The patty melt

A classic Patty Melt is one of the greatest comfort foods to devour. This Animal Style Patty Melt elevated that experience by caramelizing onions into a mouthwatering jam that sits on top of the patty melt a mountain of perfectly grilled burgers smothered in gooey American cheese. Did I mention that this creation is two patties and between them are crispy strips of bacon?

ANIMAL-STYLE CARAMELIZED ONION JAM

First, the onions need to be made because they take about 45-60 minutes to fully cook down into a jam. Dice two whole sweet onions as fine as you can and then preheat a skillet to medium heat (350 degrees F.) This stage is all about getting the onions to break down before we add any ingredients for extra flavoring.

Once the skillet is heated up, let it warm up for about 6-8 minutes, add 2-3 tablespoons of neutral oil (avocado oil) and toss in all of the chopped onions. Now add 2/3 stick of unsalted butter and stir till it’s melted. At this point add a tablespoon of kosher salt and stir the onions every 5 minutes until it cooks down into a paste, about 45 minutes.

At this point, you can use a paper towel to remove some of the oil/fat and then turn the heat up to 400 degrees and continuously stir for 10-15 minutes until the onions turn a nice golden brown. Add a tablespoon of sherry red cooking wine, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and balsamic glaze. Stir for a few more minutes until it forms a sticky jam. Place in a metal warming bowl and place to the side.

Make the Animal Style Sauce by adding mayo, ketchup, mustard, sweet relish and sriracha hot sauce into a bowl and mixing. Once mixed, place in the fridge until it is needed.

PREPARE THE BEEF PATTIES FOR YOUR PATTY MELT

Forming the patties is critical because of the type of bun used for this Animal Style Patty Melt, Texas toast. It is crucial to have thick bread for this juicy and sauce masterpiece. Portion out the ground chuck (80/20 blend) to 1/4 pound balls and then press them down into flush burger form. Be sure to square off the patties, this will help them fit the Texas toast when the patty melt is assembled.

Place the formed patties on parchment paper and then place them in the fridge for 15-20 minutes. This will help keep the burgers firm during the cooking.

COOKING THE PATTY MELT

In the meantime, fire up a griddle and set the temperature to 375 degrees F. Cook about 1/2 a pound of bacon to your preference and then add the crispy bacon to an aluminum foil pack to stay warm.

Get the patties out from the fridge and season one side with just salt. Clean a little bit of the bacon grease up and then place the patties right where you cooked the bacon. Season the exposed side with kosher salt and let it grill for 4 minutes. Right before you flip the patties be sure to squeeze mustard on the top so that when you flip the burger it will caramelize into the crust of the burger. Flip and grill the other side for an additional 3 minutes. Add American cheese to melt.

While the patties are finishing off add mayo to the Texas toast and toss them on the griddle to toast the bread for 60ish seconds per side. This will firm the bread and help keep the patty melt together when it’s finished. Remove and transfer the bread to the indirect side of the griddle.

ASSEMBLE THE ANIMAL-STYLE PATTY MELT

While the toasted Texas toast is sitting on the indirect side, add the animal sauce on the bottom bun with two slices of caramelized onion cheese and let it melt for a minute. Add one patty on top, four strips of bacon, another cheesy patty and then the Animal Style Caramelized Onion Jam with the top bun. Remove and serve!

Animal Style Bacon Patty Melt

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 1 10

Total Time 1 20

Servings: 6

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Video

Ingredients

1½ lb ground chuck (80/20)
Kosher salt
8 slices Texas toast
8 slices Monteray Jack cheese
8 sllices American cheese

Animal Style Caramelize Onion Jam

2 whole Sweet onions diced
2 tbsp Avocado oil
⅔ stick Butter
1 tsp Kosher salt
1 tbsp Beef broth
1 tbsp Red cooking wine
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp Balsamic glaze

Animal Sauce

¼ cup Mayo
2 tbsp Ketchup
2 tbsp Mustard
2 tbsp Sweet relish
1 tbsp Sriracha

Method

Start off by preparing the sweet onions by dicing them fine. Once diced add them to a cast iron skillet that is over medium heat (350 degrees F) with avocado oil and butter.
Cook them down for 45 minutes and stir every 3-5 minutes to get them fully caramelized. At this point, turn the heat up to 400 degrees F. And continuously stir for 12-15 more minutes and then add beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, red cooking wine and balsamic glaze. Stir until it becomes a jam and remove in a warming container.
Portion the ground chuck into 1/4 pound patties and form them into a square shape to fit the buns. Once formed, place them in the fridge for 20 minutes. While the patties are in the fridge, cook a 1/2 pound of bacon on the griddle.
Clean the griddle a bit but leave some of the bacon grease. Be sure to make your Animal Sauce prior to this step. Add mayo, ketchup, mustard, sweet relish and sriracha in a mixing bowl and whisk.
Remove the patties from the fridge and season one side with kosher salt. Place the seasoned side down on a hot griddle surface (450-500 degrees F) and cook for 4 minutes. Season the exposed side with kosher salt and apply mustard on top. Flip and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Cheese with two slices of American Cheddar Cheese.
While the patties are finishing, toast your Texas toast bread and then place them on the indirect side of the griddle.
Begin assembly of the Animal Style Bacon Patty Melt. Animal Sauce on the bottom bun, a slice of jack cheese, one patty, crispy bacon, another patty and the animal style caramelized onion jam to top it off.
Serve and enjoy with family and friends!

Video

Extra Notes:

This recipe uses a beef patty, but you can also use turkey, chicken, or other meats if you prefer. If you want to make it extra decadent, add bacon or avocado slices on top. If you’re looking for something different in terms of the secret sauce, try adding in some diced pickles or jalapeños for a spicy kick.

Following a low-carb diet and don’t want to eat bread? Skip the bun and serve it as a lettuce wrap instead. Not a fan of cheese? Reduce or omit it. I do understand its a lot of cheese. As a side option, try serving it with some sweet potato fries or onion rings; both complement the main dish nicely. Overall, this recipe is great to make at home but also available at many diners and fast food restaurants under the name “Animal Style” burgers—so if you’re craving one but don’t feel like making it yourself, go ahead and order one there!

Thank you for checking out this recipe!

Patty melts are the perfect burger for anyone looking to add a classic flavor twist. The combination of the crispy grilled onions and melty cheese, topped with tangy secret sauce, all atop a juicy beef patty, is truly delicious. You can’t forget the texas toast which adds just enough texture to really make this burger something special.

If you haven’t tried a patty melt yet, you don’t know what you’re missing! It’s an experience that can be likened to a game changer; one bite will have you wanting more and ordering it on your next visit.