A patty melt walks the line between burger and grilled cheese, and when you add crispy bacon to the mix, it becomes something else entirely. This bacon patty melt hits every note: crispy toasted rye, gooey cheese, sweet onions, and seared beef. It’s the kind of sandwich that makes you forget fast food exists — and it’s ready in 20 minutes flat. Let’s enjoy a Bacon Patty Melt tonight!
Bacon Patty Melt
Ingredients
- ½ pound 80/20 ground beef
- 4 strips thick-cut bacon
- ½ yellow onion , thinly sliced
- 4 slices marble rye bread
- 4 slices Swiss or American cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
- salt and pepper
- Thousand Island Sauce https://jimcooksfoodgood.com/7-thousand-island-dressing/
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 6–8 minutes. Set aside on paper towels. Leave 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat in the skillet.
- Add the sliced onions to the skillet and cook over medium heat until golden and soft, about 8 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove from the pan.
- Form two loose patties with the ground beef. Press them flat and season each side with salt and pepper.
- Sear the patties in the skillet over medium-high heat for 3 minutes per side. Lower the heat, place 2 slices of cheese on each patty, cover, and let melt for 1 minute.
- Spread Thousand Island on one side of each bread slice.
- In a clean skillet, place one slice of bread sauce-side down. Layer with a patty, 2 bacon strips, sautéed onions, and the second slice of bread (sauce-side out).
- Cook over medium heat for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Press gently with a spatula to help it all come together.
- Slice and serve immediately.
