Divide your 1 lb ground beef into 4 equal portions and shape each into a loose ball. Don't pack it tight — you want the meat to stay tender inside. I make mine just slightly larger than my burger bun because they shrink during cooking.

Get your skillet screaming hot over medium-high heat for about 3-4 minutes. The pan needs to be almost too hot to touch before your 4th july smash burgers family recipe patties go down. I use cast iron because it holds heat better, but any heavy skillet works.

Drop a patty onto the hot skillet and immediately smash it down hard with a spatula. Press straight down — don't twist or wiggle it around. Hold that pressure for about 30 seconds while it starts developing that golden crust.

Let it sit untouched for about 2-3 minutes total, then flip once. That's it — no more flipping after this. This is where the magic happens; don't panic if it looks watery at first because it thickens up fast.

Cook the second side for about 1-2 minutes, then immediately add a slice of cheese. The heat melts it perfectly during that last minute. I accidentally bumped a patty at minute 2 once and it totally ruined the crust, so keep that spatula still.

Toast your buns with butter in the same skillet for about 30 seconds per side. The skillet's still hot, so watch them — they go from golden to burned pretty quick. Your 4th july smash burgers family recipe toppings go on these warm, buttered buns.

Build your burgers with mayo, then lettuce, tomato, pickle, and red onion. Layer the toppings so nothing falls out when you take that first bite. My 6-year-old ate three helpings last Tuesday, which tells you everything about how good these taste.