Alright, so buckle up because we’re about to take your brain to a place it didn’t know it needed to go. Smash Burger Pancakes are basically what happens when you decide that breakfast AND lunch should happen at the same time and you want to blow everyone’s minds while doing it. We’re talking crispy, savory pancakes made with a beef broth base and loaded with cooked ground beef, cheese, caramelized onions, and pickles, then stacked like actual pancakes and topped with a smash burger-style sauce. They’re the most delicious breakfast-lunch hybrid that’ll have everyone at the table questioning reality in the best way possible. Perfect for brunch, game day, or just when you want to serve something so unexpected that people can’t stop talking about it.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Most creative brunch/lunch idea you’ll ever see
- Savory pancakes are criminally underrated
- That smash burger flavor in pancake form is genius
- Perfect conversation starter
- Uses simple ingredients in a wild new way
- Guaranteed to impress and confuse in equal measure
- Way more fun than regular savory pancakes
The Good Stuff You’ll Need
For the Savory Pancake Batter:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/4 cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
For the Smash Burger Filling:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/3 cup American cheese slices (optional for extra melt)
- 1/2 cup dill pickle slices, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
For the Smash Burger Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp dill pickle juice
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Cooking and Serving:
- Butter for the griddle
- Extra pickles for topping
- Extra cheese for topping
- Crispy bacon (optional)
- Fried onions for crunch
Let’s Do This
Step 1: Caramelize Those Onions
Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add sliced onions and cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden and sweet.
This is the secret ingredient that makes everything taste like a smash burger.
Season with salt and pepper, then set aside.
Step 2: Make the Smash Burger Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle juice, mustard, Worcestershire, and garlic powder.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
This is liquid gold — set aside.
Step 3: Cook the Ground Beef
Heat a large skillet over high heat.
Add ground beef and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and crispy (about 6-8 minutes).
Drain excess fat if needed.
Mix in caramelized onions and shredded cheddar cheese until melted.
Add chopped pickles and chives. Set aside and keep warm.
Step 4: Make the Pancake Batter
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, sugar, and baking powder.
In another bowl, whisk together beef broth, egg, melted butter, and Worcestershire sauce.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Don’t overmix — a few lumps are okay. The batter should be thick but pourable.
Step 5: Heat the Griddle
Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat.
Lightly butter the surface.
Step 6: Cook the Pancakes
Pour batter into 4-inch circles — these should be thicker than regular pancakes.
Cook for 2-3 minutes until the bottom is golden and edges look set.
Flip carefully and cook another 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
Step 7: Stack and Build
Place one pancake on a serving plate.
Top with a generous scoop of the beef and onion mixture.
Add another pancake on top.
Top with more beef mixture, extra cheese, and crispy bacon if using.
Drizzle generously with the smash burger sauce.
Step 8: Garnish Like a Boss
Top with extra pickles, crispy fried onions, and fresh chives.
Serve immediately while warm and the cheese is still melty.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with extra smash burger sauce on the side for dunking.
Crispy bacon strips on the side make it even more over-the-top.
Cold beer or a classic milkshake complements the savory-sweet vibe.
Serve on a platter for maximum impact at brunch gatherings.
Switch It Up
Different Cheese: Try pepper jack, Swiss, or provolone for different flavors.
Add Bacon: Layer crispy bacon between the pancakes for extra indulgence.
Veggie Version: Skip the beef and use sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, and extra cheese.
Spicy Kick: Use jalapeño cheddar cheese or add hot sauce to the filling.
Breakfast Version: Add a fried egg on top for breakfast-for-dinner vibes.
Make-Ahead Tips
Caramelize onions up to 3 days ahead — store in the fridge.
Cook ground beef mixture ahead and reheat gently before assembly.
Make the sauce up to 2 days ahead and store in the fridge.
Batter should be made fresh for best results, but can be made 1 hour ahead.
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Isn’t this just a weird burger? A: Yes, but it’s also the most delicious pancake invention ever! The crispy exterior and fluffy interior of the pancakes elevates the whole smash burger experience.
Q: Can I use chicken broth instead of beef? A: Absolutely! It’ll be less meaty-tasting but still delicious.
Q: My pancakes are too thin/thick — help! A: Too thin? Add more flour to the batter. Too thick? Add more broth.
Q: Can I make these in advance? A: Cook pancakes and reheat gently (they’re better fresh), but prep all the components ahead.
Q: What if I don’t have a griddle? A: Use a large skillet! Just cook fewer pancakes at once.
Q: My sauce is too thin/thick — help! A: Too thin? Add more mayo. Too thick? Add pickle juice or a splash of water.
Print
Smash Burger Pancakes Twist
- Total Time: ~1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Alright, so buckle up because we’re about to take your brain to a place it didn’t know it needed to go. Smash Burger Pancakes are basically what happens when you decide that breakfast AND lunch should happen at the same time and you want to blow everyone’s minds while doing it. We’re talking crispy, savory pancakes made with a beef broth base and loaded with cooked ground beef, cheese, caramelized onions, and pickles, then stacked like actual pancakes and topped with a smash burger-style sauce. They’re the most delicious breakfast-lunch hybrid that’ll have everyone at the table questioning reality in the best way possible. Perfect for brunch, game day, or just when you want to serve something so unexpected that people can’t stop talking about it.
Ingredients
For the Savory Pancake Batter:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/4 cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
For the Smash Burger Filling:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/3 cup American cheese slices (optional for extra melt)
- 1/2 cup dill pickle slices, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
For the Smash Burger Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp dill pickle juice
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Cooking and Serving:
- Butter for the griddle
- Extra pickles for topping
- Extra cheese for topping
- Crispy bacon (optional)
- Fried onions for crunch
Instructions
Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add sliced onions and cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden and sweet.
This is the secret ingredient that makes everything taste like a smash burger.
Season with salt and pepper, then set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle juice, mustard, Worcestershire, and garlic powder.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
This is liquid gold — set aside.
Heat a large skillet over high heat.
Add ground beef and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and crispy (about 6-8 minutes).
Drain excess fat if needed.
Mix in caramelized onions and shredded cheddar cheese until melted.
Add chopped pickles and chives. Set aside and keep warm.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, sugar, and baking powder.
In another bowl, whisk together beef broth, egg, melted butter, and Worcestershire sauce.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Don’t overmix — a few lumps are okay. The batter should be thick but pourable.
Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat.
Lightly butter the surface.
Pour batter into 4-inch circles — these should be thicker than regular pancakes.
Cook for 2-3 minutes until the bottom is golden and edges look set.
Flip carefully and cook another 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
Place one pancake on a serving plate.
Top with a generous scoop of the beef and onion mixture.
Add another pancake on top.
Top with more beef mixture, extra cheese, and crispy bacon if using.
Drizzle generously with the smash burger sauce.
Top with extra pickles, crispy fried onions, and fresh chives.
Serve immediately while warm and the cheese is still melty.
Notes
Serve with extra smash burger sauce on the side for dunking.
Crispy bacon strips on the side make it even more over-the-top.
Cold beer or a classic milkshake complements the savory-sweet vibe.
Serve on a platter for maximum impact at brunch gatherings.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~685 kcal
- Fat: ~42g
- Carbohydrates: ~48g
- Protein: ~38g