Classic Patty Melt

Let’s talk about the ultimate comfort food mashup: the patty melt. This isn’t just another sandwich – it’s what happens when a grilled cheese and a burger fall madly in love. With perfectly caramelized onions, gooey Swiss cheese, and a juicy beef patty, this is the sandwich of your dreams.

The secret to an exceptional patty melt lies in the details: butter-crisped bread that shatters at first bite, sweet onions cooked low and slow until they’re deeply caramelized, and that perfect ratio of melted cheese to meat. This isn’t fast food – it’s slow food done right.

Ingredients

For the Onions:

• 1 sweet yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

For the Patties:

• 8 ounces 90/10 ground beef
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For Assembly:

• 4 slices sandwich bread
• 4 slices Swiss cheese
• 1 tablespoon butter (for grilling)
• Mustard (optional)

Steps

Caramelize the Onions:

1. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat
2. Add 1 tablespoon butter and sliced onions
3. Cook for 25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes until deep golden brown
4. Add apple cider vinegar in final 5 minutes
5. Remove from skillet and set aside

Prepare the Patties:

1. Shape beef into two 4-ounce patties, making them thin and bread-sized
2. Season both sides with salt and pepper
3. Heat skillet to medium-high
4. Cook patties for 3 minutes per side
5. Internal temperature should reach 160°F (71°C)

Prepare for Assembly:

1. Wipe skillet clean
2. Melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-low heat
3. Place all bread slices in skillet to butter one side
4. Remove two slices and set aside

Build and Grill:

1. Layer on buttered bread in skillet: Swiss cheese, patty, onions, second cheese slice
2. Top with reserved bread (buttered side up)
3. Grill 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown at medium-low heat
4. Cheese should be completely melted and bread crispy

Smart Swaps

• Use sourdough bread for extra flavor and better grilling
• Substitute Gruyere cheese for a more complex flavor profile
• Try caramelized mushrooms alongside or instead of onions

Make It Diabetes-Friendly

• Use high-fiber whole grain bread (reduces net carbs by 6g per slice)
• Choose 85/15 grass-fed beef for better fatty acid profile
• Skip the butter and use olive oil spray (2 calories per spray)
• Consider open-faced to halve bread carbs

Pro Tips

• Let patties rest at room temperature 15 minutes before cooking
• Never press down on the patties while cooking – this releases juices
• For perfect onions, slice them all the same thickness
• Use room temperature cheese for better melting