Patty Melt

Simple Patty Melts are one of the greatest classic American diner foods known to mankind! Made with juicy ground beef patties, caramelized onions, and melted Swiss cheese between two slices of rye bread that have been grilled in butter to perfection, these iconic sandwiches are absolutely delicious! 

What Is A Patty Melt?

Some folks describe patty melts as a grilled cheese sandwich with a burger patty and onions added. But to me, this grilled sandwich that is a popular menu item at diners and delis all over the United States is a total stand-alone classic! Invented at a little diner in Los Angeles around the early 1940s the patty melt is a whole new take on a simple cheeseburger.

Basically, patty melts are fried thin hamburger patties that are topped with Swiss cheese along with some caramelized onions and put between two slices of rye bread. Then the sandwich is grilled in butter until the cheese melts and the bread is perfectly toasted. That’s it! No tomato, lettuce, or pickles! It’s a simple grilled sandwich but layered with tons of flavor from the savory beef patty, melted cheese, and sweet onions.

That being said, there are many variations of this classic patty melt recipe. In the southern states, they are known to serve them on Texas toast with guacamole! And a lot of diners add some bacon too!

• Butter – Needed to caramelize the onions and grill the sandwiches. This is a rare case where you can use salted butter. However, if you end up using unsalted butter you’ll want to sprinkle the onions with a bit of salt as they are cooking.
• Onion – Use yellow or white onions for the most flavor. 
• Ground Beef – I typically use lean ground beef, but any type of beef can be used. You can even use ground turkey if you prefer.
• Seasonings – Simple salt and ground black pepper are needed to season the burgers.
• Rye Bread – Traditionally sliced rye or marble rye bread is used, but any type of sandwich bread will work. Some other good choices are sourdough bread and Texas toast.
• Mayonnaise – Any store-bought regular or light mayo is perfect, but you can also make your own homemade mayonnaise. 
• Swiss Cheese – Classic patty melts are made with Swiss cheese. Yet, you can use any kind of cheese you like such as cheddar cheese, provolone cheese, or even American cheese.

This simple recipe shows you how easy it is to make this well-known diner classic right at home! In just a few basic steps you can whip these yummy sandwiches together and impress your whole family! 

To begin, you need to caramelize the onions before you make the burgers. First, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Then add the sliced onions and cook them for 20 to 25 minutes stirring from time to time. You may need to reduce the heat to medium-low if they begin browning too fast. It’s important that the onions don’t burn. You just want them to caramelize and turn deep brown in color. Then when the onions are done transfer them to a plate and wipe the skillet clean.

After the onions have been caramelized you can begin making the patties. To start, season the ground beef with salt and black pepper. Then shape it into 4 equal size patties that are about the same size and shape as your sliced bread.

Next, place the patties into the hot skillet and cook them over medium-high heat for 3 minutes on each side. If your skillet doesn’t comfortably fit all 4 patties you‘ll need to do this step in batches. Then transfer the cooked patties to a plate and set them aside for now.

For the rest of this recipe, you’ll need to do it in batches. So first, wipe the skillet clean once again. Then melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the skillet over medium heat. Next, add 4 slices of the bread to the skillet (or 2 if that’s all you can fit) and toast them until they are golden brown. Now, remove 2 of the grilled slices (or 1 if you can only fit 2) and then flip over the other 2 slices of bread that are still in the skillet.

To build the sandwiches, place a slice of Swiss cheese over each piece of bread in the skillet. Then top each one with a beef patty, some of the caramelized onions, and another slice of cheese. Now, spread the other 2 toasted slices of bread with mayo on the untoasted side. Finally, place the slices of bread mayo side down over the sandwiches in the pan.

Now that the sandwiches are assembled they need to be grilled. So turn the heat down to medium-low and then let them cook for about 2 minutes on each side until the cheese is melted and they are well toasted. Then remove the sandwiches from the skillet and repeat the process with the remaining ingredients.

When all the sandwiches are done being grilled, slice them in half and serve them immediately with some chips or Air Fryer French Fries. Some diners even serve them with a side of Thousand Island Dressing for dipping. 

Can I Use Leftover Burgers?

Of course! It’s true that a patty melt is typically made with a thin beef patty, yet there is no reason that you can’t take this recipe and make it with a thick burger. Just warm the burger a bit before assembling and grilling the sandwich.

Is A Patty Melt Considered A Burger?

Yes, in a way because it’s basically just a variation of a simple American cheeseburger. Yet, it’s on grilled bread with very few toppings and not on a bun with all the fixings. 

Storage

Leftover already grilled patty melts will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, put the sandwiches in the oven at 350°F (177°C) on a sheet pan for about 10 minutes. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months if you double-wrap them in plastic wrap. Then reheat them from frozen in the oven for about 20 minutes at 350°F (177°C).

Other Delicious Sandwiches To Try

• Cuban Panini
• BLT Sandwich
• Muffuletta
• Steak Sandwich
• Best Fried Chicken Sandwich
• Hawaiian Ham And Cheese Stromboli