Description
Cheesy patty melts with secret sauce invite home cooks to experience a classic diner sandwich elevated with rich flavors. Melted cheese, caramelized onions, and zesty sauce create a mouthwatering meal you’ll crave time and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 8 slices Swiss or cheddar cheese
- 8 slices rye or sourdough bread
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 4 tbsps unsalted butter (for grilling sandwiches)
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp pickle relish (sweet or dill)
- 1 tsp sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp salt
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions, salt, and optional sugar. Gently cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, reducing heat if browning too quickly. Set aside the golden, sweet onions.
- Prepare Patties and Secret Sauce: Mix ground beef with Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Form four thin patties matching bread size. In a separate bowl, whisk secret sauce ingredients, adjusting seasoning to taste. Sear patties in a hot skillet for 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through.
- Assemble Melts: Spread secret sauce on bread slices. Layer each sandwich with cheese, cooked patty, caramelized onions, and another cheese slice. Top with the remaining sauce-coated bread.
- Grill and Serve: Butter sandwich exteriors. Grill on a medium-heat skillet, pressing gently with a spatula until bread turns crispy golden-brown and cheese melts creamily. Cook 3-4 minutes per side. Slice diagonally and serve hot with extra secret sauce, optionally accompanied by fries or salad.
Notes
- Caramelize Onions Carefully: Slow cook onions on medium-low heat to develop rich, sweet flavor without burning. Stir frequently and adjust temperature to prevent scorching.
- Patty Thickness Matters: Create thin, even patties that match bread size for consistent cooking and perfect sandwich structure. Press gently to maintain loose meat texture.
- Control Cheese Melt: Use medium heat when grilling to ensure cheese melts completely without burning bread. Cover skillet briefly if cheese needs extra melting time.
- Sauce Balance is Key: Taste and adjust secret sauce ingredients incrementally. Start with small amounts of strong flavors like garlic or spices, then gradually blend for harmonious taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg