Jack in the Box

In 2024, Jack-in-the-Box introduced the chain’s best-reviewed burger, the Smashed Jack, with a ¼-pound “smashed-inspired” burger, grilled onions, and a new secret sauce. A press release from Jack-in-the-Box claimed that consumers in a taste test picked the new Smashed Jack as the best burger compared to McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King burgers.

You may have guessed that “smashed-inspired” means that these burgers aren’t prepared like burgers that are smashed with a press or heavy spatula on the grill—a process that triggers the Maillard reaction when amino acids and sugars are browned to give food a flavorful crust. But Jack-in-the-Box created a secret shortcut for speed and consistency that still gives the burgers that crust and the appearance of smashing without relying on cooks to actually smash them.

For my Jack-in-the-Box Smashed Jack copycat recipe, we’ll smash the burger for real, but we’ll start with a knockoff of the new Boss Sauce, which gets its smokey flavor from just a little bit of liquid smoke. Once that sauce is done, it’s time to cook the burger patty, which I found is best copied with ground Angus beef. Use a press or heavy spatula to press down on the burger as it cooks to create a browned crust on both sides of the patty.

After the burger is flipped, grilled onions are stacked on top, followed by American cheese. Then, the burger is finished with thick pickles and lots of your copycat Boss Sauce. This recipe shows you how to make one burger, but you’ll have enough leftover secret sauce to make several more.

If you're a fan of Jack in the Box Jumbo Jack or any of Jack's Shakes, or their famous tacos, click here for my clone recipes.

In 1950 a man named Robert O'Petersen built the first Jack-in-the-Box restaurant at El Cajon and 63rd streets in San Diego, California. The restaurant was originally built for drive-thru and walk-up service only, and customers would speak into a clown's mouth to order their food. The clown was blasted to smithereens with explosives in a 1980 advertising campaign, however, signifying a shift toward a more diverse adult menu. 

The signature Jumbo Jack Hamburger has been on the menu since 1974. 

Source: Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

Older than both McDonald's and Burger King, Jack in the Box is the world's fifth-largest hamburger chain, with 1,089 outlets by the end of 1991 in thirteen states throughout the West and Southwest. The restaurant, headquartered in San Diego, boasts one of the largest menus in the fast food world.

The Jack in the Box Taco has been served since the inception of the chain, with very few changes over the years. I've duplicated this classic here in my Jack In the Box taco recipe below for you to enjoy anytime.

If you're a fan of Jack in the Box Jumbo Jack or any of Jack's Shakes click here for my clone recipes.

Source: Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur.

If you live in one of the 15 or so Western states served by Jack in the Box, you have no doubt cracked a gut from the hilarious TV ads produced by this popular hamburger chain. In the spots, a suit-wearing Jack runs the company, even though he's got a giant bulbous antenna ball for a head with a smiley-face painted on it. He has a private jet, plays golf, even has kids with mini antenna-ball heads.

Jack also has a featured shake flavor that, it turns out, is very easy to make at home with a blender, ice cream, milk, and a handful of Oreo cookies. Sure, the drive-thru is convenient and easy. But if you don't feel like going out, you can use my Jack In The Box Oreo Cookie Shake recipe that tastes like it came from the first fast food chain in the country to use a drive-thru window way back when.

Find more of your favorite famous drink recipes here.

Source: Top Secret Recipes: Sodas, Smoothies, Spirits & Shakes by Todd Wilbur.

There's no need for artificial coloring or flavoring when recreating this chains delicious "limited-time only" holiday milkshake. Real canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices will do the trick in this Top Secret version. For the spices, rather than gathering up four costly bottles to use only a small amount from each, toss some pumpkin pie spice into your basket. Its a handy blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice that will be near the other spices in your market - McCormick makes a small size that's cheap. Combine everything below in a blender until smooth, and in a flash youve whipped up two servings of a delicious duplicate that can now be enjoyed any time of the year.