Description
Smashburger Fries combine crispy oven-baked french fries topped with flavorful smashed ground beef patties and a rich, creamy cheddar cheese sauce. Finished with a tangy homemade thousand island drizzle, pickles, and jalapeños, this indulgent skillet dish is a perfect comfort food that’s easy to prepare for any casual meal or gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Fries & Beef
- 1 (26 ounce) bag frozen, crispy french fries
- ½ pound ground beef
- Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter (for cooking beef)
Cheese Sauce
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons butter (for roux)
- 1 cup milk
- 2 ½ cups freshly grated white cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Thousand Island Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons dill relish
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated onion
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Toppings
- Pickles (whole or diced), for serving
- Thinly sliced jalapeños, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat and Bake Fries: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Spread the frozen fries out evenly on a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turning them once about halfway through cooking to ensure even crispiness. Follow the package instructions if longer cooking is needed, but 450°F gives an extra crispy texture.
- Prepare and Smash Beef Patties: Season the ground beef generously with kosher salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium heat until sizzling. Divide the beef into 6 even portions and place each in the skillet. Using the back of a glass or jar, firmly smash each portion into a thin patty. Cook until the edges brown and crisp up, then flip and cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat once done.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: In a separate saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook the roux for 2 to 3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Slowly stream in the milk while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir in the grated white cheddar cheese in batches until fully melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble the Dish: On the baking sheet with fries, drizzle a layer of cheese sauce. Arrange the smashed beef patties on top, breaking them into smaller pieces if desired. Drizzle another generous amount of cheese sauce over the fries and beef. Return the sheet pan to the oven and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes until everything is hot and melded together.
- Prepare the Thousand Island Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, dill relish, freshly grated onion, honey, apple cider vinegar, and smoked paprika until smooth and creamy. This sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven. Drizzle the thousand island sauce over the loaded fries and smashed burgers. Top with pickles and thinly sliced jalapeños or any other desired toppings. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For extra crispy fries, use a cast iron skillet for the smashed burgers as it holds and distributes heat evenly.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add more jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the thousand island dressing.
- This dish can be customized by swapping white cheddar for your favorite cheese variety.
- The thousand island sauce can be prepared a day ahead to save time.
- Use fresh or frozen pickles depending on what you have available.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: smashburger fries, crispy fries, cheesy fries, smashed beef patties, cheddar cheese sauce, homemade thousand island, comfort food, baked fries
