Classic Patty Melt Recipe

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.

Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

Cheesy Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

I will eat almost anything with melted cheese on it and this is definitely one of my favorites

Quesadillas

1. 1/2 lb thinly sliced chicken breast (cut into bite sized pieces)
2. 1 Tbls taco seasoning 
3. 1/4 of an onion sliced and diced in medium pieces
4. 1/4 of a green bell pepper (thinly sliced and diced into medium pieces
5. 1/4 of a red bell pepper (thinly sliced and diced into medium pieces (optional, color only)
6. Sliced jalapeño peppers (Mt. Olive) or fresh to taste
7. 1/3 cup Monterrey Jack cheese (shredded)
8. 1/3 cup Cheddar or Colby Jack cheese (shredded)
9. 1 burrito sized flour tortillas
10. 1 T olive oil
11. cooking spray

Instructions

1. Season chicken with taco seasoning
2. Heat olive oil in a pan
3. Add the chicken and allow it to cook on medium high heat.
4. When the chicken is almost done, add in the onions and bell peppers
5. Sauté until chicken is cooked and veggies are translucent.
6. Remove from the pan and set aside.
7. Heat a skillet over medium high heat and spray it with cooking spray
8. Take one tortilla and sprinkle cheeses on half of it.
9. Top that same half with chicken and cover the chicken with more cheese
10. Fold the other half of the tortilla over the filling and add it to the skillet.
11. Allow the quesadilla to heat until the cheese is melted and both sides of the tortilla is lightly browned.

Cheesy Beef Fajitas

Cheesy beef fajitas are a perfect blend of seasoned ground beef, melted spicy cheese and pico de gallo, yum!  The best part is all the cheese! These are super cheesy, full of melted, gooey cheese with a bit of spice, but just a little bit of spice, these are not too spicy at all. 


I love creating these at home because they are so easy to make, everyone loves them and they are a really quick meal.

Cheesy Beef Fajitas

Ingredients

6 oz. ground beef

1/2 envelope fajita seasoning or taco seasoning 

4 oz pepperjack shredded

4 oz cheddar or colby shredded

4-5 tortillas

Pico de gallo -store bought or homemade

Instructions

Brown and drain the ground beef.

Season with taco seasoning.

Place some cheddar cheese on each tortilla (these are supposed to be extra cheesy)

Spoon on some of the beef filling.

Top with shredded pepperjack.

Spoon on a little pico de gallo.

Roll each tortilla up and wrap in a slightly damp paper towel.

Microwave 2 at a time for 1 minute.

Serve and enjoy!