Sometimes I get in a nostalgic foodie moment and I want favorites from my childhood. Patty melts are one of those favorites. I distinctly remember the first time I had a patty melt. My grandma had picked me and big brother up from school and treated us out to an early dinner. She ordered a patty melt and, naturally, I followed her lead and ordered one as well. Welp, that was the start of something special. My mind was blown at how this thin burger-like item could be so simple yet so distinctly memorable. The cheese, the sautéed onions, the toasted bread I loved it all!
Flash forward a few years later and I still have my patty melt cravings. Patty melts put a fun and delicious spin on family night or a much-awaited cheat meal. Patty melts are flattened grilled ground beef patties that are loaded with sautéed onions, melted cheese, and sauce of some sort. My secret ingredients to the perfect patty melt? Ranch dressing mix and thousand island dressing. Sounds a bit weird but you will love it.
Spicy Sautéed Onions
One of the most necessary ingredients of your patty melt is the sautéed onions. Sautéed onions are pretty easy to make and require two main ingredients, sliced onions and oil. In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add sliced onions to skillet, quickly stirring to coat onions with oil. Sprinkle with cayenne pepper and red crushed pepper flakes. Cook for 15 -20 minutes stirring often until onions are tender and slightly caramelized. Set onions aside until it is time to assemble the patty melt sandwich
Beef Patties
Next move on to seasoning your ground beef. I usually use my hands to mix the seasonings well into the meat but do what best fits your comfort level. Proceed to roll the seasoned meat into 8 even sized balls of meat. Place meat on medium-high heated griddle while flattening meat with a griddle press, spatula, or heavy pot. The goal is to make your patties as flat as possible. Be sure to flip at least once while cooking. Cook patties 2-3 minutes on each side or until desired doneness.
Generously spread both sides of sandwich bread with thousand island dressing then load with cooked patty, sautéed onions, and sliced cheese. I tend to use Colby Jack cheese, but I also like using swiss or provolone. Feel free to use the cheese of your choice.
Place the sandwich on an electric or stovetop griddle to toast both sides of the patty melt. Once both sides are toasted, serve with French fries and enjoy!
I paired this greasy and cheese filled sandwich with a nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon!
I am so excited for you to try this recipe! Love this recipe as much as I do? Please share with your friends and family!
Ingredients
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Main Ingredients
- Seasoning/Spices
Instructions
- In a medium sized skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
- Once oil begins to heat, add sliced onions. Immediately stir so that onions are coated with oil.
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Cook for 15 minutes stirring often.
- Sprinkle onions with red crush peppers and cayenne pepper.
- Reduce heat to low and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until onions are tender and slightly caramelized. Set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, add ground beef, ranch, garlic powder, minced onions, ground black pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic cloves.
- Mix with hands until seasoning evenly distributed.
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Roll seasoned ground beef into 8 golf ball sized meat balls.
- Place rolled meat onto griddle over high heat. Flatten each meat ball with griddle press or spatula. Aim to make the patty as flat as possible.
- Cook each patty for 3-4 minutes on each side or until cooked to desired doneness. Set cooked patties aside.
- Lather both sides of each sandwich bread with long island dressing.
- Assemble sandwiches as follows: Bread, cheese, sautéed onions, patty, top with bread.
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Place patty melt sandwich on cleaned or new griddle. Over medium heat, toast sandwich by cooking for 3-4 minutes on each side. Serve warm and enjoy.
