Ohhh yes 😌 Patty melts—crispy bread, melty cheese, beefy goodness, and that secret sauce tying it all together. Let’s do diner-level perfection.
🧀🥩 Patty Melts with Secret Sauce
Ingredients (Makes 4 patty melts)
Patties
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 is best)
- Salt & black pepper
Onions
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp butter
Bread & Cheese
- 8 slices rye bread (or sourdough)
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 4 slices cheddar or American cheese
- Butter (softened, for grilling)
🔥 Secret Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Pinch paprika
- Black pepper to taste
Mix and chill while you cook (flavor gets better 👀).
🍳 Instructions
1. Caramelize the Onions
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Add onions and cook 20–30 minutes, stirring often, until deep golden and jammy.
- Set aside.
2. Cook the Patties
- Divide beef into 4 thin oval patties (slightly bigger than bread).
- Season well.
- Cook in a hot skillet 2–3 minutes per side until done.
- Remove and rest.
3. Assemble
For each patty melt:
- Butter outside of two bread slices.
- Inside bottom slice: Swiss cheese → patty → onions → cheddar/American → secret sauce
- Top with second slice (butter side out).
4. Grill
- Cook in skillet over medium-low heat.
- Press gently.
- Flip once bread is golden and cheese is melted (about 3–4 minutes per side).
🤤 Serve With
- Fries or onion rings
- Pickles
- Extra secret sauce for dipping (mandatory)
💡 Pro Tips
- Low heat = melty cheese without burning bread
- Rye bread is classic, but sourdough slaps
- Make extra sauce—it keeps 5 days in the fridge
Want a smash-style patty melt, air-fryer version, or a lighter twist?
