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Classic Patty Melt

A classic patty melt is the perfect cross between a hamburger and a grilled cheese sandwich -- with caramelized onions and a special sauce!
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword patty melt
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4 sandwiches
Calories 759kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons salted butter, divided
  • 2 onions, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 6 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
  • 8 slices rye bread (or sub with sourdough)
  • 4 large slices sharp cheddar cheese (or sub with Swiss cheese)

Instructions

  • In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • While the onions are cooking in the skillet, prepare the rest of the sandwich ingredients.
  • In a large bowl, combine ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Shape mixture into 4 long, thin, oval patties (about 6-inches by 4-inches each).
  • Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large cast iron skillet (or other heavy skillet) over medium-high heat. Cook 2 patties until well browned on both sides and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Set aside on a plate. Repeat with another tablespoon of butter and the remaining 2 patties. Remove from heat. Transfer patties to plate. Wipe skillet clean.
  • While the patties and the onions are cooking, prepare the sauce. In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup and relish. Set aside.
  • Layer one slice of bread with 1 tablespoon of sauce, a slice of cheese, a beef patty, a couple tablespoons of caramelized onions, and another tablespoon of sauce. Top with another slice of bread. Repeat with remaining bread, sauce, cheese, patties and onions to create a total of 4 sandwiches.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the large skillet over medium heat. Cook 2 sandwiches until golden brown and cheese is melted, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in a 200 degree F oven. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in the skillet and repeat with remaining two sandwiches. Serve.

Video

Notes

For a quicker last-minute meal, you can prep all of the ingredients in advance. Caramelize the onions up to 2 days ahead, stir together the sauce a few days ahead, and shape (or cook) the patties up to 1 day ahead. Just make sure that all of the individual components are at room temperature (or warm) before assembling and griddling the sandwiches.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 759kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 128mg | Sodium: 1493mg | Potassium: 592mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 607IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 5mg