Patty Melt Recipe

A juicy, cheesy, diner-style patty melt made right on your stovetop with simple ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes!

Easy Patty Melt Recipe

• This beef patty melt recipe is easy to make and packed with nostalgic flavor. It’s like a cross between a cheeseburger and grilled cheese, with crispy bread, melted Swiss, and savory onions in every bite.
• It comes together in about 30 minutes using just 6 simple ingredients you might already have in your kitchen! It’s the perfect way to use that pound of ground beef in the fridge and transform it into a delicious dinner the whole family will love!

Ingredients for Patty Melt Recipe

• Yellow Onion: Adds sweet, rich flavor when caramelized. You can substitute white onion if needed, but yellow is best for deep sweetness.
• Butter: Used for caramelizing onions and grilling the sandwiches. You could also use olive oil, but butter gives the best flavor.
• Ground Beef (80/20): Juicy and flavorful with just the right amount of fat. Leaner beef will be a bit drier and less flavorful, but still works.
• Bread (Rye or Sourdough): Rye bread gives it that classic diner feel, but sourdough adds a great tang. Any sturdy sandwich bread works in a pinch.
• Swiss Cheese or Cheddar Cheese: Swiss is traditional, but cheddar adds a sharper flavor. Use your favorite melty cheese here.

How to Make a Classic Patty Melt Recipe

Caramelize the Onions. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and soft, about 15 minutes. Set aside.

Shape and Season the Patties. Form the ground beef into 4 thin oval-shaped patties to match the shape of your bread. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.

Cook the Burger Patties. In the same pan, add another tablespoon of butter and raise the heat to medium-high. Cook the patties for 2–3 minutes per side, or until they reach your desired doneness. Set aside.

Assemble the Sandwiches. Layer one slice of bread, one slice of Swiss cheese, one burger patty, 1/4 of the caramelized onions, another slice of cheese, and a second slice of bread. Repeat with remaining ingredients to build all four sandwiches.

Toast the Sandwiches. Wipe out the pan and melt 1/2 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add two sandwiches and cook for 2–3 minutes until the bread is golden and crisp. Press down gently with a spatula. Flip, add another 1/2 tablespoon butter, and cook the second side for another 2–3 minutes. Repeat with remaining sandwiches.

Slice and Serve. Cut each sandwich in half and serve warm with pickles, fries, or your favorite dipping sauce.

Tips for Making Hamburger Patty Melt

• Press the sandwich gently with a spatula while it cooks to help everything melt together and crisp evenly.
• Let the onions caramelize slowly for the best flavor. Don’t rush this step.
• Choose bread that holds up well to buttering and toasting. Avoid soft sandwich bread.

Make-Ahead Instructions

• You can caramelize the onions and shape the burger patties up to 2 days in advance.
• Store them in the fridge in airtight containers until ready to cook.

Storing Leftovers

• Wrap leftover patty melts in foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• Reheat in a skillet on the stove for best texture.

Reheating Patty Melt Recipe

• Reheat leftover sandwiches in a skillet with a bit of melted butter over medium heat until warmed through and the bread is crisp again.
• Avoid microwaving, as it can make the bread soggy.
• Baking the sandwiches will likely dry them out too much.

Serving Suggestions

• crispy baked fries
• easy loaded fries
• Greek fries
• cheesy pizza fries
• cheesy chili fries

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