Patty Melt

Our family loves a classic Patty Melt and it is actually very simple to make at home. With just a few simple ingredients, this sandwich recipe goes from skillet to table in literally minutes.

Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just satisfying a late-night craving, this homemade patty melt is pure comfort food. You may also love Bacon Sandwich, Prime Rib Sandwich and Turkey Melt Sandwich for other filling sandwiches.

What is a Patty Melt?

A patty melt is a diner classic American sandwich typically made with:

• A seasoned beef patty
• Caramelized onions
• Swiss or American cheese
• Grilled Slices rye bread (or sourdough)

Unlike a burger, it’s cooked on a skillet or griddle and served like a grilled cheese, crispy, gooey, and incredibly satisfying. You can even add ketchup and pickles for amazing flavor.

Ingredients

• Slices Sourdough Bread  – Use thick slices of bread for best results
• Ground Beef – We like using lean ground beef
• White Onion – Slice large onions with a vegetable chopper
• Butter – We like using unsalted butter
• Swiss Cheese – This makes a classic patty melt. But you can use any type of cheese that you prefer

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

How to Make a Patty Melt

Step 1. Form the beef patties. Divide the ground beef into 2 even balls (approximately 3 oz each).

Step 2. Butter each slice of bread. Then add 1 tablespoons butter to each side of each piece of the sourdough bread.

Step 3. Cook the onions. Next, melt the remaining butter in a large skillet and cook (or cast iron pan) over medium heat.  Then top the melted butter with the sliced onions.  Sauté the onions in the butter until they are caramelized (3-5 minutes).  Remove the onions from the skillet and set aside.  

Step 4. Place the ground beef in the skillet. Use medium low heat. Next, put a piece of parchment paper on top of the beef and use a spatula or a burger press to smash the meat into 2 thin patties.  

Step 5. Cook the patties. Finally, cook the patties until they are browned and crispy (2-3 minutes).  Then flip the patties over (do not smash) and cook the other side for 3-4 minutes until it is also browned and crispy.  

Step 6. Top with cheese. Lastly, place a slice of cheese on each patty and allow it to melt.  Then remove the patties from the skillet and set aside.  

Step 7. Grill the bread. Put the bread slices on the skillet butter side down and toast the bread for a crispy texture.

Step 8. Assemble the sandwich.  Place one piece of the bread on a plate (toasted side down), top with 1 of the patties, half of the fried onions, then the remaining patty, the rest of the fried onions and top with the 2nd piece of bread (toasted side on top).  Salt and pepper to taste.

• Step 9. Cut and serve. Now, just cut in half and the patty melt is ready to serve and enjoy! You can even add Smash Burger Sauce for a delicious variation and amazing flavor.

Recipe Tips

• Serve fresh.  We do not recommend making them in advance. Serve the patty melts fresh.
• Cast Iron. We love to make patty melts in a cast iron skillet. It cooks evenly and turns out amazing. You can also make with a panini press.
• Thin patties. Smash the ground beef into thin patties. This is what makes a classic patty melt.

Recipe Variations

• Cheese. You can use any of your favorite types of cheese in this recipe if you do not like Swiss Cheese.  Some ideas include: cheddar cheese, provolone, muenster and more.
• Bread. Any thick type of bread will work in this recipe. Our favorite is sourdough but you can use rye, artisan, Texas Toast or your favorite type of bread.
• Onions. You can omit the onions if you are not a fan. We personally love how they taste with the cheese and beef.
• Veggies. Add sautéed mushrooms and peppers to the onions. It is so good.
• Dressing. Try adding a little bit of Thousand Island dressing to the bread.

Best Bread for Patty Melt

The bread needs to be thick and sturdy to hold up to the cooking process. We used sourdough but rye bread is another good option.

You can use artisan bread or Texas Toast if you prefer, but do not use regular sandwich bread as it will likely fall apart in this recipe.  

What to Serve with Patty Melts?

• Crispy fried onion rings
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Homemade French Fries