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Ultimate Patty Melt with Secret Sauce

A diner-style Ultimate Patty Melt made with juicy beef patties, caramelized onions, melted cheese, buttery grilled bread, and a creamy secret sauce. Classic comfort food done right.
Prep Time: 15 minutesCook Time: 25 minutesTotal Time: 40 minutes
Course: Main Course / SandwichCuisine: AmericanServings: 4 sandwichesCalories: ~690 kcal per sandwich
Print Recipe
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Patties
  • 1 lb ground beef 80/20
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • Caramelized Onions
  • 2 large yellow onions thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Bread & Cheese
  • 8 slices rye bread or sourdough/Texas toast
  • 8 slices Swiss cheese or American/cheddar
  • Softened butter for grilling
  • Secret Sauce
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp pickle relish optional
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp paprika

Method
 

  1. Caramelize onions
  2. Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium-low. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15–20 minutes until soft and deeply golden. Set aside.
  3. Form patties
  4. Shape beef into 4 thin oval patties slightly larger than the bread. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Cook patties
  6. Cook patties in the same skillet over medium-high for 2–3 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through. Remove and rest.
  7. Make secret sauce
  8. Stir all sauce ingredients together until smooth.
  9. Assemble
  10. Butter one side of each bread slice. On the unbuttered side, layer cheese, patty, onions, secret sauce, more cheese, then top with bread (buttered side out).
  11. Grill
  12. Cook sandwiches in a skillet over medium heat, flipping once, until bread is golden and cheese is melted.
  13. Serve
  14. Slice and serve hot.