Patty Melt

 Caramelized onions and ooey-gooey cheese top a beef patty that is in between two slices of thick Texas toast for a melt-in-your-mouth, juicy Patty Melt. Another added bonus to this sandwich is the homemade aioli that is spread inside the sandwich to give it that little something extra. For another cheesy sandwich with tasty, crusty bread, try my Crispy Cheese Sandwich.

Patty Melt

When you can’t decide between a hamburger or a grilled cheese sandwich, simply make a Patty Melt! It combines the cheesiness of a grilled cheese sandwich and the burger patty from a hamburger. It’s the best of both worlds, really. When caramelized onions are added to the mix, you have your patty melt. Patty melts are pretty hard to mess up, and there are many options when it comes to the kinds of cheese and bread you choose to use.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Meat: It’s best to use ground beef that has a relatively high-fat content, such as 80/20 (80% lean meat and 20% fat). The fat helps to keep the patty juicy and flavorful, and it also adds richness and depth to the overall dish. Ground chuck or ground sirloin would also work in this recipe.

Bread: Traditionally, rye bread is used in a patty melt recipe, but I went with the thick slices of Texas toast. It’s really your preference as to what type of bread you choose to use.

Mayonnaise: Don’t skip the mayonnaise that you spread on top of the slices of bread. That helps give the sandwich a crunchy and greasy (in the best way) texture and delicious crust. Plus, the mayo won’t burn as fast as butter, so you can get your cheese extra gooey.

Aioli Spread: Once you taste this homemade aioli spread, you will want to add it to almost everything!

Ingredients

PATTY MELT

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 1 pound ground beef, we like 80/20
• 1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 8 slices cheddar cheese
• 8 slices Texas toast
• 8-10 teaspoons mayonnaise, divided

AIOLI SPREAD

• ⅓ cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon ketchup

Instructions

• In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add onions and cook until caramelized (about 15-20 minutes), stirring often. Add water as needed to prevent burning. Remove from skillet and tent to keep warm.
• In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, Worchestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Make 4 square patties (a little larger than the bread). Each patty should be about ¼ inch thick.
• Wipe the skillet and set heat to medium-high. Add the hamburger patties in batches (two at a time) and cook 1-2 minutes per side. Remove patties from the skillet and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, pepper, garlic, parsley, and ketchup to make the aioli spread.
• Top 4 slices of bread with cheese, then hamburger patty, then onions, and then another slice of cheese, aioli spread, and top with a slice of bread.
• Spread 1-1 ½ teaspoons of mayonnaise on the top.
• Wipe out skillet and set heat to medium. Add sandwiches to pan, mayo side down in batches (two at a time). Place a weighted pan on top to hold the sandwich firmly in the pan. Cook until golden brown (about 3 minutes). Remove the weighted pan. Spread 1 teaspoon of mayo on the top slice of bread and flip. Cook for 3 additional minutes (or until golden brown). Serve.