Oh yes—patty melts with a secret sauce are the ultimate comfort sandwich: crispy, cheesy, and savory with that tangy, creamy sauce. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Ingredients (for 2 sandwiches)
For the patties:
- 1/2 lb (225g) ground beef
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder (optional)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder (optional)
For the sandwiches:
- 4 slices of rye bread (or your favorite)
- 2 slices Swiss cheese (or more if you like it extra cheesy)
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- Butter, for grilling
For the secret sauce:
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp ketchup
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (or yellow mustard)
- 1 tsp pickle relish (optional for extra tang)
- Pinch of paprika
Instructions
- Make the secret sauce
- In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, relish, and paprika. Chill until ready.
- Cook the onions
- Heat a small pan over medium heat.
- Add a little butter and sauté onions until caramelized and golden brown (about 8–10 minutes).
- Form and cook the patties
- Divide the ground beef into two thin patties. Season with salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder.
- Cook patties in a skillet over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through (about 3–4 minutes per side).
- Assemble the sandwich
- Butter one side of each bread slice.
- On the non-buttered side, spread a generous amount of secret sauce.
- Layer with Swiss cheese, cooked patty, and caramelized onions. Top with another slice of bread, buttered side out.
- Grill the patty melt
- Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.
- Grill sandwiches 3–4 minutes per side until bread is golden brown and crispy, and cheese is melted.
- Serve
- Slice in half and enjoy immediately with extra secret sauce on the side if desired.
💡 Tips:
- Press the sandwich slightly while grilling for that classic diner-style crispiness.
- You can swap Swiss cheese for cheddar or American if you want it extra melty.
- Make a big batch of the secret sauce—it’s great on burgers, fries, or even chicken sandwiches.
If you want, I can also give a shortcut version that’s ready in 15 minutes but still tastes like a diner patty melt.
Do you want me to give that version too?
