Pickle Patty Melts
Sate Your Salty Craving
I was given some really nice cheeses from a local Wisconsin farmer, including a delicious looking cheddar. I knew I wanted to make a Pickle Patty Melt with this fabulous cheese.
While you may have made a patty melt before, I bet you’ve never had one the way I make them. You probably already know the secret ingredient if you read the title of the post, but just in case you skipped over it somehow I’ll let you know now.
Are you ready?
It’s pickles!
I started making my patty melts with pickles years ago when I saw this trick in a cookbook. It was so good, I haven’t turned back yet.
There is a full, printable recipe at the bottom but I recommend you read my tips and tricks first so you make your Patty Melt the best it can be.
Tips & Tricks
I have a few things I like to do differently when making a Patty Melt, otherwise my recipe is pretty standard.
One thing I do is add soy sauce to my caramelized onions to finish them off when they are done cooking. This adds a richer depth of flavor and I think it tastes really good with these hamburger patties.
I spread the tops of the hamburger patties with yellow mustard before I add them to the skillet. I learned that this is what In and Out burger does and I have done it ever since.
It adds so much flavor and makes a great crust on the hamburger patties.
I spread mayo on the sides of the bread slices I am going to toast. Since mayo is basically made with eggs and oil, this gives the bread a really toasty, crispy texture that I love.
I add pickle relish to the patties as well as yellow mustard before I mix the meat. This gives them so much flavor.
The Full/Printable Recipe
Pickle Patty Melts
This is a patty melt for pickle lovers. The addition of pickle relish in the hamburger mix elevates the already delicious flavor of a patty melt.
Ingredients
- 1 lb of ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 3 tablespoons of dill or sweet relish
- 6 slices of a good cheddar cheese
- 6 Rye Bread slices
- 3 T of Butter
- 2 T of Mayo
- 2 T of Yellow Mustard
- 1/2 T of Soy Sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Black Pepper
- Salt
- Hamburger Pickle Slices, Yellow Mustard and Relish
Instructions
- Add your ground beef to a bowl, add the pickle relish, 1 T of the yellow mustard and season with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders. Mix the meat until well combined, But don't over mix as the meat gets tough. Loosely form 4 oblong patties and brush or spread the rest of the yellow mustard on the top of the patties.. Set the patties aside on a plate to rest.
- Slice your onion into slices, not too thick, not too thin.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter to a large skillet and add your onions. Cook them low and slow until the are golden brown, season with black pepper and the soy sauce and sauté for about 5 more minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add the other tablespoon of butter to the same skillet and add your hamburger patties. Cook on each side for 6 to 7 minutes. Let each side get a nice crust.
- While the meat cooks, slice your cheddar cheese, then butter the outside of your rye bread slices with mayo.
- When the meat is cooked, add the cheese slices to the top, add a tablespoon of water to the pan and cover the pan with a lid until the cheese is melted.
- Remove the patties from the pan and set aside on a plate. Carefully wipe out the hot skillet a little bit with a paper towel, then add the rye slices, mayo side down. Let the bread get toasty and crisp on the mayo side, flip and toast slightly on the non mayo side.
- Build your sandwiches with the patties, top with the grilled onions, relish, mustard, hamburger pickle slices. Top with the second slice of rye, cut in half and serve!
Still craving a burger with a secret ingredient? Then you should try my Secret Ingredient Burgers.