A diner classic, Patty Melts are made with very thin, oval shaped burger patties, and served on thin grilled rye bread, with caramelized onion, and Swiss cheese. Just amazingly delicious!

Classic Patty Melt

Patty melts have been around forever and are a classic diner food, but I don't hear much about them anymore. I happen to love them though and what's not to love? A thin burger - read that again, thin burger - on grilled rye with caramelized onion, sandwiched between melted cheese - it's pretty much good ole comfort food.  When's the last time you had one?

Now, from what I know, a classic patty melt is supposed to be made only with Swiss cheese, as in the above picture, but The Cajun prefers his with good ole American cheese.  Some would say that is all wrong. I don't know...

Sure looks good to me. So I say, use whatever cheese makes you happy. Here's how to make them.

If you think this sounds yummy, I'd sure ♥ it if you'd click to pin it, tweet it, stumble it, or share it on Facebook to help spread the word - thanks!

Pin It

Share

Recipe: Classic Patty Melt

©From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish

Prep time: 20 min |Cook time: 20 min |

Yield: 4 servings

Add this recipe to ZipList!

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 pounds of ground chuck
• 1 large Vidalia or yellow onion, halved and sliced
• 1 tablespoon of canola or vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter, plus additional softened butter for the bread slices
• 4 slices of Swiss cheese, or your favorite sliced cheese
• 8 slices of rye bread
• Special Sauce, optional {recipe below}
• Garlic salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray. Shape the meat into four oval shaped patties, place on the pan and put into the freezer for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter in a cast iron skillet. Add the onion and cook over medium high, stirring regularly, for about 5 minutes or until softened. Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking, stirring regularly, until caramelized, about 15-20 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the onion; set aside.

Sprinkle the meat patties with the garlic salt and pepper. Place into the same skillet, seasoning side down, and turn the heat back up to medium high. Cook until the patties are well browned on the underside, and mostly cooked through. Flip, scatter onions on top and place a slice of cheese on top of the onions. Cover with a lid and move off of the heat source to let the cast iron finish cooking through. If you are not using cast iron, you'll need to keep the burgers over direct heat until cooked through.

Generously butter one side of all of the bread slices. Place, butter side down into a fresh large non-stick skillet and place a slice of cheese on top of each slice of bread. Cook the bread until well browned on the underside. Top each bread slice with one of the meat patties and add some of the special sauce, if using. Top with a slice of buttered bread, butter side out, and carefully turn over to brown the other side, gently pressing down.  Cook until well browned, transfer to serving plates and cut on a slight diagonal. Serve immediately.

Special Sauce (aka Thousand Island Dressing)
©From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish

• 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon of ketchup
• 1/2 tablespoon of sweet pickle relish
• Pinch of sugar
• Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

Combine and refrigerate until needed.

Source: http://deepsouthdish.com

PRINT THIS Requires Adobe Reader - download it free!

©Deep South Dish

☛ Are you on Facebook? If you haven't already, come and join the party! We have a lot of fun & there's always room for one more at the table.

Check These Recipes Out Too!

Homemade Beef Sliders
Creole Smothered Steak
Southern Style Country Steak

Posted by Mary on July 25, 2010

Images and Full Post Content including Recipe ©Deep South Dish. Pinning and sharing links is welcomed and encouraged, but please do not repost or republish elsewhere such as other blogs, websites, or forums without explicit prior permission. All rights reserved.

Material Disclosure: Unless otherwise noted, you should assume that post links to the providers of goods and services mentioned, establish an affiliate relationship and/or other material connection and that I may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. You are never under any obligation to purchase anything when using my recipes and you should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.

.