Classic Patty Melt Recipe
Ingredients
For the caramelized onions
1 tablespoons olive
oil
1 large yellow
onions, thinly sliced
For the patty melts
1/2 pound freshly
ground chuck, (at least 80% lean, a.k.a. 80/20)
1 tablespoon onion
powder
4 thick slices
deli-counter American cheese
4 thick slices
white sandwich bread
1/4cup thousand
island dressing, plus more for dipping
2 tablespoons
unsalted butter, divided
Directions
Heat the olive oil in
a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan on medium heat. Add the onions, stir briefly
to coat with oil and cook without stirring for 10-12 minutes.
Flip so that the onions on the bottom of the pot are now on
top, and cook for another 10-12 minutes. Flip one more time, lower heat and
allow onions to caramelized until completely brown — about 15 minutes — gently
stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside. These can be reheated
before you put the burgers together.
In a large bowl, mix
ground beef, onion powder, salt and pepper until just combined. Do not overmix,
or your patties will be tough.
Divide into eight thin portions and shape to fit the bread.
Make these right before you grill them, so they stay at room temperature.
Preheat your grill, grill pan or cast-iron skillet to medium
high heat and add burger patties. If using a grill, cover with the lid.
Cook until the crust that forms on the bottom of the burger
releases it from the pan or grate — about 1 to 2 minutes. Gently test, but
don't flip it until it gets to this point. When burgers lift up easily, flip
and cook on the other side for another 1 - 2 minutes for medium to medium rare,
then transfer to a plate and allow to rest.
Assemble the patty
melts: add cheese slices to both slices of bread for each sandwich.
Add a thin patty to each slice and layer the
onions and thousand Island dressing to taste in between them when you assemble the
sandwich. Preheat a cast-iron skillet and melt half a tablespoon of
butter for each sandwich. Drop a sandwich in, press down with a spatula and
grill until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and grill on the other side.
Serve with extra dressing for dipping.