Enjoy a juicy, cheesy, grilled Patty Melt at home! This classic diner sandwich is easy to make with fresh ground beef, caramelized onions, and melty swiss cheese.

There’s just something amazing about classic American diner food. Sandwiches like Patty Melts and Tuna Melts are really quite simple but made in a way that makes you feel warm and fuzzy and nostalgic inside.

What is a Patty Melt?

I don’t know if it’s the slow-sauteed caramelized onions or the generous amount of melty Swiss cheese that makes a patty melt amazing. Maybe it’s the juicy burger, pan-seared to perfection, or the buttery, toasty rye bread.

Probably, it’s all of these delicious things put together in one perfect patty melt sandwich!

Don’t worry, I’m about to show you exactly how to make the best Patty Melt at home, and it will be just as magical as the one served at your favorite sandwich shop.

And if you really love burgers, be sure to check out my Juicy Lucy cheeseburger recipe. It’s another diner favorite, featuring a hamburger that is stuffed and gooey with melty American cheese.

And for the vegans or vegetarians in your life, make them some of my delicious Bhaji Burgers, packed with Indian spiced veggies.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. A Classic Sandwich – Everyone loves this crispy sandwich with melty cheese and a freshly made burger patty inside.
2. Caramelized Onions– The thing that makes a patty melt really special is the slowly caramelized onions in every bite. They are savory and sweet and pair perfectly with beef and Swiss cheese.
3. Versatile Recipe – It’s easy to change up the ingredients in this recipe to suit your preferences or to include what you have on hand. Just like at a restaurant, you can choose a different type of bread, another kind of cheese, or add toppings like horseradish sauce or even ketchup!

Patty Melt Key Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this perfect sandwich:

• Rye Bread: This is the classic bread choice for a patty melt, but the recipe will work with other types too. Try dark pumpernickel bread, thick Texas toast, sourdough, or marble rye.
• Onions: Slice 2 yellow onions thinly and get ready to spend some time perfectly caramelizing the slices.
• Ground Beef: Each patty melt has a generous quarter pound of meat on it. I used ground chuck, but a leaner version will also work.
• Swiss Cheese: Sliced Swiss is added to the top and bottom of each sandwich to make a slightly messy, gooey, and perfect melt.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How To Make a Patty Melt

1. Caramelize the Onions: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and add the sliced onions. Cook, stirring occasionally for 2 minutes, then add a tablespoon of water and continue cooking and stirring. Add more water whenever the onions dry out. Keep going for about 15 minutes until the onions are soft and have reached a rich brown color. Remove the onions from the pan and set aside.

1. Cook the Patties: Season the beef with salt and pepper, then shape into balls and flatten it into burger patties. Heat a tablespoon of butter in the same skillet, season the patties again, and then add them to the pan. Press down with a spatula to flatten. Cook on one side for 2 minutes, or until a brown crust forms, then flip and cook on the other side for 1-2 minutes. Remove the burgers, and wipe down the pan with paper towels.
2. Toast the Bread: Spread softened butter and mayonnaise on one side of each piece of bread, and place the bread in the skillet. Toast for 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown. Butter the other side of the bread, flip, and cook for a minute, then reduce the heat on the pan to medium-low.
3. Assemble: To two of the pieces of bread, add two slices of cheese, a beef patty, caramelized onions, and two more slices of cheese. Cover with the other two slices of bread and allow the cheese to melt.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t Rush the Onions. It will take at least 15 minutes to get the onions to sweet caramelized perfection.
• Add More Cheese! Try using two types of cheese instead of just Swiss. Swiss plus American cheese is delicious, or you could add shredded cheddar or gruyere to the mix.
• Try Different Protein. Any type of ground meat will make a delicious patty melt. Use ground turkey, ground chicken, or vegan ground meat like Beyond Burger.
• I like to use both mayo and butter to get a delicious toasted crust on the bread, but you can also choose just one or the other.
• For extra flavor, rub a clove of garlic on the toast before assembling the sandwich.
• Add a Sauce: Horseradish sauce, Chick Fil A Sauce, Fry Sauce, or your favorite burger sauce will all be tasty here.

Storing Tips

A homemade patty melt sandwich is meant to be enjoyed just after making it! I don’t suggest trying to make it ahead of time, although you can make the caramelized onions up to 2 days ahead of time and store them in the fridge.

What To Serve With A Patty Melt

Potato chips or french fries are the traditional patty melt side offering. Try my homemade french fries, oven baked fries, or air fryer sweet potato fries.

For a healthier option, enjoy your sandwich with a salad, like my beet salad or a simple tossed salad.

Recipe FAQs

There’s no need to go out to eat when you can make this classic, traditional patty melt recipe at home! Pin this recipe for the next time you’re looking to do something different with ground beef for dinner.