Recipe / Lunch

Copycat SmashBurger Chicken Sandwich

It was a typical weekend full of baseball madness here. Games, practices, hanging out at the fields, several trips to the snack bar. I am wiped out. And I love it. And of course, between all of that, the usual complaints about hunger. We’ve got 2 boys with endless appetites and keeping them fed is almost a full time job. And we’ve got another on the way? Yikes. I am mentally preparing myself for another couple of decades of this. Can’t wait for it actually.

SmashChicken Classic Sandwich - Grab the secret recipe and make this for $2 vs $7 | Real Food by Dad

So when it comes to eating, what is it about eating out that every kid loves? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love it too occasionally, but our boys LOVE it. And as I explain to them, it gets expensive! So this weekend, I was given the hint that they wanted SmashBurger, which is a burger chain that came to Southern California a couple of years ago. We are big fans of their chicken sandwich, so I figured, rather than spending $7 a piece for a sandwich (not to mention drinks, fries, a possible milkshake), why not work out some stress and smash some chicken and make it even better? Hence, the Copycat SmashBurger Chicken Classic sandwich.

SmashChicken Classic Sandwich - Grab the secret recipe and make this for $2 vs $7 | Real Food by Dad

I think the reason why we love SmashBurger is due to the way they literally smash (flatten) the chicken and beef. A couple of us are picky and love it prepared this wayβ€”it’s a texture thing. So, I have to admit, I had a blast pounding the heck out of the chicken breast. And as I did it, I realized why they do it. You smash a chicken breast enough times and you can literally make a few sandwiches out of it!  And the seasoning is so simple, just a few sprinkles of kosher salt and some pepper and Parmesan cheese on each side of the breast before putting it on the grill.

SmashChicken Classic Sandwich - Grab the secret recipe and make this for $2 vs $7 | Real Food by Dad

The verdict?

Cole – “Awesome, Dad!”
Blake – “Pretty good” (come on son!)
Naomi – “I love it!”
My mom, visiting – “Matt, you should start a blog!” (Ha!)

So the way I see it, rather spending up to $40 or so on lunch, it cost less than $10 total for all of us. It was healthier, tastier, easier, and fun! Not to mention a good lesson for the boys. And I didn’t hear, “Dad, I’m hungry, what’s there to eat?”, for at least an hour. Hey, I’ll take that.

Yield: 4

Copycat Smashburger Chicken Sandwich

SmashChicken Classic Sandwich via Real Food by Dad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs chicken breast, pounded to quarter inch thickness
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons parmesan, finely grated
  • 4 slices American Cheese
  • 4 kaiser rolls, split and toasted

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Heat griddle to 325 degrees F or medium high (or 12" skillet on medium). Cut chicken breast as needed to make 4 servings. Evenly sprinkle each one with salt, pepper and parmesan cheese on each side. Place prepared chicken breast on hot griddle (or in a skillet, working in two batches) and cook until a golden crust develops, about 5-7minutes one each side. Top each breast patty with cheese. To serve, place 1 breast patty on each bottom bun, add lettuce and tomato. Cover with top bun and serve immediately.
  2. *To toast kaiser rolls, split and spread a light coat of mayonnaise on each side (Optional-sprinkle each side with a 1/2 teaspoon of parmesan for added flavor) place on a bake sheet with mayonnaise covered side up. Transfer to oven and broil until golden, about 2-3 minutes. Keep a watchful eye as it goes from golden to burnt in a matter of seconds.
© Matt Robinson
Cuisine: american / Category: Lunch
 

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25 comments to " Copycat SmashBurger Chicken Sandwich "

  • Reply
    Heather @FrenchPress
    April 28, 2014 AT 7:37AM

    we LOVE smashburger, and I love that now I can make it at home πŸ™‚ but we still will need to add the milkshake

  • Reply
    Tutti Dolci
    April 28, 2014 AT 10:22AM

    I’ve always been a chicken sandwich fan, this looks great!

  • Reply
    Serene Herrera
    April 28, 2014 AT 12:06PM

    This looks AMAZING! Love the melty cheese in that picture! Making me drool. I know what our dinner is going to be πŸ™‚

  • Reply
    Kayley McCabe
    April 28, 2014 AT 1:41PM

    I LOVE Smashburger and this looks fantastic! I generally say “pounding out”, but I like this ‘smashing’ term. I may adopt it πŸ˜‰

  • Reply
    Kate@Diethood
    April 28, 2014 AT 9:27PM

    Niiiiiice!!! That looks damn good!! And, 3 boys?!? OY vey! You guys have your hands full, to say the least. πŸ˜€

  • Reply
    Alice Choi
    April 29, 2014 AT 4:38AM

    I love that you re-created a family favorite! you’re right, it saves money, you know exactly what’s going inside the sandwich and it’s healthier! Win win. And I have to say, I love the concept behind your blog .. welcome to the blogosphere! We need more men bloggers!

  • Reply
    Allie|Baking a Moment
    April 29, 2014 AT 6:05AM

    Oh my gosh, sometimes it seems like my boys NEVER stop eating. The five-year-old must be hitting a growth spurt because he’s literally asking for about 8 meals a day. We don’t have Smash Burger here on the East coast, but if it’s anything like what you’ve done here, I’m sure it’d be a big hit with my family! Pinning πŸ˜‰

  • Reply
    simplygloria1
    April 29, 2014 AT 12:49PM

    I know exactly what you mean by endless appetites with boys… I have a refrigerator with a revolving door! I’ve never been to Smash Burger, but would definitely love to make our own here at home. (Doesn’t it always taste better from home, anyways?!) This would be fun for my little man to help with and pound that chicken!

  • Reply
    theviewfromGreatIsland
    April 29, 2014 AT 4:21PM

    How have I not heard of Smashburger? Oh well, I won’t have to hunt it down now that I have your recipe!

  • Reply
    Kate
    May 5, 2014 AT 9:28AM

    This looks delish!! I can’t wait to make this week, thanks for sharing with the East Coast πŸ™‚

  • Reply
    Meggan Hill
    May 8, 2014 AT 11:14AM

    This looks so amazing, I am definitely putting it on the agenda for the weekend. Happy Mother’s Day to me indeed!!!!

  • Reply
    chezus
    May 20, 2014 AT 9:15AM

    OMG – love this sandwich. We were traveling in Portugal back in February, and when we landed in New York we hit Smashburger for our first American meal. Totally dug it, but the sodium they use at fast food killed me. Hence, I cannot wait to try out your recipe!!

  • Reply
    Richard Rohr
    March 3, 2017 AT 9:21AM

    Be careful!! I found and bit down on a chicken bone while eating this last weekend. Over $4000 to fix a tooth!!

  • Reply
    DickFaceCobra
    August 22, 2017 AT 4:36PM

    Just curious, I though that Smashburger pit their chicken in a marinade or something. It’s always so juicy! Thanks for the recipe!

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