Jul 13 2026
RestaurantsThe RooftopRooftop Smash Burger Recipe

Rooftop Smash Burger Recipe

Inspired by The Rooftop
Time50m
Serves4

American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, Rooftop sauce

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Burger Ingredients

Caramelized Onions

Toppings

Method

Caramelized Onions

  1. 1

    Prepare the Onions

    Peel and thinly slice the yellow onions.

  2. 2

    Sauté the Onions

    In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions and salt. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the onions are caramelized and golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.

Rooftop Sauce

  1. 3

    Mix the Sauce

    In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, pickle juice, garlic powder, and paprika. Mix well until all ingredients are combined. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste.

Burger Preparation

  1. 4

    Form the Patties

    In a bowl, mix the ground beef with salt and black pepper. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and form into patties, making a slight indentation in the center of each patty.

  2. 5

    Cook the Patties

    Heat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for about 3-4 minutes on one side, then flip and place a slice of American cheese on each patty. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the patties reach your desired doneness.

Assemble the Burgers

  1. 6

    Toast the Buns

    While the patties are cooking, you can toast the burger buns on the grill or in a toaster until golden brown.

  2. 7

    Build the Burger

    Spread a generous amount of Rooftop sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Place the cooked patty with melted cheese on top, followed by a layer of caramelized onions and pickles. Top with the other half of the bun.

More from The Rooftop