“I need two blue plate specials, a tube steak with fries in the alley and two bowls of red. And 86 the cheese!”
Some vintage recipes have a way of instantly transporting you to an old-school diner. You know, the eating spots where the coffee is ultra strong, the waiters speak hip diner slang and the menu is loaded with all your favorite homestyle comfort foods. For us, the humble patty melt is one of the classic diner recipes that will forever make us reminisce.
If you’ve never had a patty melt before, you’ve been missing out. They’re as gooey and toasty as the best grilled cheese sandwich you’ve ever had and as juicy as your favorite cheeseburger. Luckily, you don’t have to head to your local greasy spoon to sink your teeth into this retro recipe. You can learn how to make a patty melt in 30 minutes at home with a few simple ingredients and a single skillet.
What is a patty melt?
A patty melt is a variation of a classic hamburger. Just like this Oklahoma onion burger, patty melts are layered with tons of sauteed onions, melted cheese and a juicy burger patty. However, rather than using a traditional burger bun, patty melts are typically sandwiched between warm slices of griddled bread. Most traditional patty melt recipes don’t include other toppings or condiments, but modern versions will often add a sauce or two (or use a grilled cheese bun) to put their own spin on the classic recipe.
Although iterations of the patty melt have existed for more than 100 years, the recipe we all know and love today was believed to have been popularized in the 1940s and 1950s by Tiny Naylor’s, a Southern California-based restaurant chain.
Patty Melt Ingredients
- Sweet onion: Certain types of onions are quite strong when eaten raw or lightly sauteed. Sweet onions have an oniony bite, but they’re not as pungent as red or white varieties. Make caramelized onions for a deeper flavor and much softer texture.
- Butter: You’ll need some to saute the onions and some to toast the bread on the griddle.
- Ground beef: For this patty melt recipe, you’ll need 1/2 pound ground beef to make two sandwiches. You can use more beef if you want bigger patties or plan to make more patty melts. Here’s the best ground beef for burgers.
- Rye bread: What is a patty melt without rye bread? It is the classic choice. Choose from seeded or seedless rye, pumpernickel, Jewish, Russian or marble rye. You could also try preparing the rye bread from scratch.
- Thousand Island salad dressing: While nontraditional, we love the added flavor that Thousand Island salad dressing gives a patty melt. You could make your own Thousand Island-style sauce or buy a bottled version at the store.
- Horseradish: This root vegetable-turned-condiment adds a little extra zip that accents the subtle bite of the sweet onion.
- Cheese: To make a traditional patty melt recipe, opt for Swiss cheese or your favorite American cheese slices.
- Seasonings: Nothing fancy here. A dash of salt and a dash of pepper are all you need to perfectly season the patties before grilling them.
Directions
Step 1: Saute the onion
In a large nonstick skillet, saute the onion slices in 1 tablespoon butter until tender. Transfer the onion to a small bowl and keep warm.
Step 2: Cook the burgers
Shape the beef into two oval patties, and season the patties with salt and pepper on both sides. Then, in the same skillet where the onions were sauteed, cook the patties over medium heat for three to four minutes on each side until the juices run clear. Remove and keep warm.
Editor’s Tip: The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F. You can test your patties for doneness with an instant-read thermometer.
Step 3: Toast the bread
Spread the remaining butter over one side of each slice of bread. Then, place the bread slices in the pan, buttered side down. Toast until lightly browned.
Step 4: Assemble and serve the patty melts
In a small bowl or ramekin, combine the Thousand Island salad dressing and the prepared horseradish.
To assemble the patty melts, on one slice of bread, toasted side down, layer a slice of cheese, a beef patty, half the onions and 1 tablespoon dressing mixture. Top with a second slice of toast. Then, repeat this process to make the second sandwich. Serve warm.
Editor’s Tip: If necessary, return the assembled patty melts to your skillet to rewarm them. One to two minutes per side over medium-low heat should do the trick.
Recipe Variations
- Try it with cheddar: While Swiss cheese and American are traditional, you can choose any type of cheese you enjoy for a patty melt. A slice of extra sharp cheddar is one of our favorites.
- Omit the horseradish: If horseradish recipes aren’t your favorite thing, you can omit horseradish from this sandwich. Consider swapping in mayonnaise or your favorite zippy mustard.
- Add other toppings: You can doctor up your patty melts with other tasty toppings. Sauteed garlic mushrooms or bell peppers, pickles, jalapenos, a fried egg or crisp bacon would all be delicious.
How to Store Patty Melts
Patty melts are best enjoyed as soon as they are cooked and assembled. If you have leftovers, they may be refrigerated for two or three days in an airtight food storage container. To reheat, warming the melt in a skillet is best since it will crisp up the toasted bread again. Warm the patty melt over medium heat until the cheese is melted and the sandwich is heated all the way through.
Patty Melt Tips
What kind of bread do you use for patty melts?
Rye bread is the classic choice for patty melts. However, in the southern United States, you will sometimes see these melts made with sourdough or Texas toast. Choose the bread you enjoy that has a bit of structure, as super-soft sandwich breads may not hold up as well.
What’s the best spread to use to toast a patty melt?
When learning how to make a patty melt, butter is a great spread to use to toast the bread, but mayo is another great option. Spread it over your bread before toasting, and you’ll end up with crispy, flavorful toast.
What do you serve with patty melts?
An old-fashioned patty melt needs nothing more than a side of your favorite french fries. Try air-fryer potato wedges, garlic-chive baked fries or copycat animal-style fries. If fries are not your thing, you can also serve a patty melt with a garden salad, cottage cheese or your favorite homemade potato salad recipe.
