Description
This classic patty melt recipe combines caramelized onions, flavorful ground beef patties, and melted Swiss cheese between toasted sandwich bread for a deliciously satisfying sandwich. Cooked on the stovetop in a cast-iron skillet, it features tender onions infused with a touch of apple cider vinegar and perfectly seared beef patties, making it an irresistible comfort food favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Onions
- 1 sweet yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Beef Patties
- 8 ounces 90/10 ground beef
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sandwich
- 4 slices sandwich bread
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- Mustard, optional
Instructions
- Cook the onions: In a large cast-iron skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook slowly for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they turn golden brown and caramelized. Towards the end of cooking, add the apple cider vinegar for a subtle tangy flavor. Remove the onions from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook the patties: Shape the ground beef into patties and season both sides with salt and black pepper. Using the same cast-iron skillet, cook the patties over medium heat for approximately 3 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Remove the patties from the skillet and keep warm.
- Butter your bread: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Coat one side of each slice of sandwich bread evenly with melted butter. This will help toast the bread nicely during cooking.
- Build your sandwiches in the skillet: Place the bread slices butter-side-down in the skillet. On each slice, layer a slice of Swiss cheese, then a cooked beef patty, followed by a generous portion of caramelized onions, another slice of Swiss cheese, and top with another slice of bread, buttered side up. Optionally, spread mustard on the bread before assembling for extra flavor.
- Cook the sandwiches: Toast the assembled sandwiches over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes per side. Cook slowly to ensure the cheese melts thoroughly as the bread turns golden brown and crisp. Press gently with a spatula if desired to help ingredients meld together.
- Serve: Remove the sandwiches from the skillet, slice them in half, and serve warm to enjoy the melty, savory goodness right away.
Notes
- Using a cast-iron skillet helps achieve even caramelization and a nice crust on the bread and meat.
- Be patient with the onions to fully develop their natural sweetness.
- For extra flavor, spread a thin layer of mustard inside the sandwich before cooking.
- Use 90/10 ground beef for a good balance of flavor and fat without being too greasy.
- To save time, caramelized onions can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
