Tony Zentgraf
We have been hearing about the smashburger for years, from social media to the morning network talk shows. Forget about those regular old smashed burgers you see all over social media. Try this Smashburger Patty Melt with Caramelized Onions!
Give this Smashburger Patty Melt a try. Pick up some quality 80/20 ground beef, caramelize some yellow onions, get some quality rye bread and swiss cheese.
But What Makes a Smashburger
Good quality burger meat smashed onto a searing hot griddle, cast iron pan or plate on a grill. Let it sear until a crust develops on the first side. Turn the burger and allow to sear on the second side. This sears in the juices and gives a nice crust. Top with cheese and serve with a burger sauce such as Thousand Island.
With a Patty Melt the components are similar in nature to a typical smashburger. Burger, cheese and a hot grill. Making the patty melt in the smashburger fashion allows for a nice crust to develop on both patties. Top it with cheese and some nicely caramelized onions.
Caramelize vs Sauteed Onions
Be patient with cooking the onions. Cook them over a medium heat and let them sweat. They will slowly breakdown. If you give it a good twenty minutes to a half an hour they will develop a nice caramelized finish.
Conversely, If you cook over a high heat you will get come color on the onions. But won’t breakdown the onions. Develop the caramelization you are looking for to make a good addition to your patty melt.
Heat up that Blackstone flat top or Kamado Joe Cast Iron or Soapstone insert and get cooking!
The Patty Melt – ‘A Great American Classic’
It is believed that it was created back in the late 1940s. Tiny Naylor owner of Tiny Naylor Coffee Shop and Biff’s Drive-Ins in California, was looking for a new idea for his menu. He put a burger patty layered with swiss cheese and caramelized onions between rye bread toasted on a griddle instead of a toaster.
The Patty Melt was Born
Although Tiny Naylor Coffee Shop and Biff’s Drive in have since closed, Tiny’s son Biff continued his career in the restaurant business. He owns Du-Par’s a chain of restaurants in Southern California.
Featured at the top of the Lunch menu is, Lunch Time Favorites – Tiny’s Classic Patty Melt – A Great American Classic.
I would have to agree, it is definitely A Great American Classic.
Give this Smashburger Patty Melt with Caramelized Onions a try, this may become a new favorite!
Enjoy!
Check Out other Grill Recipes
Smashburger Patty Melt with Caramelized Onions
Print RecipeRecipe Multiplier
- 4 ea 3 oz Ground Beef formed into balls
- 2 ea Medium Yellow Onions sliced into 1/2 rings
- 4 ea Swiss Cheese Slices
- 4 ea Slices Rye Bread
- 2 tbsp Butter or Clarified Butter
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
Cooking Caramelized Onions
- Peel and slice the onions in half. Slice the onions into half rings about 1/4 – 1/2" thick.
- Heat a saute pan with some clarified butter or oil.
- Saute the onions over medium high heat. Tossing the onions as needed to avoid burning.
- Cook the onions until they are caramelized approximately 20 minutes.
Preparing and Cooking the Smashburgers
- Form the portioned 3 oz ground beef into balls for smashed when cooking.
- Preheat the grill with a cast iron or soapstone. Can be done in a cast iron skillet but will need a very large skillet.
- Oil the cast iron or soapstone prior to cooking.
- Place the bread on the grill to toast on one side. Remove from the grill once the bread is toasted.
- Place the 3 oz ground beef on the cooking surface. Smash with a smashburger press or a spatula.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook on the first side for about a minute. A crust should be forming on the beef edges.
- Flip the burger, place a slice of swiss cheese on each patty.
- Top each patty with caramelized onions. You may want to close the lid on the grill to melt the cheese.
- Once the cheese is melted, stack two of the patties and remove from the grill.
- Assemble the patty melt, one slice of toasted rye bread smashburgers and top with second rye bread. Serve with your favorite condiment – Mine is Mustard, what’s yours? Mustard? Ketchup? Thousand? or Mayo? Enjoy!
Delicious!