Cooking with Fire: Smash burgers with the Schiller Park Fire Department

CHICAGO - This Thanksgiving morning, we’re "Cooking with Fire" at the Schiller Park Fire Department, making smash burgers with firefighter Brad Dehmlow.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 3-4 lbs of beef
• 1 cup mayo
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• 4 Tbs sweet relish
• 3 tsp white vinegar
• 3 tsp white sugar
• 4-5 onions
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Granulated garlic
• Butter
• Mustard
• 1-2 lbs of fries or 1-2 bags of chips
• Hamburger buns
• Sliced cheese

Instructions:

1. To make the Smash Burger Sauce, combine mayo, ketchup, sweet relish, white sugar, and white vinegar. Set aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Slice 4-5 onions and place them in a skillet with butter. Season with salt, pepper, granulated garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. Sauté over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
4. Season beef with salt, pepper, granulated garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. Use about ½ lb of beef per person.
5. Shape the seasoned beef into two balls per person (12 balls for 6 people).
6. Preheat a flat-top or cast-iron pan with some butter.
7. Place the beef balls in the pan and smash them flat.
8. Cook the patties until the edges are browned. Apply mustard on top of each patty before flipping.
9. Flip the burgers and cook until fully done.
10. Add slices of cheese on top of the patties.
11. Stack the burgers in pairs and arrange them on a large cookie sheet.
12. Continue cooking and stacking until all the patties are done.
13. Place the stacked burgers in the oven until the cheese melts.
14. Once the cheese has melted, remove from the oven and serve on toasted buns with pickles. Add the cooked burgers, grilled onions, sauce, and top bun.
15. Optional: Serve with 1-2 lbs of fries, 1-2 bags of chips, or your preferred side.