Blackstone Smash Burgers with Crisp House Salad
Juicy, crispy-edged beef patties seared on the griddle, served in gluten-free buns alongside a fresh, vibrant green salad with a quick home dressing. A fun, family-friendly backyard favorite that keeps dinner satisfying and naturally gluten-free.
Prep
15 min
Cook
10 min
Total
25 min
Makes
4 servings
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Nikki + Lila
Nikki created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthComfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
Steadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Digestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
Protein consistency
Make a nourishing habit easier
This is another practical opportunity to include protein and varied whole foods—small habits that are easier to repeat than a perfect diet.
Notice: protein across the day
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
15 min
Cook
10 min
Total
25 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Large skillet · Whisk · Mixing bowl · Knife and cutting board
Time saver
Prep the vegetables and measure pantry ingredients earlier in the day to shorten cook time.
Do these three things first
- 1Preheat your Blackstone griddle (or a heavy cast-iron skillet indoors) to high…
- 2Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 3Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 10 steps complete
Next: Divide the ground beef into 4 equal…
- 01
Divide the ground beef into 4 equal…
Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions and gently shape each into a loose, round ball. Do not overwork the meat. Keep them cold in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
Look for: ready to cook
Tap card to mark done - 02
Whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil
In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Set this simple dressing aside.
Look for: well combined
Tap card to mark done - 03
Combine the mixed salad greens
In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, cherry tomato halves, diced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, and cubed avocado. Keep chilled.
Tap card to mark done - 04
Preheat your Blackstone griddle (or a heavy…
Preheat your Blackstone griddle (or a heavy cast-iron skillet indoors) to high heat, around 450°F (230°C). Lightly grease the surface with a tiny smear of avocado oil.
Tap card to mark done - 05
Place the beef balls onto the hot…
Place the beef balls onto the hot griddle surface with ample space between them. Immediately place a square of parchment paper over a beef ball and press down firmly using a heavy grill press or metal spatula until the patty is completely flat and thin, about 0.25 inches (0.6cm) thick. Repeat for all patties. Season the tops generously with salt and black pepper.
Look for: the patty is completely flat and thin
Tap card to mark done - 06
Sear the patties without moving them for…
Sear the patties without moving them for 2 minutes, or until a deep, caramelized, lacy brown crust has formed on the bottom. Use a sturdy metal spatula to scrape underneath and flip each patty.
Look for: a deep, caramelized, lacy brown crust has formed on the bottom
Tap card to mark done - 07
Immediately place a slice of cheddar cheese…
Immediately place a slice of cheddar cheese on each flipped patty and cook for 1 minute more until the cheese is melted and the burger is cooked through.
Look for: the cheese is melted and the burger is cooked through
Tap card to mark done - 08
Toast the split gluten-free hamburger buns on…
Toast the split gluten-free hamburger buns on the griddle surface for about 30 seconds until golden-brown and warm.
Look for: golden-brown and warm
Tap card to mark done - 09
Toss the prepared salad with the simple…
Toss the prepared salad with the simple lemon-herb dressing just before serving.
Tap card to mark done - 10
Assemble the burgers by placing a cheesy…
Assemble the burgers by placing a cheesy smash patty into each toasted gluten-free bun, then serve immediately alongside a generous portion of the dressed house salad. Keep leftovers stored separately in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
Tap card to mark done
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