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    Home / Lunch / Classic Patty Melt

    Classic Patty Melt

    A juicy beef patty and caramelized onions are layered with melted Swiss cheese between buttered rye bread and griddled until golden.

    ⏱ 15 minPrep time
    🔥 25 minCook time
    🍽 4Servings
    🏷 LunchCategory
    ☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
    Classic Patty Melt sandwich with melted Swiss cheese and caramelized onions on toasted rye bread

    The patty melt is believed to have been created in the 1940s or 1950s at American diners, combining the flavors of a burger with a grilled cheese sandwich. Served on rye bread with caramelized onions and melted Swiss cheese, it became a beloved diner staple by the mid-20th century, especially popular in the American West.

    Burger meets grilled cheese on grilled rye

    A juicy beef patty and caramelized onions are layered with melted Swiss cheese between buttered rye bread and griddled until golden.

    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Melt butter in a skillet and cook the onions over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 15-20 minutes.
    2. Shape the beef into 4 oval patties and season with salt and pepper.
    3. Cook the patties in a skillet 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through. Set aside.
    4. Butter one side of each bread slice.
    5. Assemble sandwiches with cheese, a patty, caramelized onions, and more cheese between the bread, butter-side out.
    6. Griddle 3-4 minutes per side until golden and the cheese is melted.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Caramelizing the onions low and slow is worth the wait — rushing them with high heat won't achieve the same sweet, deep flavor. Press down gently on the sandwich while it griddles for even browning.

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    Recipe details

    Prep15 min
    Cook25 min
    Servings4
    CategoryLunch
    PublishedAugust 12, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

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