Quick MOOYAH-Style Smash Burger with Garlic Aioli

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-14 · Updated 2026-06-14

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A fast and flavorful smash burger topped with melted American cheese and a garlicky aioli sauce, inspired by popular burger joints. This American-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs ground beef (80/20), salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 American cuisine 550 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb ground beef (80/20)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 American cheese slices
4 burger buns
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp unsalted butter
4 lettuce leaves
4 tomato slices
8 dill pickle slices

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup mayonnaise with 2 minced garlic cloves to make garlic aioli; set aside.
Step 2: Divide 1 lb ground beef into 4 equal balls; season each with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper evenly distributed. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 3: Place each ball on the hot skillet and smash down firmly with a spatula to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cook for 2-3 minutes until edges are brown and crispy.
Step 4: Flip patties, place 1 slice American cheese on each, and cook an additional 1-2 minutes until cheese melts.
Step 5: Toast 4 burger buns in the skillet with 2 tbsp unsalted butter until golden, about 1 minute per side.
Step 6: Assemble burgers by spreading garlic aioli on bottom buns, then adding lettuce leaves, tomato slices, cheesy patties, 2 dill pickle slices per burger, and topping with the bun tops.