🥪 Patty Melt
A patty melt is a classic American diner sandwich featuring a juicy beef patty, melted cheese, and caramelized onions, all grilled between slices of buttery rye bread. It’s a cross between a burger and a grilled cheese.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 2)
- 8 oz ground beef (80/20 blend)
- Salt & black pepper
- 4 slices rye bread
- 4 slices Swiss cheese (or cheddar)
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2–3 tbsp butter (for cooking)
- Optional: Thousand Island or Russian dressing
🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Caramelize Onions
- Melt 1 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Add onions and a pinch of salt.
- Cook 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown.
2️⃣ Cook the Beef Patties
- Form ground beef into 2 thin patties, slightly larger than the bread slices.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook in a skillet 3–4 minutes per side (medium), or to your preference.
3️⃣ Assemble the Sandwich
- Butter one side of each slice of bread.
- On the unbuttered side, layer: cheese → beef patty → caramelized onions → cheese.
- Top with second slice of bread, buttered side out.
4️⃣ Grill the Patty Melt
- Heat a skillet over medium heat.
- Grill sandwich 3–5 minutes per side until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.
- Press gently with spatula while cooking for even browning.
🌟 Tips
- Use thin patties for easy melting and even cooking.
- Low and slow cooking of onions brings out maximum sweetness.
- Swiss cheese is classic, but cheddar or Gruyère works well too.
- Serve with pickles, fries, or potato chips.
If you want, I can also give a 100% diner-style patty melt recipe with extra oozy cheese and carmelized-onion sauce.
