Patty Melts with Secret Sauce

When you were a kid, what was the one thing you craved when you didn’t feel well? Or the recipe you remember most from your childhood lunch and snacks that are still on your menu today as an adult?

The grilled cheese is probably pretty close to the top of that list for numerous reasons. The toasted bread soaked in butter with ooey gooey cheese oozing out of the side that you dipped into your tomato soup always hit the spot. 

This recipe encompasses the flavors of your youth while adding a level of depth that makes this meal perfect for lunch, dinner, or hosting a group of people; Patty Melts with Secret Sauce!

These Patty melts are made with homemade ground beef and your traditional burger seasonings with two different types of cheeses; Cheddar and Provolone. They melt perfectly without burning on the bottom of the pan and the flavors complement each other without one overpowering the other.

Patty Melts With Secret Sauce is cooked with rye bread which is a more hearty and sturdy bread with a bolder flavor. Don’t worry if you aren’t a rye fan because the butter and sauce will mask it pretty well.

This sauce has it all! A little sweetness, some savory, and a little kick make this sandwich what it is! Made with pieces of crispy bacon, tangy relish, mayonnaise, ketchup, and sugar. 

Your kids will love them and so will any adult who is lucky enough to have a bite. Make these for lunch or a bunch of them to share at a picnic or cookout. There is nothing easier than a grab-and-go snack. 

Can I use different types of cheeses?

If you want more of a kick you can substitute one of the cheeses for pepper jack cheese, jalapeno cheese, or chipotle. If you want to be more adventurous see if you can handle using habanero or ghost pepper but we do not recommend that for the little ones. 

How do you store these properly so the sandwich does not get soggy?

We recommend storing it in an air-tight container inside your fridge. The best way to reheat to keep the crunch is inside a toaster oven or traditional oven. You can also lightly toast the sandwich on each side again in a pan with butter. 

Here is all you need to make your delicious sandwiches!

Patty Melts with Secret Sauce

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Level up that child-sized grilled cheese for one that brings sweet and savory flavors into one delicious sandwich.

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Ingredients

For the patty melts:

• 1 lb. Ground beef
• 6 Slices rye bread
• ½ tsp. Onion powder
• ½ tsp. Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 6 Slices cheddar cheese
• 6 Sliced provolone cheese
• 6 Tbsp. Butter softened and unsalted

For the secret sauce:

• ¼ C. Mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. Chopped bacon pieces
• 3 Tbsp. Ketchup
• 1 tsp. Sugar
• 1 tsp. Relish

Instructions

1. Form the meat into 3 flattened patties with roughly the same shape as your bread slices.
2. Season the meat on both sides with the onion powder, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste.
3. Cook the patties over medium high heat on the stove until cooked through. Remove from the pan.
4. While the meat is cooking, mix together the ingredients for the sauce until well incorporated.
5. Wipe the skillet used to cook the meat clean and reduce the heat to medium.
6. Butter one side of each piece of bread well.
7. Place three pieces of bread buttered side down in the skillet.
8. Top each slice of bread with 2 slices of provolone cheese, a meat patty and 2 slices of cheddar cheese.
9. Put a little bit of the sauce on the non-buttered side of the remaining slices of bread, and place them sauce side down on top of the patty melts in the skillet.
10. Flip the patty melts over once the provolone has melted and the one side of the bread is well toasted.
11. Toast the other side of the bread well, and then serve.