to hear what you’ve been cooking!
The Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make six mind-blowing Crack Smash Burgers.
- Ground beef. For this recipe, I used lean ground beef. This worked great because of the moisture from the mayonnaise! You can use whatever fat-to-meat ratio you prefer, though.
- Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning. There’s no better ranch seasoning than Hidden Valley! I used almost one complete package of dry seasoning, which gave the burgers the perfect “crack” flavor.
- Bacon bits. Adding bacon to the meat gave it extra moisture and jazzed up the texture. I used precooked bacon bits, but you can use fresh if that’s what you have on hand.
- Bear & Burton’s W Sauce. This Worcestershire sauce comes from some friends of mine and it’s based off an old family recipe. I add a dash to meatloaves, burgers, casseroles, pasta, and just about anything else!
- Heath Riles BBQ Beef Rub. This rub is for more than just beef. You can use it to spice up chicken wings, pork chops, hot dogs, or veggies. The proprietary blend of herbs enhances the natural flavor of beef without overpowering it.
- All-American Burger Sauce. I've got you covered if you want an excellent homemade burger sauce. This recipe is a great dupe for Big Mac sauce! It comes together in seconds and has a BBQ twist to make anyone’s day.
The Griddle Setup
Here’s the main equipment I used for this recipe. More of my grilling favorites are in the Equipment and Tools section.
- Flat Top Grill. I cooked this mouthwatering Brisket Cheese Sandwich on the Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Grill. I love using this setup for quesadillas, tacos, and more! Pro Tip: Be sure to “season” your grill before using it! This step creates a slick, nonstick surface.
Cooking with a flat top is easy, especially when you know how to clean it! Check out the video to see my process for cleaning your Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Grill without much elbow grease.
- If you’re looking for an excellent flat top grill, try this one! Its divided heat chambers allow you to cook multiple things simultaneously, making it a beautiful addition to any outdoor kitchen!
The Process for Making Crack Smash Burgers
You’ll find a detailed demonstration of this recipe within the video and recipe card. Here’s a quick rundown of how these Crack Smash Burgers came together.
- Fire up the grill. I stoked the Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Grill and fired it to a medium temperature.
- Create the beef mixture. I placed the ground beef in a large bowl and added the ranch seasoning, bacon bits, Bear & Burton’s W Sauce, mayonnaise, and Heath Riles BBQ Beef Rub. I used my gloved hand to mix the ingredients until they were homogenous.
- Form the patties. I divided the beef mixture into six pieces and formed them into balls. Then, I placed the patties on a prepared baking tray and let them chill in the fridge until firm.
- Carmelize the onions. To season the griddle, I added a dollop of Bacon-Up Bacon Grease. Then, I set down the onions and added a dash of Heath Riles BBQ Beef Rub, stirring the veggies until they were caramelized. While the onions caramelized, I browned the Texas Toast, cooking until toasted on both sides.
- Cook the patties. My method for smashing burgers is easy. I set the patties on the pit, season them with Heath Riles BBQ Beef Rub, and smash them down using my spatula. I like making my burgers thin, but the thickness is up to you. You can also use a press. I let the burgers cook until brown and crisp on both sides.
- Assemble the sandwiches. To assemble the Crack Smash Burgers, I placed a scoop of caramelized onion on the patty. Then, I laid a slice of cheese over the top and squirted water on the Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Grill to help the cheese melt. Then, I took the patties off the grill and laid them on a slice of thick, toasted Texas toast. I added a spoonful of All-American Burger Sauce and topped it with another slice of bread. The only thing left was to dig in!
The Results
These Crack Smash Burgers were everything I hoped for and more! The burgers were infused with the perfect balance of herbs and heat, allowing the ranch dressing to shine. This might be my new favorite burger!
Serving Suggestions for Crack Smash Burgers
These burgers would go great with a cool potato salad and a cold one!
Storing Leftovers
Leftover burger patties can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 5 months.
Equipment and Tools
Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Grill, Bacon-Up Bacon Grease, spatula, mixing bowls.
