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Smash Burgers & Sweet Potato Fries
If you haven’t tried a smash burger before, this is your sign to do so. It is simply a patty pressed down super thin, like a meat pancake, which is cooked until the point that it nearly burns so the meat is nice and crispy, and it tastes like heaven.
SERVES
4
CALORIES
692
COOKING TIME
25 mins
DIFFICULTY
simple
Can I make smash burgers at home?
Smash burgers are easy to make at home — just press your mince firmly onto a hot pan or griddle to get that crispy, caramelised crust.
What meat works best for smash burgers?
Use 80–85% lean beef mince for juicy burgers with loads of flavour. You can also use turkey or chicken mince for a lighter fakeaway.
Do I need any special tools to make smash burgers?
A flat spatula or burger press works perfectly for smashing the burgers down evenly.
Can I cook smash burgers in the air fryer?
They’re best made on a pan or griddle for that crispy crust, but you can air fry them at 200°C for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
How do I make air fryer sweet potato fries crispy?
Dry the fries well before cooking, spray lightly with oil, and air fry at 200°C for 12–15 minutes, shaking halfway through.
Do I need to soak sweet potato fries before air frying?
It helps! Soaking them in cold water for 30 minutes removes excess starch and makes them crispier.
Can I make this fakeaway healthier?
Yes – use lean mince for the burgers, wholemeal buns, and air fryer sweet potato fries instead of deep-fried chips.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Absolutely – swap the beef for plant-based mince or halloumi, and the recipe still works perfectly as a fakeaway.
What toppings go well on smash burgers?
Try cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and your favourite sauce. Keep it simple for that proper diner-style feel.
Can I make both at the same time?
Cook the burgers on the pan while the sweet potato fries are air frying. Everything will be ready in around 15 minutes.
And for more healthy fakeaway recipes like this, you can check out:
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Method
Step 1
Season the mince with garlic powder, mustard powder, salt and pepper and roll into 4 balls. Place the sweet potato fries in a microwaveable bowl of salted cold water and leave to steep for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, sprinkle the onion rings with salt, then squeeze out any moisture.
Step 2
Transfer the sweet potato fries to the microwave and cook onhigh for 3 minutes. Preheat the air fryer to 200°C. Drain the chips and pat dry with kitchen paper, then coat with the Cajun seasoning and cornflour and spray with oil. Add to the air fryer and cook at 200°C for 12 minutes.
Step 3
If you have a dual-basket air fryer, air-fry the bacon at 180°C for a further 7 minutes, or, if you have room, add the bacon in with the chips and cook for the last 5–6 minutes.
Step 4
While the bacon and chips are cooking, add your patties to a frying pan and flatten using baking paper and the bottom of a pan or pot. Add the onions on top of the raw side of the meat, cooking over a high heat for 4 minutes, then flip, press down again and cook for a further 3–4 minutes.
Step 5
Once the patties are cooked, layer up your burgers in the brioche buns, adding the cooked bacon, the cheese slices, a dollop of burger sauce and the lettuce and tomato, then top with the onion rings. Wrap in tin foil and air-fry at 200°C for another 2 minutes. Enjoy!
Ingredients
500g lean beef mince
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp mustard powder
1 white onion, finely cut into rings
8 slices of streaky or back bacon rashers
4 seeded brioche buns, cut in half
4 cheese slices
4 tsp burger sauce
handful of lettuce leaves
2 large tomatoes, sliced
salt and pepper, to taste
For the fries:
400g sweet potatoes, cut into chunky chips
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 tbsp cornflour
low-calorie oil spray
