Rekindle your love for diner meals with our classic Patty Melt recipe. Perfectly cooked beef patties topped with sweet caramelized onions and Swiss cheese sandwiched between two buttery rye bread slices and grilled to melty perfection will bring back those nostalgic flavors of yesteryear!
Ingredients For Patty Melt
To make this classic sandwich you need:
- Rye bread slices
- Ground beef
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Dry parsley
- Worcestershire sauce
- Sweet onion
- Butter
- Salt and pepper
How To Make Quick Patty Melts
- Make the caramelized onions: in a medium-sized skillet, melt two tbsp of butter over medium-low heat and cook the sliced onions for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown and caramelized.
- Make the beef patties: in a medium-sized bowl mix the ground beef with the garlic powder, paprika, dry parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Divide the meat into 4 oval-shaped thin patties.
- Melt 2 more tbsp of butter and brown the patties on a grill or skillet over medium-high heat until fully cooked, about 3 minutes on each side.
- Assemble the sandwiches:
- Slather both slices of bread with Dijon mustard or Thousand Island dressing.
- Add one slice of Swiss cheese
- Place one beef patty over the cheese
- Divide the caramelized onion between the four sandwiches.
- Top with a second slice of Swiss cheese and place the bread on top.
- Melt two more tbsp of butter on a griddle or skillet and grill the sandwiches over medium heat until golden. Flip them over and cook on the other side until golden and the cheese has melted. You may need to add more butter to the skillet.
Can I Make The Patties Ahead Of Time?
You can season the ground beef and refrigerate the patties for one day if you place them in an airtight container, or you can grill them, refrigerate, and reheat them when ready to serve.
Quick Patty Melts Recipe
Equipment
- Medium-sized skillet
- Medium-sized bowl
- Spatula
- Knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 sweet onion, halved and sliced
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 slices rye bread
- 8 slices Swiss cheese
- Dijon mustard or Thousand Island dressing
Instructions
- Make the caramelized onions: in a medium-sized skillet, melt two tbsp of butter over medium-low heat and cook the sliced onions for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown and caramelized.
- Make the beef patties: in a medium-sized bowl mix the ground beef with the garlic powder, paprika, dry parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Divide the meat into 4 oval-shaped thin patties.
- Melt 2 more tbsp of butter and brown the patties on a grill or skillet over medium-high heat until fully cooked, about 3 minutes on each side.
- Assemble the sandwiches:- Slather both slices of bread with Dijon mustard or Thousand Island dressing.- Add one slice of Swiss cheese- Place one beef patty over the cheese- Divide the caramelized onion between the four sandwiches.- Top with a second slice of Swiss cheese and place the bread on top.
- Melt two more tbsp of butter on a griddle or skillet and grill the sandwiches over medium heat until golden. Flip them over and cook on the other side until golden and the cheese has melted. You may need to add more butter to the skillet.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use A Different Type Of Cheese Instead Of Swiss?
Use your favorite melty cheese. Provolone, mozzarella, or cheddar are good melty cheeses.
What If I Don’t Have Rye Bread?
You can use sourdough, multigrain, or any other crusty bread. White sandwich bread is a bit too soft for patty melts.
Can I Cook The Onions And Patties In The Same Skillet?
Yes, you can but make the caramelized onions first. After you finish making them, you can use the same skillet to cook the patties and grill the sandwiches.
How Do You Know When The Patties Are Done?
They are done when the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160 F. You will make thin patties, which are usually done when cooked for 3-4 minutes on each side.
What If My Onions Are Burning?
Remember to cook the onions on medium-low heat and stir them occasionally. If you feel they are burning, reduce the heat to low.
How Can I Prevent My Sandwich From Being Soggy?
Before placing the bread on the skillet, make sure it is hot and don’t add too much butter.
Is There A Faster Way To Caramelize The Onions?
You can speed up the process by adding a pinch of baking soda to the onions. They will brown faster, but you have to keep an eye on them to prevent them from burning.
How Do I Flip The Sandwiches Without Making A Mess?
Make sure you use a wide spatula and do it quickly. You can also use another utensil as leverage and place it on top of the sandwich as you’re flipping it.
Can I Add Other Toppings To My Patty Melt?
You certainly can! Sliced tomatoes, pickles, mayo, or Thousand Island dressing add tons of flavor.
