These simple 8 ingredient patty melts feature tons of melty cheese and juicy burger patties. This unique sandwich takes the signature flavors of french onion soup and turns it into a delicious, golden brown grilled cheese sandwich with double patties. This classic diner sandwich with a twist can be cooked either outside on the grill or inside on the stove and if cooking inside, only requires 2 pans making clean up simple.
A good patty melt needs a few things, good quality bread, a melty slice of cheese (or slices), a juicy burger and in this case, flavorful, caramelized onions. This classic patty melt is perfect to serve as a quick and easy weeknight dinner and can also be delicious to make when hosting friends or family for a football Sunday party. It is versatile because you can either cook this recipe on the grill or inside using a frying pan. It is also great to serve as a delicious lunch on the weekends.
This was inspired by my Smashburger recipe on this site and pairs well with this fiesta corn dip.
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Ingredients
Ground beef is the source of the juicy beef patty that is covered in provolone cheese. Provolone cheese is the best choice because it melts evenly and is very mild but a slice of swiss cheese can also be used to add a little extra flavor. The onions are caramelized in olive oil or butter. Fresh bread is important for the structure and texture of the sandwich. The sauce is a combination of mayonnaise and steak sauce for an added creaminess.
- ground beef
- yellow onion
- olive oil
- artisan bread
- provolone cheese
- mayonnaise
- A1 steak sauce
- salt and pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: Thinly slice an onion. Over medium heat, cook the onions in olive oil until caramelized.
- Step 2: Form the ground beef into patties. Cook on the grill on medium-high heat about 3-5 minutes. Flip the burgers and top with cheese. Cook another 3-5 minutes.
- Step 3: Spread mayonnaise on the outside of each piece of bread. Place a slice of bread on a pan on medium heat. Add two slices of cheese and add another slice of bread on top. Cook about 3 minutes on each side until cheese is melted and bread is toasted.
- Step 4: In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and A1 steak sauce. Pull the slices of bread apart. Spread the sauce on one slice of bread. Add two patties. Top with onions. Top with second slice of toasted bread. Cut in half and serve.
Hint: for best results, use a freshly baked bread such as an Italian loaf, rye bread or fresh sourdough bread.
Substitutions
- Bread - use gluten free bread instead of artisan or white bread to make this gluten free
- Mayonnaise - use butter to toast the bread if mayonnaise is not accessible
- Vegetarian - the beef hamburger can be replaced with a plant-based burger to make this vegetarian
Variations
- Spicy - add hot sauce to the steak sauce mixture for added flavor. Add red pepper flakes to the patties for extra heat in the dish
- Crispy - add crispy onions instead of caramelized onions
- Deluxe - use gruyere cheese on top of the patties to elevate the dish
- Burger - use burger buns instead of bread for a french onion burger
See this French Onion Burger version on my website!
Equipment
To create this recipe, use a gas grill. To cook the onions and toast the bread use a frying pan. A sharp knife and cutting board are needed to slice the onions and a small mixing bowl is needed to create the sauce.
How to Store a French Onion Patty Melt
Store the wet ingredients (burger, onion) separately from the dry ingredients (bread) in an airtight container in the fridge, and recombine and reheat when ready. Good for 2-3 days. Bread is best when toasted fresh.
These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.
Top tip
Share something here that you think is key to making this recipe well, such as: Don't overcook the burgers! Sear the outside and cook to a minimum internal temperature, but they should still be juicy for best results.
FAQ
Ground beef patties using an 80/20 blend of meat to far ratio is prefer. Fat means flavor so 80/20 is definitely the preferred blend.
Each sandwich will use double patties which means two patties for each sandwich if using artisan bread. If using regular sandwich bread just use one thin patty.
The main difference is the pieces of bread used. In a burger, typically a burger bun is used while in a patty melt artisan or sandwich bread slices are used. It is more similar to a grilled cheese sandwich with burger patties.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this patty melt:
📖 Recipe
French Onion Patty Melt Recipe with Caramelized Onion
Equipment
- 1 gas grill
- 1 Frying Pan
- 1 Small Mixing Bowl
- 1 sharp knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 slices artisan bread
- 8 slices provolone cheese
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon A1 steak sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Thinly slice an onion. Over medium heat, cook the onions in olive oil until caramelized.
- Form the ground beef into patties. Cook on the grill on medium-high heat about 3-5 minutes. Flip the burgers and top with cheese. Cook another 3-5 minutes.
- Spread mayonnaise on the outside of each piece of bread. Place a slice of bread on a pan on medium heat. Add two slices of cheese and add another slice of bread on top. Cook about 3 minutes on each side until cheese is melted and bread is toasted.
- In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and A1 steak sauce. Pull the slices of bread apart. Spread the sauce on one slice of bread. Add two patties. Top with onions. Top with second slice of toasted bread. Cut in half and serve.
Notes
- patty melts can be completely cooked on one frying pan.
- save leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- reheat before serving leftovers.
Nutrition
If you have any questions about how to make these patty melts or need other sandwich recipe suggestions, leave a comment below!
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