Double-decker smash burgers a hit with secret sauce

Grilling is a preferred cooking method for a lot of people in summer. Yet there are times when it’s so hot and humid outside that the last place you want to be is standing over a hot grill, dripping sweat.

Those nights, when you’re still craving a burger, why not make them in a skillet? Smash burgers — the apt name for balls of hamburger meat that are smashed into thin patties after being placed on a flat top or hot pan — not only come together in a flash, but they just might also be the best tasting burgers. Searing the meat in a hot pan causes it to caramelize and create a nice crust. And because it cooks in its own fat very quickly, you don’t have to worry about the burgers drying out, so long as you don’t smash it again after flipping.

Traditional toppings call for pickles, shredded lettuce, diced onion and a good slather of salty-sweet special sauce. And don’t forget slices of American cheese!

This recipe calls for stacking two burgers between three buns, which makes it a handful, not to mention messy to eat. So be sure to have a stack of napkins.

DOUBLE-DECKER SMASH BURGERS WITH SECRET SAUCE