Ohhh yes—Patty Melts are the ultimate diner classic 🧀🍔
Crispy bread, melty cheese, caramelized onions… and that secret sauce ties it all together.
Delicious Patty Melts with Secret Sauce
Ingredients
Secret Sauce
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¼ cup mayonnaise
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2 tbsp ketchup
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1 tbsp sweet relish
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1 tsp yellow mustard
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½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
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Pinch of garlic powder
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Pinch of paprika
Patty Melts
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1 lb ground beef (80/20 works best)
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Salt & black pepper
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1 large onion, thinly sliced
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2 tbsp butter (plus more for bread)
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8 slices rye bread
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4 slices Swiss cheese
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4 slices cheddar cheese
Instructions
1️⃣ Caramelize the onions
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Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat.
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Add onions and cook slowly 20–25 minutes, stirring often, until golden and sweet.
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Set aside.
2️⃣ Make the secret sauce
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Mix all sauce ingredients in a bowl.
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Chill while you cook—flavor gets better as it sits.
3️⃣ Cook the patties
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Form 4 thin oval patties (slightly bigger than bread).
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Season both sides with salt & pepper.
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Cook in a hot skillet 3–4 minutes per side. Remove.
4️⃣ Assemble
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Butter one side of each bread slice.
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On the unbuttered side:
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Spread secret sauce
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Add Swiss cheese
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Add patty
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Add caramelized onions
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Add cheddar cheese
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Top with second slice of bread (buttered side out)
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5️⃣ Grill
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Cook in skillet over medium heat 3–4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until bread is crispy and cheese melts.
Serve With
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Fries or onion rings
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Pickles on the side
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Extra secret sauce for dipping 😏
Pro Tips
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Rye is traditional, but sourdough works too.
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Low-and-slow onions are non-negotiable.
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Let the patty rest 1 minute before assembling.
If you want, I can:
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Make this extra diner-authentic
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Do a smash-style patty melt
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Turn the sauce into a Big Mac–style variation
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Share a baked oven method for cooking multiple at once