Description
This patty melt recipe is the ultimate comfort food sandwich, combining juicy, well-seasoned beef patties, deeply caramelized onions, melted Swiss cheese, and crispy brioche bread. Perfect for lunch, dinner, or a hearty snack, it features a rich, hearty flavor profile with a slow-cooked touch for deeply sweet onions and perfectly melted cheese.
Ingredients
Beef
- 2 lbs 80/20 Ground Beef
- 1 tbsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tbsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
Caramelized Onions & Au Jus Broth
- 3 medium Yellow or White Onions, thinly sliced
- 1 quart Beef Broth
- ¼ cup White Wine
- 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 3 Thyme Sprigs
- 2 Bay Leaves
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp Canola Oil
- Chopped Parsley for garnish
Melt Assembly
- 6-8 slices Brioche Bread, thick cut
- 3 tbsp Garlic Mayonnaise
- 9-10 Swiss Cheese Slices
- 8 tbsp Butter
Instructions
- Preheat Grill and Prepare Onions: Preheat your grill to medium heat, about 300°F, for direct cooking. Place a Dutch oven over the heat for 2 minutes.
- Caramelize Onions: Add canola oil to the Dutch oven and then the thinly sliced onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cook slowly, stirring often, until the onions turn a deep brown color, approximately 45 minutes.
- Deglaze and Simmer Broth: Deglaze the pot with apple cider vinegar and white wine, simmering for 2-3 minutes. Add beef broth, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and strain onions from broth, keeping both warm.
- Form and Cook Patties: Mix ground beef with kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Form into patties gently. Grill or cook in a hot skillet until well-seared and cooked to preferred doneness.
- Prepare Bread and Assemble Sandwiches: Butter one side of each brioche bread slice. Spread garlic mayonnaise on the opposite side. Layer Swiss cheese, a beef patty, caramelized onions, and more Swiss cheese between bread slices (buttered side out).
- Cook Patty Melts: Cook sandwiches in a skillet over medium heat, flipping carefully until bread turns golden brown and cheese fully melts, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Serve and Garnish: Remove from heat, garnish with chopped parsley if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
- Caramelize onions slowly for best flavor and sweetness.
- You can prepare the caramelized onions a day ahead and reheat gently.
- 80/20 ground beef ratio is recommended for juiciness.
- Can substitute Swiss cheese with provolone or American cheese.
- Try adding sautéed mushrooms for extra savoriness.
- Garlic mayonnaise can be swapped with plain mayo or seasoned with mustard or hot sauce.
- Store leftovers in airtight containers separately; reheat beef and onions in a skillet before assembling.
- Use sourdough or rye bread instead of brioche if desired.
- Cook sandwiches over medium heat to avoid burning the bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
