Step 1: Prepare Special Sauce

Combine sauce ingredients and mix. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Step 2: Prepare Caramelized Onions

Warm a small pan over medium heat. Add butter and onion, stirring occasionally until cooked down and golden in color. Season with thyme and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add apple butter. Stir and remove from heat.

Step 3

To prepare the grilled cheese, warm a flat top griddle or large pan over medium high heat. Spread about 1 Tbsp. of butter over surface until melted to prevent sticking.

Step 4

Meanwhile, roll ground beef into 4 loosely-formed 4-oz. balls and set aside. Once the griddle is hot, place ground beef balls onto griddle and smash them onto the griddle top using a large and heavy metal spatula. Season with salt and pepper and cook undisturbed until well browned on griddle side (about 1-2 minutes).

Step 5

Flip the patties and top each one with 1 ½ Tbsp. caramelized onions, ½ Tbsp. special sauce, and one slice of cheese. Continue cooking until cheese is melted around the edges and the bottom of the burgers are browned (about 1-2 minutes).

Step 6

Meanwhile, butter one side of each slice of Martin’s Potato Bread and set aside.

Step 7

Assemble grilled cheese by placing one slice of Potato Bread butter side down onto hot griddle. Then, top with one slice cheese, cooked smash burger patty and cheese, special sauce, and another slice of Potato Bread, butter side up. Cook until bread is golden brown, about 1 minute. Then flip and cook for another 1 minute.

Step 8

Remove from heat and serve warm.