Description
Sink your teeth into the ultimate comfort food with these Patty Melts with Secret Sauce — a crave-worthy combination of juicy beef patties, golden crispy bread, melted cheese, and caramelized onions, all tied together with a tangy, savory secret sauce. Perfect for quick lunches, weeknight dinners, or indulgent weekend bites, this easy recipe brings classic diner vibes straight to your kitchen. Whether you’re searching for dinner ideas, a hearty sandwich, or an easy recipe with serious flavor, this one delivers every time.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
8 slices rye or sourdough bread
8 slices American cheese
2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
2 tbsp unsalted butter (plus more for toasting bread)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, relish, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Set aside or refrigerate.
2. Heat 2 tbsp butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add sliced onions and cook for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally until deeply caramelized. Set aside.
3. Divide the beef into 4 equal portions. Shape into thin, wide patties slightly larger than the bread slices. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
4. In the same skillet, cook the patties over medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes per side, or until cooked through and browned. Remove and set aside.
5. Lay out 8 slices of bread. Spread secret sauce on one side of each slice. On four slices, layer a slice of cheese, a beef patty, caramelized onions, another slice of cheese, and top with another slice of bread (sauce side facing in).
6. Butter the outer sides of the sandwich. Heat a clean skillet over medium heat. Cook sandwiches for 3–4 minutes per side, pressing down slightly, until golden brown and cheese is melted.
7. Remove from skillet, let rest for a minute, then slice diagonally and serve hot with extra sauce or a side of fries.
Notes
1. Caramelizing the onions slowly is key to deep, sweet flavor—don’t rush this step.
2. Butter both outer slices of bread for that perfect golden crunch.
3. To prevent soggy bread, toast on low heat so the cheese fully melts without burning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 50g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: patty melt, easy dinner, diner-style sandwich, grilled cheese, secret sauce