This mouthwatering good Classic Patty Melt combines beef patties grilled to perfection with plenty of sweet melt-in-your-mouth caramelized onions, homemade thousand island dressing, and plenty of melted Swiss cheese. The flavor is even better than the old diners and dives that your parents took you to.
When I was a kid, the patty melt was a standard at the local dinners Mom and Dad took us to. I remember the sweet smell of the onions and beef searing on the grill. This recipe will bring back all kinds of wonderful memories and good times. You are going to love every ounce of this sandwich. You can prepare it with or without onions, but the true classic always comes with grilled onions. For even more fun diner nostalgia, serve with Beer Battered Onion Rings or Easy Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
How do you make a Classic Patty Melt?
Start by slicing some sweet onions. Next, grab a good-sized skillet and, over medium to medium-low heat, melt a few tablespoons of butter. Now add those onions and cook over the heat stirring every couple of minutes or so. However, do not stir them all the time, as you want them to brown up a bit. Once cooked to a golden brown and caramelized, remove them from the skillet and cover to keep warm.
Meanwhile, mix a little Worcestershire Sauce, salt, and pepper into the ground beef. Next, shape the beef into four burger patties and add to the skillet by scooting the onions over. Now cook those patties over medium-high heat until they are nicely browned on both sides and cooked through.
Then assemble the sandwiches to be grilled. First, spread each slice of bread with a little bit of thousand island dressing. Top each of the pieces of bread with a slice of Swiss cheese and position the cooked patties in the middle. Then add a heaping spoonful of the cooked onions to each patty. Next, bring the slices of bread together to form four sandwiches. Butter the tops of the sandwiches and place butter side down in the preheated skillet over medium/low heat. Now butter the tops of the sandwiches and cover the pan with aluminum foil but stay close by to check on them. Finally, once browned on the bottom, flip and brown the other side.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Use bakery-quality sourdough bread, rye bread, or Texas toast.
- If you have a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, these melts cook up great in them.
- Stir the onions but not too frequently. Every few minutes or so will do the trick, as you want those onions to soften and brown on the edges. It can take up to 30-40 minutes to caramelize onions.
- Are you under time constraints? If so, use your favorite bottled thousand island dressing.
- If you don’t like Swiss Cheese, try cheddar cheese or American cheese.
- Preheat the pan before adding the hamburger patty and sear those juices in.
- The melts are best served right out of the pan or off the grill while the cheese is melted, and the bread is warm, buttery, and toasty.
What is the difference between a cheeseburger and a patty melt?
A cheeseburger is a cooked patty that is topped with cheese and placed between a soft bun that may or may not be toasted. It may also be loaded with toppings like bacon, pickles, tomatoes, or lettuce. While a patty melt is a cooked patty that is topped with onions and cheese on rye bread, and then it is toasted on a griddle to melted perfection.
What bread is best for patty melts?
My two favorites are sourdough bread and rye bread. However, there are many more types of bread that are hearty enough for this sandwich, and they grill up well. You might like ciabatta, multigrain, whole wheat, pumpernickel, or white sandwich bread.
More ground beef recipes you will love!
PrintClassic Patty Melt
One of our favorite sandwich recipes that brings back old-world diner charm with grilled onions, Swiss Cheese, and a homemade thousand island dressing.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches
- Category: main meal beef
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (I like Dukes)
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon grated onion
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 large onion cut in half and then sliced
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 8 slices rye bread or sourdough
- 8 thick slices Swiss cheese (preferably Baby Swiss)
- Butter
- Pickles (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, grated onion, pickle relish, and paprika.
- Place 2 tablespoons butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until golden brown, approximately 10-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Plate the onions and cover to keep warm. For more caramelization, cook longer.
- Mix ground beef, Worcestershire Sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Divide into four equal portions and form patties. Preheat the skillet and cook over medium heat until golden brown and cooked through, flipping halfway through the cooking process.
- Spread a little more than 1 tablespoon of dressing on each slice of bread. Place a piece of Swiss Cheese on each slice of bread. Add browned onions and one beef patty to four of the slices. Top with the remaining slices to form four sandwiches.
- Butter the top side of the bread and place butter side down in a skillet over medium-low heat and cook until golden brown. Butter the other side of the bread before flipping. Flip and brown the other side until golden brown and the cheese is melted. It is helpful to cover the skillet with aluminum foil while it is browning.
Notes
- Use bakery-quality sourdough bread, rye bread, or Texas toast.
- If you have a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, these melts cook up great in them.
- Stir the onions but not too frequently. Every few minutes or so will do the trick, as you want those onions to soften and brown on the edges. It can take up to 30-40 minutes to caramelize onions.
- Are you under time constraints? If so, use your favorite bottled thousand island dressing.
- If you don’t like Swiss Cheese, try cheddar cheese or American cheese.
- Preheat the pan before adding the hamburger patty and sear those juices in.
- The melts are best served right out of the pan or off the grill while the cheese is melted and the bread is warm, buttery, and toasty.
Keywords: how to make a patty melt, what is a patty melt, best patty melt recipe, homemade patty melt, patty melt sauce
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Bernadette
These were delicious, my hubby was raving all night! Thank you!
★★★★★
Bedabrata Chakraborty
The Patty Melt recipe is most yummy. But the easy thousand island dressing has my heart! It’s so convenient!
★★★★★
Jennifer L Prince
That bread makes the whole thing look so delicious! It’s a much better upgrade than just a classic bun. Yum!
Ntensibe Edgar
This is the exact meal I wanna have for my lunch today. A melt like this is what we need for special days. Thanks for the recipe.
Brianna
I’m saving this, it looks sooo good!!! I haven’t had a patty melt in years!
Alita Pacio
This is a 10 out of 10 recipe. Best patty melt I have ever had!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Alita! So glad that you enjoyed it!
Elise Ho
You can never go wrong with a classic. Plus you can even give the classics a modern twist.
★★★★★
Monidipa
I love how your Classic Patty Melt recipe takes a simple sandwich to the next level with the perfect combination of flavors and textures. The melted Swiss cheese and caramelized onions are a game-changer!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
I could not agree more!
wilhelmina
This is one of my favorite sandwiches! Something about the combination of toasty bread and buttery onions with the hamburger just makes my heart go pitter patter!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Mine too!
Bryan Carey
Patty melts are one of my most commonly ordered sandwiches when I go out to eat. I like that your recipe doesn’t add mushrooms and sticks with the more classic patty melt ingredients.
★★★★★
Kimberley
This patty melt recipe looks delicious and reminds me of classic diner food. I can almost taste the juicy beef patty, melted cheese, and caramelized onions! Can’t wait to try making this at home and enjoy it with some crispy fries. Yum!
★★★★★
Nyxie
This looks amazing! I would kill for something like this right now. I’ve just told my husband it’s time to make dinner and then this pops up, and I don’t believe it’s a conincidence.
Linda
This was excellent! Thank you for sharing your recipe. We loved it.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Linda!
Stacy Lane
This was so delicious!!!!! Best sandwich I have ever made.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Stacy! I am happy that you loved it!
Meyia
Amazing! All 5 of my kids loved their patty melts! Ages 19-3yo! Thanks 😉
Beth Pierce
Awesome. So glad to hear it! It can be difficult to please some kids.
Tweenselmom
This was soo yum! My kids would loved this classic patty melt 🙂 Thanks for the great recipe.
★★★★★
Rose Ann Sales
Wow! This was absolutely delicious! This is the best patty melt I have had in quite some time.
Bryan
Patty melts are one of my favorite sandwiches! Next to burgers, this is what I order most frequently when I dine out
Tonya
This is the best homemade thousand island I’ve ever eaten.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Tonya! So happy that you like it.
jill goebel
Yes it was the best.. My family of 6 loved it.. Best sauce ever!!!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Jill!
Grammasue
I make Patty Melts all the time (or.. rather… once every three months..) I love them. I have not made your homemade Thousand Island sauce yet but will next time.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it!!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
So delicious! Thank you for this amazing recipe!
★★★★★
Kim Guzman
Tried this last night. Those onions were such a temptation. I snuck some of them before I had a chance to put the sandwich together. Of course, I tried with Swiss cheese first but I look forward to trying again with other cheeses to try different tastes. Thank you for the tasty recipe!
★★★★★
Chenée
Haven’t had a patty melt in forever! I can’t wait to make this — it looks like the the ultimate classic comfort meal.
★★★★★
Toni
This was SO good!! My kids really loved it! Thank you for the recipe!
★★★★★
Sara
Now that is what I call a gourmet sandwich! So easy and delicious; the perfect comfort food!
★★★★★
Michelle Boule
A patty melt sounds so good right now. I used to love getting these at our local diner. Can’t wait to try this at home too!
★★★★★
Dionne
You won’t believe it but I have never made patty melt at home before. Really excited to finally give it a try!
★★★★★
Saif
Oh my God this patty melt looks so mouthwatering. Perfect to add with slices of tomatoes and lettuce, and served it with fries. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
★★★★★
Sumit
Absolutely lovely … Reading all this made me hungry for this sandwich.
★★★★★
veenaazmanov
This is surely mouth melting delicious. Love the toasted crispiness on the outside and the cheesy and gooey texture and juicy on the inside. Look so tempting too.
★★★★★
Megan Lehr
Wow! I’ve been looking for something that tasted just like the one I had when I was young and this hit the spot!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
That’s great Megan! So glad that you liked it!!
Gail Montero
This looks absolutely yummy. I need to try this soon! So hungry now!
★★★★★
Katherine
Yum! All the best things melted together!
★★★★★
Jen
This sandwich is always a hit in our home! So delicious!!
★★★★★
Mirlene
WOW!!! I am so drooling over this melt. I cannot wait to make this.
★★★★★
Alisa Infanti
This was so good… Love the caramelized onions on this!
★★★★★
Katie
Simple and delicious! Can’t wait to try this one with my family.
★★★★★
Valentina
Love this delicious and EASY patty melt! Such a great lunch idea!
★★★★★
katerina
One of my faves! I am so excited to try this! It looks SO GOOD!
★★★★★
Elaine
The perfect recipe for when you try to learn an easy way to make patty melt. As easy as it is classic – great to save and keep handy!
★★★★★
Jessica Formicola
That melty cheese is calling my name! This is one of my favorite sandwiches and I can’t wait to try this recipe!
★★★★★
Chris Collins
I’ve never actually tried a patty melt before but I’ll definitely be trying this cheesy goodness soon 🙂
★★★★★
Lisa Huff
Patty Melts are a family favorite around here. This one looks PERFECT! Love the idea of using sourdough instead of rye. Delicious!
★★★★★
Alina
This is so good and hearty for breakfast! I love the easy recipe with simple ingreadient that turn into comforting food.
★★★★★
Noelle
This made for the perfect dinner yesterday! My whole family loved it, going to have to make this classic more often 🙂
★★★★★
Michelle Goth
I’ve never made a patty melt at home. This was super easy and SO GOOD. We will be making it a bunch this winter. Thank you so much!
★★★★★
Katie
My mouth is watering just thinking about this. Can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
Rachael Yerkes
hello lunch! This is bomb! I love the simplicity while still being so dang good to eat!
★★★★★
Emily Liao
Oh my this patty melt is so delicious and full of flavor! And yet so easy to make. Will definitely make again for memorial day perhaps!
★★★★★
Anjali
Omg this is comfort food at its best!! Super satisfying and delicious!
★★★★★
Jeannette
Wow. Just wow. This is exactly the kind of food I need right now! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful comforting dish. Love how toasty the bread gets!
★★★★★
wilhelmina
There is just nothing better than a good patty melt! The onions, the melty cheese, the toasty bread – perfection!
★★★★★
Ashley F
Such a great sandwich to make at home! It’s so tasty!
★★★★★
Eileen Kelly
I grew up in diners in NYC and this patty melt is awesome. The burger is seasoned so well and it brings me right back to my fond childhood memories
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Eileen! So glad that you liked it!!
Julia
This patty melt looks like a heaven to me! I am putting double amount of cheese 🙂
★★★★★
Vicky
This sandwich looks better than anything at a restaurant! Down right mouth watering!
★★★★★
Kelly Anthony
This classic patty melt is making my mouth water and wishing I had a bit now. I know what is on the menu for this weekend.
★★★★★
Biana
This sounds so good! The burger, the cheese, the onions — what a fabulous combination of ingredients.
★★★★★
mimi rippee
I’ve never had a patty melt! My husband would probably love it because this is the kind of food he was raised on. He wouldn’t like the mayo part (it’s always something) but overall he’ll be excited!
Sandra VonAlma
I am going to make this on the weekend. It looks absolutely delicious. Thank you. *****
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Sandra! I hope you enjoy it!!
Lisa
I have NEVER heard of this before but it sounds like heaven ???
Thank you for sharing!
Soniya
Yum! This looks and sounds so delicious! Can’t wait to make it.
Ashley
Such a comforting winter’s night sandwich!!! We loved it!
★★★★★
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
This sandwich is just too good. My family loved it! Thanks so much.
★★★★★
Jen
Thank you for making me look like a rockstar in my husband’s eyes! He kept raving about how delicious this was. Definitely making this again and again.
★★★★★
Julia
You can’t go wrong with a good patty melt! 🙂
★★★★★
Katie
This was absolutely delicious & my husband LOVED it! Thank you for the recipe!
★★★★★
Erin
Oh, my! Love me a patty melt! Thanks for reminding me how delicious they are! great recipe.
★★★★★
Krissy Allori
Man I just love a good patty melt. This one is amazing too. Comfort food in a sandwich form.
★★★★★
Shari Beck
Nothing better than a good patty melt. Didn’t use all the types cheese but was still delicious.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Shari! Yes I love a good patty melt to.
Natalie
Oh my goodness it came out so good. Even found the recipe to make caramelized onions correctly.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! I love caramelized onions. So delicious!
Bonnie
Classic Patty Melt was great, but it left us wanting more. Great Manwitch , My man said he had a hole in his plate and must have lost it on the way to the table. I had to make him another. He wants this for dinner tonight too. I can go for that. Definitely will go in my recipe box.
bpierce
Oh my! That is great! Love it!!!!!!