Don’t underestimate a homemade patty melt! This is no average sandwich- it’s crispy bread filled to the brim with a homemade patty and LOTS of cheese. To top it off, it’s got savory and sweet caramelized onions that just make your mouth water.
If you can’t tell, I’m a sandwich girl. I think there is so much to be said about a well-made sandwich. Warm, cold, pressed, or so big you can barely stuff them in your mouth- I love them all! If you are in the mood for a really amazing sandwich, you’ve got to try this Corned Beef Sandwich, this amazing Meatloaf Sandwich, and this classic Monte Cristo Sandwich.
What Is a Patty Melt?
You could consider it a burger with bread instead of a bun, or a grilled cheese with a patty! Really, however you look at it, it’s the best fusion of flavors you’ll have in a long time! It’s so simple and easy to make too, you’re family will be blown away that it’s just a few simple ingredients! First, choose your favorite type of bread. I chose rye bread for this recipe, but you could use brioche, sourdough bread, good old white bread, or anything in between. Then, you make your patty and caramelize your onions. Make sure you have lots of your favorite cheese on hand too! I used Swiss and Provolone, but get creative with what you have!
Ok, from here it’s pretty simple, but the trick to a great patty melt is crispy bread. There’s nothing more disappointing than bread that is smashed flat and still soft and soggy. So make sure to follow my instructions for deliciously crispy bread. You can add a sauce to this recipe if you want! I love boom boom sauce or this classic fry sauce. Just imagine what kind of sauce you like on your burger, and it would go perfectly on this patty melt!
Ingredients
This recipe is really just beef, onions, bread, and cheese!! I absolutely adore a simple straightforward list of ingredients, and this sandwich is exactly that. You can also add literally anything you want to this sandwich. Make it your own! I talk more about what to add to this sandwich below in the recipe card. You can find the measurements below in the recipe card.
- Ground Beef: You are making your own patties! I love just a simple seasoning of salt and pepper, but you can add whatever flavors you want! If you want to cut down on prep time you could buy hamburger patties from the store.
- Salt and Pepper: To flavor the meat.
- Butter: To cook the onions.
- Onion: You want them fairy thinly sliced so they are easy to bite into once they are on the sandwich.
- Water: You will add water to the pan while you are cooking the onions. This helps to get them nice and caramelized!
- Rye Bread or Choice of Bread: I prefer rye bread with this recipe, but you can use whatever type of bread you like! I talk more about options below in the tip box.
- Swiss Cheese: I love the unique flavor of swiss and think it pairs perfectly with the caramelized onions!
- Provolone Cheese: Provolone is creamy soft cheese perfect for melting.
Patty Melt Recipe
This is a classic patty melt recipe. You grab some pieces of bread, a slice of cheese, a beef patty, and some onions. That’s it! I walk you through how to get the most out of your ingredients. The total time for making this recipe is about 20 minutes. For how delicious it turns out, it’s worth every second!
Prep Ingredients
- Cook Patties: Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Split your ground beef in half and form two patties the same size and shape as your bread. Season your patties with salt and pepper and cook them on your skillet, about 1-2 minutes per side. Allow each side to cook until they have developed a dark brown crust. Remove from heat and set aside
- Caramelize Onions: Melt 2 tablespoons of your butter in your skillet and add your prepared onions and toss in the butter. Add in t tablespoons of your water and cook the onions, continually tossing to evenly cook them. Once the water has cooked off then add another 2 tablespoons and Continue cooking. If the onions still need time to fry and crisp up, then add another 2 tablespoons of water and cook the water off. They should be soft but caramelized.
- Toast Bread: Melt the remaining butter in the skillet and place two pieces of your bread on the skillet, toast one side of each slice for about 3 minutes. Remove from the skillet and then place 2 slices of swiss on one piece on the cooked side, and 2 slices of provolone on the other piece on the cooked side.
Put It All Together
- Assemble Patty Melt: Put your cooked patty onto one of the cheese covered breads and then cover the patty with half of the cooked onions. Place the other cheese covered slice cheese side down on top of the sandwich and then place the whole sandwich back in the skillet.
- Toast Sandwich: Cook each side for 2-3 minutes until the outside of the sandwich is toasted. Then repeat assembly of the sandwich with the next two slices of bread, cheese, patty, and remaining onions.
- Enjoy: Enjoy fresh!
Tips for Making Patty Melts
This is such a simple sandwich! A patty melt is glorious in more ways than one, and you can make it even more special to you by customizing the ingredients. If you love Dijon mustard, slather it on. If you want some veggies like lettuce or tomatoes, go for it! Ketchup, pickle relish, and Worcestershire sauce all have their place on this sandwich too.
- Season Your Patty: The beauty of homemade burger patties is you can add whatever you want! Things like garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder would be great additions. If you have a favorite ground beef patty seasoning, feel free to throw that in instead!
- Types of Bread: When I make this recipe again, I’m going to do it on big fat slices of Texas toast. Doesn’t that sound amazing? You could go in any direction you wanted with your bread. Anything that is homemade, store-bought, fluffy or thin will work for this recipe.
- Other Cheeses To Try: There is a world of cheeses out there! If you just want to keep things simple, go for some cheddar cheese. I love this combo of Swiss and Provolone, but you could just use one type or the other. You can add as many cheeses as you like! Just make sure there is more than one slice of cheese so you get the true patty melt effect.
Storing Leftovers
Like any good sandwich, you are going to want to gobble it up right away! If you do happen to have some leftovers, here is how to store them.
- In the Refrigerator: You can store your patty melt in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Make It A Meal!
Side Dishes
Refrigerator Pickles
Salads
Incredible Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Salads
Chilled Cucumber Tomato Salad
Patty Melt
Ingredients
- ½ pound ground beef divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ½ large onion thinly sliced
- 6 tablespoons water divided
- 4 slices rye bread or your bread of choice
- 4 slices swiss cheese
- 4 slices provolone cheese or your cheeses of choice
Instructions
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Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Split your ground beef in half and form two patties the same size and shape as your bread. Season your patties with salt and pepper and cook them on your skillet, about 1-2 minutes per side. Allow each side to cook until they have developed a dark brown crust. Remove from heat and set aside
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Melt 2 tablespoons of your butter in your skillet and add your prepared onions and toss in the butter. Add in t tablespoons of your water and cook the onions, continually tossing to evenly cook them. Once the water has cooked off add another 2 tablespoons and Continue cooking. If the onions still need time to fry and crisp up, add another 2 tablespoons of water and cook the water off. They should be soft but caramelized.
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Melt the remaining butter in the skillet and place two pieces of your bread on the skillet, toast one side of each slice for about 3 minutes. Remove from the skillet and place 2 slices of swiss on one piece on the cooked side, and 2 slices of provolone on the other piece on the cooked side.
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Put your cooked patty onto one of the cheese covered breads and cover the patty with half of the cooked onions. Place the other cheese covered slice cheese side down on top of the sandwich and place the whole sandwich back in the skillet.
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Cook each side for 2-3 minutes until the outside of the sandwich is toasted. Repeat assembly of the sandwich with the next two slices of bread, cheese, patty, and remaining onions.
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Enjoy fresh!
