A classic patty melt is the perfect mix of a burger and grilled cheese—juicy beef, sweet caramelized onions, and melted cheese pressed between crispy, buttery bread. Comfort food at its best!
🛒 Ingredients (Makes 2 sandwiches)
- 300g ground beef
- 4 slices bread (rye is traditional, but any works)
- 4 slices cheese (Swiss or cheddar)
- 1 large onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt & black pepper
🥣 Optional Sauce:
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp mustard
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Caramelize onions
- Heat 1 tbsp butter in a pan
- Cook onions on medium-low heat 15–20 minutes until soft and golden
2. Make patties
- Shape beef into 2 thin patties (same size as bread)
- Season with salt & pepper
3. Cook patties
- Cook in a hot pan 3–4 minutes per side
- Set aside
4. Assemble
- Butter one side of each bread slice
- On the unbuttered side, layer:
- Cheese
- Beef patty
- Caramelized onions
- More cheese
- Top with another slice of bread (buttered side out)
5. Grill
- Cook in pan on medium heat
- Press lightly and cook 3–4 minutes per side until golden and crispy
💡 Tips for Perfect Patty Melt
- Use medium heat to melt cheese without burning bread
- Thin patties cook evenly
- Don’t rush onions—they need time to caramelize
- Press sandwich gently for even crisping
🔥 Variations
- Spicy Melt: Add jalapeños 🌶️
- Mushroom Melt: Add sautéed mushrooms 🍄
- Saucy: Spread special sauce inside
- Low-Carb: Use lettuce wraps (no bread)
🍽️ Serve With
- Fries 🍟
- Pickles 🥒
- Coleslaw
⚖️ Approx Nutrition (Per Sandwich)
- Calories: ~450–600
- Protein: ~25–30g
- Carbs: ~30–40g
- Fat: ~25–35g
🧮 WW (Weight Watchers) Points
- 8–12 points per sandwich
👉 Lower points:
- Use lean beef
- Reduce butter
- Use light cheese
❓ FAQs
Why is it soggy?
Too much butter or low heat.
Best bread?
Rye is classic, but sourdough works great.
Can I use ground chicken?
Yes—adjust seasoning.