American Smash Burger with Fries

1.) Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

-If using an air fryer, preheat to 360 degrees F. Fill the basket halfway with frozen fries. Air fry for 10-12 minutes. Slide the basket out and shake halfway through to ensure even cooking.

If using an oven, spread the frozen fries in a single layer on a nonstick baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the baking sheet and flip fries over. Return the sheet to the oven and continue baking for an additional 5-9 minutes or until crisp.

2.) While the fries bake, work on the smash burgers. Add the oil to a large non-stick or cast-iron pan and place over medium heat. Divide the ground beef into 4 portions and gently roll each portion into a ball. Do not form patties.

3.) Increase the heat to high and put half of the balls into the pan, ensuring there is plenty of distance between them. Using a stiff metal spatula, press each ball to form a patty that is around 4-inches in diameter. Season with salt and pepper.

4.) Allow the patties to cook without moving until they achieve a charred crust, approximately 2 minutes. Using the spatula, carefully flip the patties over. Lay a cheese slice on top of each burger while the underside cooks to gently melt it. Continue to cook until the meat is cooked through and remove from the pan. Repeat the process with the remaining two balls of ground beef.

5.) Lightly toast the buns in a skillet for 1-2 minutes.

5.) To build the burgers, spread the dressing on the bottom bun. Top with the lettuce, pickle shreds, beef patties with cheese, as many of the fries as you can fit, and the top bun. For 4 servings, each burger will have 1 patty with cheese. Feel free to make it a double cheeseburger for a serving size of 2!