Bacon Cheeseburger Lover's Guide: How to Make Our Bacon Smashburger®

A bacon cheeseburger is a classic for a reason: juicy beef, melty cheese, smoky bacon, and craveable toppings all stacked into one bold bite. A bacon smash burger takes that idea even further, using a hot cooking surface and a thin, smashed patty to create crispy edges, a juicy center, and big bacon-burger flavor.

Below, we’ll break down how to make a bacon smash burger at home, which toppings work best, what to serve on the side, and how Smashburger® puts its own spin on the bacon cheeseburger with four bacon-packed Smashburgers®.

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What Makes a Bacon Cheeseburger So Popular?

Bacon cheeseburgers hit almost every craving at once. The beef brings savory flavor, the cheese adds richness, the bun keeps every bite together, and the bacon adds smoky, salty crunch. It is familiar, but never boring.

The best bacon cheeseburgers also come down to balance. Bacon should stand out without overpowering the burger. Cheese should melt into the patty. Toppings should add freshness, crunch, or sauce without making the burger too heavy. That is why the bacon smash burger works so well: the smashed patty creates more browned, crispy surface area, which gives the bacon and cheese even more flavor to play against.

What Is a Bacon Smash Burger?

A bacon smash burger is a bacon burger made with a thin, smashed beef patty instead of a thicker formed patty. The patty is pressed onto a hot flat-top, griddle, or cast-iron skillet, creating a seared crust and crispy edges.

The basic build is simple:

• A hot cooking surface
• A loosely packed beef ball
• A firm smash
• Seasoning
• Melted cheese
• Crispy bacon
• A toasted bun
• Toppings and sauce

That simple method is what makes bacon smash burgers so satisfying. You get the flavor of a classic bacon cheeseburger, plus the texture of a crispy-edged smashburger.

Smashburger® Chef Recommendations: How to Make our Bacon Smashburger® at Home

This is an at-home bacon smash burger method inspired by the smashburger style. It is not Smashburger’s proprietary restaurant recipe, but it follows the same general idea: high heat, a thin patty, crispy edges and a craveable bacon cheeseburger build.

Ingredients

To make a bacon smash burger at home, you’ll need:

• Ground beef, loosely formed into burger balls
• Applewood smoked bacon
• American cheese for a classic bacon cheeseburger build, or cheddar for a BBQ bacon burger
• Burger buns
• Butter for toasting the buns
• Salt and pepper
• Mayo, BBQ sauce or your favorite burger sauce
• Lettuce and tomato for a classic Bacon Stack-inspired build
• Crispy fried onions for a BBQ Bacon Smash-inspired build

1. Start With Loosely Packed Beef

For a smash burger, avoid overworking the beef. Instead of shaping a firm patty, form the beef into a loose ball. This helps the meat spread and sear when pressed onto the cooking surface.

A thinner patty is part of the appeal. The goal is not a tall, thick pub-style burger. The goal is maximum contact with the hot surface so the edges can brown and crisp.

2. Cook the Bacon First

For the best bacon burger, cook the bacon before you start the patties. Bacon should be crisp enough to add texture, but not so brittle that it shatters with every bite. Applewood smoked bacon is a great choice because it brings a smoky, savory flavor that pairs naturally with beef and cheese.

Set the bacon aside while you cook the burger, then add it during assembly so it stays crisp.

3. Get the Pan or Griddle Hot

A bacon smash burger needs heat. Use a cast-iron skillet, griddle or flat-top and let it get hot before the beef goes down. Once the beef hits the surface, smash it firmly with a burger press or heavy spatula.

Press once at the beginning, then let the patty cook. This helps create the browned crust and crispy edges that make smash burgers different from regular burgers.

4. Season the Patty

Season the patty after smashing it. Salt and pepper are enough for a classic bacon cheeseburger, especially when bacon, cheese, sauce and toppings are doing their part.

5. Add the Cheese

Once the first side has a deep sear, flip the patty and add cheese. American cheese gives a classic melty bacon cheeseburger taste, while cheddar works especially well with BBQ flavors.

Let the cheese melt over the patty before building the burger.

6. Toast the Bun

A toasted bun gives the burger more texture and helps hold up to sauce, cheese, and bacon. A butter-toasted bun is especially good with a bacon smash burger because it adds richness without taking attention away from the beef and bacon.

7. Build the Burger

Start with the bottom bun, then add sauce, the cheesy smashed patty, bacon, and toppings. Keep the bacon evenly layered so every bite gets a little crunch and smoke.

For a double bacon smash burger, stack two smashed patties with cheese and bacon for a bigger, richer build.

Bacon Cheeseburger Toppings That Work Best

The best bacon cheeseburger toppings depend on the flavor direction you want.

For a classic bacon cheeseburger, try:

• American cheese
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Mayo
• Pickles
• Red onion
• Ketchup or burger sauce

For a BBQ bacon burger, try:

• Aged cheddar
• BBQ sauce
• Crispy fried onions
• Pickles
• Grilled onions

For a richer bacon burger, keep toppings simple. Bacon, cheese, and beef already bring a lot of flavor, so fresh toppings like lettuce and tomato can help balance the burger.

For a smoky, saucy burger, BBQ sauce and crispy onions add a bolder finish. That is the idea behind the BBQ Bacon Smash®: smoky bacon, cheddar, crispy fried onions, and BBQ sauce on a butter-toasted bun.

Smashburger®’s Take on the Bacon Cheeseburger

At Smashburger, bacon cheeseburgers get the smash treatment: seared beef, melty cheese, bacon, and toppings layered on a butter-toasted bun. If you are searching for the best bacon cheeseburger near you, these are our staple bacon smashburgers to try:

What to Serve With a Bacon Cheeseburger

A bacon cheeseburger is rich, smoky, and savory, so the best sides either add crunch, contrast, or something shareable.

Smash fries are always a strong pairing if you’re ordering with us. If you’re making food at home, sweet potato fries add a little sweetness against the bacon and cheese, and tater tots bring crispy, snackable texture. Crispy Brussels sprouts can add a bold, savory side that still feels different from the usual burger-and-fries order.

For drinks, shakes are a natural match if you want something sweet and creamy with a salty bacon burger. For a lighter pairing, a cold soft drink keeps the focus on the burger.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is on a bacon cheeseburger?

A bacon cheeseburger usually includes a beef patty, cheese, bacon, and a bun, plus toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, ketchup, mustard, or BBQ sauce. A bacon smash burger uses a thin smashed patty for crispier edges and a deeper sear.

What cheese is best for a bacon cheeseburger or smash burger?

American cheese is a classic choice because it melts smoothly over the patty. Cheddar is another great option, especially for BBQ bacon burgers, because its sharper flavor pairs well with smoky bacon and BBQ sauce.

What toppings go well on a bacon cheeseburger or smash burger?

Classic bacon cheeseburger toppings include lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayo, and ketchup. For a BBQ bacon cheeseburger, try cheddar, crispy fried onions, and BBQ sauce.

Where can I find a bacon cheeseburger near me?

If you are craving a bacon cheeseburger near you, visit your local Smashburger® or start an order online to see which bacon Smashburgers® are available at participating locations.

Find Your Favorite Bacon Smashburger®

Whether you like a classic bacon cheeseburger build or a smoky BBQ bacon burger, Smashburger® has a bacon Smashburger® for every craving. Try theBacon Stack Smash®, Double Bacon Stack Smash®, BBQ Bacon Smash®, Double BBQ Bacon Smash® and find your favorite bacon-packed bite. Check back frequently for our limited-time Bacon Smashburgers®.