Description
Hearty patty melts with secret sauce blend classic American diner comfort and gourmet sandwich craftsmanship. Melted cheese, caramelized onions, and special sauce elevate this restaurant-style meal you can easily create at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 8 slices Swiss or cheddar cheese
- 8 slices rye or sourdough bread
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 4 tbsps (60 ml) unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
- 1 tsp pickle relish (sweet or dill)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Whisk mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, pickle relish, smoked paprika, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl until a smooth, creamy texture emerges.
- Patty Formation: Mold ground beef into four uniform patties, seasoning each side with salt and pepper to amplify the meat’s natural flavors.
- Meat Cooking: Sear patties in a preheated grill pan over medium-high heat, cooking 4-5 minutes per side until reaching optimal doneness while developing a rich, caramelized exterior.
- Onion Transformation: Sauté sliced onions in olive oil over medium heat, slowly coaxing them to a deep golden-brown state, approximately 10-15 minutes, creating a sweet and complex flavor profile.
- Bread Preparation: Generously butter one side of each rye bread slice, ensuring an even coating for maximum crispness during griddling.
- Sandwich Assembly: Layer unbuttered bread side with secret sauce, Swiss cheese, perfectly cooked patty, and a lavish portion of caramelized onions, topping with another prepared rye bread slice, buttered side facing outward.
- Final Griddling: Cook assembled patty melts in a hot skillet, applying gentle pressure with a spatula, grilling 4-5 minutes per side until bread achieves a golden-brown crunch and cheese melts into a luxurious, gooey consistency.
Notes
- Meat Selection Matters: Choose ground beef with 80/20 fat content for juicier, more flavorful patties that won’t dry out during cooking.
- Caramelization Technique: Stir onions consistently and use low-medium heat to prevent burning, ensuring sweet and soft caramelization without scorching.
- Cheese Melting Hack: Let cheese sit at room temperature before assembling to guarantee smooth, even melting across the sandwich.
- Pressure Cooking Trick: Use a heavy spatula or cast-iron press when griddling to create a crispy, evenly browned exterior and help cheese melt completely.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 642
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1030 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg