Weeknight Dinners: Classic Patty Melt Casserole Recipe
Normally I am the kind of mom who never really makes the same thing twice. There might be versions of the same recipe but I am always changing things up and recipes are constantly evolving. Casseroles are a dinner staple at my house because they can be made quick, you can get other things done while they are baking and I think they taste just as fabulous the next day. This Classic Patty Melt Casserole is one recipe that I have made again and again.
Growing up I could never understand why my dad loved Patty Melts so much.
Whenever we went out for dinner {which was rare} you could count on him to order one from the menu.
Fast forward 40 years and now I find myself loving them too.
I can never decide if it is because every time I eat one, I think of him or if my taste buds have changed. Probably a case of a little of both. Either way, this Patty Melt Casserole is the bomb!
Thank you so much for stopping by! This patty melt casserole recipe contains affiliate links, I receive a small amount of compensation if you choose to purchase from my links (for example – as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). I only link to products that I know and love!
Free Email Series
Tips & tricks to achieve the most delicious cookies of your life!
How to make a Patty Melt Casserole
Begin by buttering all of the bread on one side.
This will create the awesome buttery and crispy “crust”, so don’t skip this step.
Place half of the bread buttered side down in a 9×13 pan.
If the bread doesn’t fit perfectly, then just cut it to fit. The main thing is to be sure that it fills the bottom of the dish.
Now add half of the cheese. I used Swiss cheese but Provolone would also be delicious.
Next, add the cooked hamburger to the top of the cheese layer.
Spread it out into an even layer.
Now add the sauted onions to the top of the hamburger.
To get them to cook quickly, add a tablespoon of water to the onions at a time and let it evaporate.
Keep doing that step over and over until your onions are a beautiful brown color.
The next layer is thousand island dressing.
This dressing will keep the casserole nice and soft on the inside. I used a store bought version.
Follow by the other half of the cheese.
Adding a layer on both the top and bottom of the casserole helps keep the bread in place and adds awesome flavor. Plus and awesome cheese pull.
Finally add the final layer of buttered bread, top with foil and bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil and continue to bake uncovered for about 10 minutes.
Or until the top is nice and golden brown. The cheese will also be melted.
The only thing left to do is dish up one of the sandwiches onto your plate and eat up!
They have all of the flavors of a traditional Patty Melt but you are making 6-8 at the same time. Aren’t casserole’s are awesome!
5 Tips for the Perfect Patty Melt Casserole
- Make sure you add enough butter to the bread so that it will toast the bread when baked. Because we aren’t grilling it, this is how we are getting the great texture.
- Precook the ground beef and onions before adding them to the casserole. The Patty Melt Casserole will only be baking for about 20-30 minutes, so we need to be sure everything is cooked through.
- Use a thicker cut of bread. Using a little thicker cut of bread gives you a really great casserole. It also allows both the bread on the top and bottom to be substantial.
- Add enough thousand island dressing to be sure the entire casserole is covered. This not only gives it great flavor but also keeps everything super moist.
- Keep the bread in the same pattern on both the top and bottom crust. This allows you to serve up an actual sandwich to everyone.
Do you love casseroles? Try these recipe…
- Totcho Casserole
- Teriyaki Chicken Stir fry Casserole
- Meatball Sub Casserole
- Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
- Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Bake
- Easy Ham Breakfast Casserole
Patty Melt Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. ground beef {I used 93% lean}
- 1 ½ tbsp steak seasonings
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 medium onion {thinly sliced}
- 12 slices bread {I used Artisan but rye is traditional}
- 1/4 cup butter
- 18 slices Swiss cheese
- ¼-½ cup thousand island dressing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Begin by cooking your burger through and removing any grease. Once cooked through, add the steak seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine, remove from pan and set aside.
- Then using the same pan {over medium high heat} add a tablespoon of oil and the sliced onions. Cook until they are soft and lightly browned. To speed up the process, add a tablespoon of water after a few minutes of cooking. Allow the water to evaporate and continue to add a tablespoon at a time {waiting to add more until fully evaporated} until you get the right color and consistency.
- Butter one side of all slices of bread. Put half of the bread {butter side down} into the bottom of a 9x13 pan. If the bread doesn't fit perfectly then you can cut it down so that the entire bottom of the pan is covered.
- Next, add half of the slices of cheese on top of the bread. I cut the cheese down as needed to get a nice even layer. On top of the cheese, add the cooked and seasoned ground beef. Spread it out into an even layer. Add the sauted onions to the top of the ground beef. Spread out into an even layer. Next, add the thousand island dressing and spread it out into an even layer. Add the other half of the sliced cheese onto the thousand island dressing. Then top with other half of the butter bread {buttered side up}. If the bread doesn't fit perfectly then you can cut it down so that it covers the top of the casserole.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes remove the foil and continue to bake for about 10 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator and heat in the oven for the crispy texture.
