When you’re craving the ultimate comfort food, nothing satisfies quite like an indulgent patty melt sandwich. Loaded with a juicy beef patty, sweet caramelized onions, gooey melted cheese, and tangy secret sauce, this diner classic is decadent and delicious.
Making patty melts at home is a cinch and so worth it. With just 10 minutes of prep time, you’ll have crave-worthy melty sandwiches ready in under an hour. This easy recipe guides you through caramelizing onions and whipping up the secret sauce that takes this sandwich over the top.
Why This Patty Melt Recipe Rules
Here’s what makes this patty melt sandwich recipe stand out:
- Sweet, melty caramelized onions – Slow cooking sliced onions until they are golden and jammy takes the flavors up a major notch
- Two kinds of cheese make it extra decadent – Using both Swiss and cheddar gives you double the gooeyness
- Special secret sauce – A homemade blend of zesty mayo, ketchup, mustard, and spices makes for next-level flavor
- Satisfying yet easy to make – All the indulgent comfort with very little effort
So when a patty melt craving strikes, you’ll be ready to make everyone happy with this top-notch recipe.
Patty Melt with Secret Sauce
Indulge in diner-style comfort food at home with this easy patty melt recipe topped with melty cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and a zesty secret sauce.
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Servings: 4 sandwiches
Ingredients
For the Secret Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Patty Melts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large onions thinly sliced
- 12 ounces 85/15 lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 8 slices rye bread
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 4 Swiss cheese slices
- 4 cheddar cheese slices
Instructions
Make the Secret Sauce
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Whisk until fully blended and set aside.
Cook the Onion and Beef
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions. Cook for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are deeply golden brown and caramelized. If the onions start to stick, add a splash of water.
- In a bowl, mix together the ground beef, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Form into four thin, oval-shaped patties.
- Cook the patties in the same skillet over medium heat until browned, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
Assemble and Cook the Sandwiches
- Spread one side of each bread slice with softened butter.
- Layer the bottom bread slices buttered-side down with Swiss cheese, beef patty, caramelized onions, secret sauce, cheddar cheese, and top bread slice buttered-side up.
- Cook in batches in the skillet over medium heat until both sides are golden brown and the cheese is fully melted, about 1-2 minutes per side.
Storage
- Store leftover secret sauce covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
