Patty melts are made with two fried beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayonnaise, ketchup, and pickle chips.
What Is A Patty Melt?
Patty melts were originally invented by an employee at the restaurant chain Whataburger.
The first burger on their menu was called “The Big Texas Burger” which included all these elements.
Patty melts have been around since then and they can be found everywhere today.
Here’s what you need to know about this delicious sandwich:
- It is served open-faced and has three layers (two beef patties, American cheese, and toppings).
- A patty melt comes in many different varieties that include various variations of meat, condiments, and types of bread or bun.
- You can find them at fast food restaurants, delis, pizza parlors, diners, and even some grocery stores.
- They are also known as a cheeseburger because they combine two hamburgers with melted cheddar cheese between them.
- Some people prefer to use Swiss instead of American cheese for their patty melts.
- There are different ways to build your own patty melt, but there are a few basic rules to follow when it comes to assembling one.
- First, choose your meat. You can go with ground beef, sliced roast beef, or top sirloin steak.
- Next, add your toppings like tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and/or pickles.
- Then, slice up your cheese and place it between the two burgers so that half of each patty gets covered.
- Finally, put the whole thing into a hot skillet until everything is cooked through.
What Are The Ingredients In A Patty Melt?
The burger’s main ingredient is ground beef that has been seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
To complete the patty melt, it also includes shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes, onions, and mayo, which gives it its creamy texture.
As for the other ingredients, there are three types of breading to consider.
The first type is an egg wash, which acts as a barrier between the meat and oil so that they don’t stick together.
The second layer is a flour-based coating known as “crumb coat” or “bread crumbs.” These help the patty melt hold together while frying.
And finally, there’s cornflakes cereal.
They’re used to give the patty melt crunchy edges without affecting the flavor profile.
You can find these ingredients at most grocery stores, but you might have trouble finding them all on one shelf together.
So if you want to save time when making your own patty melt, check out our list of where to buy each item online.
How Do You Make A Patty Melt?
To make a patty melt, start by heating up some oil to 350°F (177oC) in your deep-fryer or Dutch oven.
Then carefully place one of your hamburger patties into the hot oil and fry it for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
After that, remove the burger from the oil and drain it on paper towels while keeping track of how many fries you want to add as toppings.
Once the burger has cooled enough to handle, cut it into four equal pieces.
Next, open an 8-ounce can of sliced tomatoes and drain out any excess water.
Place 4 slices of American cheese inside a sandwich bag and seal it tightly.
Add the shredded lettuce leaves to another plastic bag and seal them together too.
Finally, slice up 1/4 cup of yellow onion rings and toss them in a third plastic bag.
Now, add all three bags of ingredients to the same bowl and mix well.
Next, use a knife to spread half the amount of mayonnaise onto both sides of the first piece of bread.
Lay down the other piece of bread and cover the top layer with the remaining amount of mayonnaise.
Now gently press the bottom layer of bread so that it covers most of the inside of the sandwich.
Be sure not to overdo it because if there’s too much mayonnaise covering the outside edges of the bread, they will become soggy when the melted cheese gets added.
Once everything’s ready, take your first piece of bread off the table and put a large spoonful of the mixture on the bottom layer.
Make sure to leave plenty of space between the meat and the bread since the filling is very juicy.
Put the second piece of bread on top of the meat and repeat this process with the last piece of bread.
You should end up with something like this:
The next step is adding the cheese.
Take the sandwich bag containing the cheese and squeeze its contents directly onto the sandwich.
Use the back of a spoon to push the cheese down so that it adheres to everything below it.
After that, flip the sandwich and press down again using a spatula.
Repeat this action 3 more times until the entire sandwich is covered with cheese.
Finally, lay down the sliced onions on top of the cheese and then pop the whole thing in the microwave for 30 seconds at high power.
Remove the sandwich and serve immediately with extra ketchup and pickles.
What Is The History Of The Patty Melt?
The burger was created at the original location in San Antonio, Texas.
It has since spread to other locations around the country, including Austin, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Washington D.C.
In 2017, the chain announced it would be going vegan starting January 1, 2020.
The company said this decision came after customers requested more plant-based options on their menu boards.
Who invented the patty melt?
It’s believed that the first patty melt was created by Roy Rogers in 1938 when he opened his restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas.
But according to the official website for Whataburger, there are no records showing that the sandwich originated as far back as then.
However, the chain claims they have been serving burgers topped with American cheese and sliced tomato since 1955.
That means the patty melt really took off somewhere between 1955 and 1960.
Roy Rogers died unexpectedly in 1957, so it could also be that the patty melt was introduced by him before he passed away or someone else might be credited for creating them.
Why Is The Patty Melt Called A Patty Melt?
The term “hamburger” was popularized in America by McDonald’s, which opened its first restaurant on June 18, 1948.
The original menu featured only burgers but it didn’t take long for other fast food chains to start offering their own variations on this basic sandwich.
- McDonald’s introduced the Big Mac burger in 1967.
- In 1972, Burger King debuted its Whopper Jr., adding cheese and mustard to the classic burger.
- Burger King added its signature flame-grilled flavor to the Whopper Jr. in 1974.
- Arby’s created its roast beef sandwich in 1973.
- Taco Bell introduced its Fiery Doritos Loco Taco in 2008.
Fast forward to today, and you have an endless list of new options that have cropped up over time.
From chicken sandwiches to veggie burgers, there is no shortage of ways to customize your favorite meal as well.
This variety has led some people to question whether or not the name “hamburger” can be used to describe any type of meat patty.
But others argue that every variation on the theme should still carry the same title because each one shares common elements like the bun, fries, and sauce.
What Is The Difference Between A Patty Melt And A Hamburger?
A burger is an all-beef patty that’s cooked on a griddle or grill until it reaches your desired degree of doneness.
A patty melt combines these ingredients into one delicious meal.
The term “hamburger” refers to a cut of meat, while a patty melt contains multiple cuts of meat.
The word “ham” means cured pork, which might explain why many people think that this dish originated in Chicago.
In fact, there are several theories as to where the patty melt came from.
One theory suggests that it was created by chefs at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant in Orlando, Florida.
Another theory claims that the patty melt was first served in New York City, but no evidence backs up either side of the argument.
It seems like most places would claim credit for creating the patty melt, but we can probably lay those rumors to rest.
The truth is that burgers have been around since the early 1800s.
It wasn’t until the 1940s that they became popularized when McDonald’s introduced them as part of its menu.
If you want to know more about this famous sandwich, keep reading!
What Is The Difference Between A Patty Melt And A Grilled Cheese Sandwich?
Grilled cheese sandwiches (also known as panini) contain melted cheese on bread, typically served open-faced or folded in half to form a pocket for filling.
Patty melts have two slices of meat placed inside an egg roll wrapper and then topped with cheese.
They’re usually eaten hot but can also be enjoyed cold.
Where Did The Patty Melt Originate?
The first patty melt was created by Harry Lillie at the Original What-A-Burger restaurant in San Antonio, Texas.
The original burger had only one slice of American cheese on it, but Harry thought that more cheese would make for a better patty melt.
He also added pickles to his hamburgers, which he believed would be great as an accompaniment to melted Swiss.
When customers asked for something other than Swiss, Harry started adding different cheeses like cheddar or mozzarella, along with onions and tomatoes.
When McDonald’s opened its first location in San Antonio, they offered their version of a patty melt called the McWrap.
They used three slices of American cheese instead of just one.
It wasn’t until the 1950s when the idea of putting cheese inside a bun became popularized that people began using sliced cheese in place of the bread.
By this time, What-A-Burgers were known for their cheesy burgers and so they changed up their menu to include both a traditional hamburger and a patty melt.
How Many Calories Are In A Patty Melt?
The exact number of calories per patty melt depends on how much you eat it.
The average patty melt contains around 600 to 700 calories depending on your appetite.
You can calculate the calorie count of any food by using its nutritional information including calories, fat grams, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, fiber, cholesterol, saturated fats, trans-fats, and vitamins.
If you want to track your daily calorie intake, use an app that helps you keep tabs on everything you eat such as MyFitnessPal or Calorie Counter for Android and iPhone (both free).
Most people don’t know how to make a patty melt at home because they think it requires some sort of special skills, but this isn’t true.
You just need a frying pan, cooking oil, and salt and pepper.
If you have all these ingredients already, then you’re ready to go!
Here’s the most important thing when making patty melts—you must fry them properly so the meat doesn’t dry out while cooking.
Step 1: Chop up the ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup sliced pickles
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step 2: Seasoning the meat
- A large skillet
- Oil
- Salt and pepper
- Breadcrumbs
Step 3: Fry the burger
- Add the hamburger to the hot oil
- Cook until browned on each side
- Once cooked through, remove the burgers to paper towels
- Repeat this process until you have 4 burgers total
Step 4: Assemble the sandwich
- Spread about ½ tablespoon of the mayo over both sides of each bun.
- Place one slice of cheese on top of each bottom half of the buns.
- Arrange the hamburger mixture onto the bottom halves of the buns.
- Top with the other slices of cheese.
- Garnish the sandwiches with additional pickles if desired.
Step 5: Cook the burgers
- Heat a cast iron skillet on medium heat
- Put the lid back on the pan
- Using tongs, place a bun into the pan and cook until golden brown
- Transfer the cooked roll to a plate and repeat the same procedure with the remaining three rolls
Step 6: Serve the patty melt
- Serve the patty melts immediately after assembling them.
Is A Patty Melt A Healthy Choice?
The patty melt at Whataburger certainly isn’t going to be your healthiest option.
But it’s not as bad for you as other fast food options like burgers or fries.
The biggest culprit is that patty melt has more than twice the amount of meat compared to most burger joints—and half of those grams come from saturated fat.
So if you want a healthier alternative, try one of these recipes instead.
- What about ground turkey? It might take some experimentation but we have a pretty good idea on how to make this work! Check out our guide to making chicken-free burgers.
- If you don’t eat red meat, there are plenty of alternatives available too. You could also go vegetarian by using an eggless bun (like brioche) or use tofu or seitan in place of the beef.
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 3 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 large onion sliced
- 5 tablespoon butter divided
- 10 slices Texas toast
- 10 slices Monterey Jack cheese
- 15.5 ounce bottle creamy pepper sauce
Instructions
- Add the ground beef, pepper, garlic salt, Slap Ya Mama, and paprika to a big bowl. Mix everything thoroughly after adding seasonings. Add breadcrumbs and eggs. Mix well.
- Form balls of ground beef that are the same size. Make flat hamburgers by pressing.
- Burger patties should marinate in Worcestershire sauce in a 13 x 9 baking tray.
- Fry a few hamburgers at a time in a big frying pan, pressing down to keep them thin.
- Remove from the pan and add a slice of cheese on top. affix to a plate (until assembling the patty melts).
- Continue cooking all of the hamburgers.
- Melt the butter in a different pan, then add the onions and cook them until they are caramelized.
- Each Texas toast piece should have one side buttered. Make a sandwich by assembling two patties, creamy pepper sauce, and caramelized onions.
- In a big frying pan, place two sandwiches at a time, and cook until golden brown over medium heat.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.