Pepperoni Smash
A pizza-inspired burger: two smashed patties with provolone, crispy strips of pepperoni, Paul’s rosemary tomato jam and garlic butter. It tastes like a pepperoni slice met a cheeseburger, and it is the heaviest thing on the menu. Fun rather than subtle.
The story
Pepperoni is not Italian. Order it in Italy and you will be handed peppers, because peperoni is the plural of pepper; the sausage was invented by Italian butchers in the United States, first recorded in New York around 1919, and it was built for a market that wanted something spicier and softer than the dry salamis of the old country. It curls and cups in a hot pan because of how the casing shrinks, which is the same reason it works on a smashed patty.
What’s inside
- 2 Certified Angus Beef patties
- provolone
- crispy julienne pepperoni
- rosemary tomato jam
- garlic butter
- bun
Make it at home
There is no copycat of the Pepperoni Smash yet. Until there is, these recipes on the site come closest to it, judged by what goes into the bun.
- Shares beef, cheese and a double stack
Whopper (Copycat) - Shares beef, cheese and a double stack
The Mr. Smiley Burger - Shares beef, cheese and a double stack
McDonald's Daily Double (Copycat) - Shares beef, cheese and a double stack
Big Beef Blopper
Variations
The Pepperoni Smash, taken somewhere it was never meant to go.
Similar burgers at other chains
Built around the same things as the Pepperoni Smash.- P. Terry's · beef, garlic, cheese and a double stack
SignatureDouble Cheeseburger - Steak 'n Shake · beef, garlic, cheese and a double stack
Garlic Double Steakburger - In-N-Out Burger · beef, cheese and a double stack
SignatureDouble-Double - Elevation Burger · beef, cheese and a double stack
SignatureElevation Burger
More from Wahlburgers
About Wahlburgers
Chef Paul Wahlberg and his actor brothers Mark and Donnie opened the first Wahlburgers in Hingham, Massachusetts, in 2011, next to Paul’s restaurant Alma Nove. The name is borrowed: the family licensed “Wahlburger” from Tom Wahl’s, an older restaurant in upstate New York.
Around 30 restaurants in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, down from more than a hundred in 2023.
Not affiliated with Wahlburgers. Trademarks belong to their owners.