A sandwich sitting on top of a wooden cutting board.

Classic Patty Melt

28/10/2020 | By Cowboy Kent Rollins

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Y'all know I love to add a taste of cowboy to traditional dishes, so it's time to add that special touch to a diner classic: the patty melt. Our inspiration comes from the fine folks at Whataburger and the patty melt from the menu of that All-American institution.

The first step in adding the cowboy brand to the classic patty melt is changing the bread. Gone is the traditional rye bread and we're' replacing it with Texas toast.

Caramelizing Onions

Preheat a skillet over medium heat to melt some butter. Add some thinly sliced onions. Stir, flip and mash until browned and a little crispy. Adding a little white vinegar to your skillet will help with caramelizing the onions.

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Tip: A lot of folks will want to rush this step - TAKE YOUR TIME. Cook slowly to allow the sweetness to come out of the onions.

Allow the onions to cool a bit, stir in some Worcestershire sauce and set aside to marinate.


Here's The Beef

Shape your ground beef into a square/rectangular patty that's larger than a slice of Texas toast. While cooking, the beef will shrink so this will allow for that.

Tip: Season the beef right before putting it on the grill/in the skillet, so the meat doesn't dry out. We like to use our Original Seasoning.

Mash it Up!

When frying a burger, I typically recommend that you don't mash it while cooking because you lose the juices. However, for this patty melt we want the patties thinner than a burger, so go ahead and mash them once while cooking. I also like to mash the full sandwich down once after it's assembled.


 

Putting It All Together

Put together your sandwich, starting with two pieces of Texas toast. Spread our special Cowboy Sauce on one side of each slice. Top with a slice of Swiss cheese followed by: caramelized onions, pepper jack cheese, another patty and more onions. Top with your second slice of Texas toast, sauce side down.

Tip: Before toasting the sandwich in the skillet, add a dab of mayo on the sides of bread that will be toasted to give it some great crispness.


Using the same skillet you used to fry the beef, add the patty melt sandwich, cook until the bread is golden brown and crispy, flip and finish grilling.

That my friends is how we make a traditional patty melt, cowboy style. Enjoy and share with a friend. And a thanks to the good folks at Whataburger for the inspiration!

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Classic Patty Melt – Cowboy Kent Rollins

Author Cowboy Kent Rollins

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 large sweet yellow onion

    thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef

    80/20 blend
  • 1 to 1 ½ tablespoon of Red River Ranch Original

    or seasoning of your choice
  • Mayonnaise

    for spreading
  • 2 pieces Texas Toast or thick-cut bread

  • Special sauce

    recipe below
  • 2 slices Swiss cheese

  • 2 slices pepper jack cheese

Instructions

  1. Add 2 tablespoons butter to a medium cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. When the butter melts, add the onion and cook for about 20 minutes, or until they have caramelized and reached a deep golden brown color.
  2. Remove the onions from the skillet and place in a small bowl. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce. Cover and set in a warm place.
  3. Separate the ground beef into 2 equal parts and form into a rectangular shape that is larger than the bread slices to allow for shrinkage while cooking. Form the shapes to about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Season both sides of the patties with Original seasoning, or seasoning of your choice.
  4. Return to the skillet, and add 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When the butter has melted, add the patties and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, mash the burgers slightly with a spatula. Flip and continue cooking about 2 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the skillet.
  5. Spread a generous amount of the sauce on 2 pieces of the bread. Top 1 slice with a slice of Swiss cheese, onions, pepper jack cheese, burger patty, onions and top with the remaining bread slice.
  6. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the tops of the bread and place back in the skillet over medium heat. Toast each side for about 2 to 3 minutes, mashing down slightly with a spatula. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Special Sauce⅓ cup mayonnaise1 tablespoon spicy mustard1 tablespoon BBQ sauce1 tablespoon Ketchup1 jalapeno, grated In a mixing bowl, combine the above ingredients until smooth. Red River Ranch Original Seasoning available at kent-rollins-store.myshopify.com
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