Waffle House Patty Melt Recipe (2024)

Waffle House is certainly among favorite destinations when it comes to flavor-packed, juicy burgers, T-bone steak dinners, crispy hash browns, and fresh chicken and bacon sandwiches.

However, our focus today is on the Waffle House patty melt, which is among their most-requested signature dishes.

This patty melt is a perfect snack or lunch idea if you’re craving a burger with a twist.

The melted cheese, fresh beef patty, and the Waffle House combo of caramelized onion and mayo create a beautiful fusion of different textures and intoxicating aromas.

Keep on reading to learn how you can recreate your favorite patty melt at home!

How to make the Waffle House Patty Melt

The Waffle House patty melt is a perfect blend of a crunchy sandwich and a juicy, cheesy burger.

It is perfectly crispy and golden on the outside, but tender and creamy on the inside with two types of cheese and toasty, caramelized onion.

In this recipe, we will focus not only on the crispy bread but also on the juicy beef patty, as well as the best method of cooking the patty without drying it out.

The Waffle House patty melt has changed the way people like to eat their burgers, as it adds the crunchy element that is lacking in a “regular” burger.

Keep in mind that the result will be much better (and not just for this recipe) if you use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-grated.

Also, in case you’re craving a Texas bacon patty melt instead of the regular one, bake or air fry some bacon strips to incorporate into your patty melt for extra flavor and crunchiness.

Without further ado, let’s get into the list of the necessary ingredients for this Waffle House patty melt recipe.

Ingredients:

(4 servings)

• 1 lb ground beef
• 8 slices sandwich bread (Rye bread or any other option you prefer)
• grated cheddar cheese
• grated Swiss cheese
• 3/4 cup onion
• 4 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 package Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp sugar
• vegetable oil (for cooking)

Instructions:

Step 1:

Place a skillet over medium heat and add the butter.

Once the butter has melted, add in the sliced onions, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and a teaspoon of sugar, which will help the caramelization process.

Let the onions cook for at least 20 minutes, or until they’ve reached the desired level of caramelization.

Remember to stir the onions frequently, and lower the heat in case they start burning and sticking to the bottom of the skillet.

Step 2:

To prepare the ground beef, add a packet of Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper.

Make sure to mix the meat and the seasonings well, so that the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Once you’ve created the meat mixture, it is time to form the patties.

You don’t want the patties to be too thick, as this could prevent them from cooking all the way through.

Step 3:

Add some vegetable oil to a skillet, then let it heat up over high heat.

Place the patties in the skillet, and let them cook for about five minutes on each side.

Avoid flipping the patties more than once, as this will prevent them from preserving all the natural juices.

Step 4:

Once the beef patties are cooked, it is time to toast the bread and assemble the patty melt.

Coat the bread slices with a little bit of butter on one side, which will be the outer side of the sandwich.

Add the burger patties, as well as grated cheese and caramelized onion, then top with another bread slice.

Step 5:

Heat up a little bit of butter in a pan, then add the patty melt sandwich, making sure that the side with the butter is down.

Toast the sandwich for about 3-5 minutes on both sides until the cheese melts, or until you’re satisfied with how crispy the bread is.

Serve with mayonnaise and your favorite condiments.

Ingredient Substitutions

This Waffle house patty melt recipe can still turn out amazing if you replace some of the elements with other ingredients.

Whether you don’t have an ingredient in your fridge or you simply don’t like it, here’s what you can use instead.

1. Ground pork

While the original patty melt calls for ground beef, you can use ground pork for your patties instead.

Pork is quite a versatile option, and many people enjoy it in their burgers, as it doesn’t have a very dominant flavor profile or aroma.

Therefore, if you’re all out of ground beef, feel free to replace it with pork and use the same seasonings, as well as the cooking method, to prepare your homemade patty melt.

2. Edam cheese

Not a fan of Swiss cheese? Just use Edam cheese instead!

This beautiful cheese is slightly nutty, savory, yet also sweet, which is a great option to combine with the beef patties, as well as toasted bread.

It melts just like Swiss cheese, so there will be no difference in taste or texture.

3. Colby cheese

As for the cheddar cheese, the best replacement in this recipe would be Colby cheese, which is buttery, mild, and predominantly sweet.

We’d say that Colby cheese is the most adequate option when substituting younger or white cheddar, whereas mature cheddar would require a sharper, more complex alternative.

Regardless of the type of cheese you choose for your Waffle House patty melt, it is recommended to add freshly grated cheese instead of pre-grated.

The difference in both the flavor and the texture is tremendous!

4. American cheese

American cheese is a rather convenient and effective solution if you’re looking for a cheese that melts beautifully and creates the texture you’d expect in a patty melt.

In case you’re replacing cheddar or Swiss cheese with American cheese, make sure to add a slice of cheese directly onto the beef patty 2-3 minutes before taking the patties out of the skillet to allow the cheese to melt.

5. Soy sauce

Soy sauce can add a very similar note of savory, umami, and slightly sweet flavor to the ground beef in case you don’t like using Worcestershire sauce.

Keep in mind that soy sauce also offers a touch of a toasty, almost caramelized aroma, which will complement the caramelized onions beautifully.

Choose dark soy sauce for a more intense flavor, and light soy sauce if you don’t want the taste of the patties to be dominant.

What to Serve With the Waffle House Patty Melt

While this patty melt can be considered a very filling, complete meal, there is nothing wrong with combining it with condiments and side dishes to treat yourself.

Here are the best options to serve with your homemade Waffle House patty melt.

Ketchup

In addition to the mayonnaise, which is the main option when it comes to dipping sauces for your patty melt sandwich, ketchup is another condiment that goes well with this type of meal.

Ketchup will provide the much-needed refreshing, slightly acidic note to this dish since we’re talking about deep, complex flavors.

French fries

You can never go wrong with the ultimate side dish of all time: French fries.

They come in so many shapes and forms, and whichever brand you choose will complement the patty melt perfectly.

Keep in mind that it is not necessary to season the fries heavily, as the patty melt itself is packed with creamy, savory flavors.

A pinch of salt goes a long way!

You can always make French fries from scratch if you’re not fond of using frozen ones, as convenient as they are.

Grilled veggies

Throwing your favorite veggie mix on the grill is always a good choice if you’re trying to make your meal more balanced and nutritious.

Also, when it comes to heavy, complex flavors, it is necessary to add a light component such as grilled veggies to brighten up the dish.

How to Reheat the Waffle House Patty Melt

Here’s how you can reheat your homemade patty melt without drying out the patty, which seems to be the biggest concern when it comes to warming up this sandwich.

How to Reheat the Waffle House Patty Melt On the stove

Add a little bit of butter to a skillet, then place it over medium heat.

Take the beef patty out of the sandwich and warm it up separately.

Once the patty is ready, toast the outer sides of the bread to warm it up.

You may also add more cheese, assemble the patty melt again, and warm up the entire sandwich in your skillet to allow the cheese to melt.

How to Reheat the Waffle House Patty Melt In the oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Wrap the entire patty melt in some aluminum foil, then add it to the oven and let the sandwiches reheat for 10-15 minutes.

Take the patty melt out of the foil and allow it to get golden and crispy for a few more minutes.

How to Store the Waffle House Patty Melt

Here’s how to properly store your patty melt in the fridge or the freezer and enjoy your leftovers without worrying about spoilage.

Store in the fridge

Allow the patty to melt to cool down completely at room temperature.

Then, wrap it in a piece of aluminum foil or plastic wrap or put it in an airtight container.

Keep in the fridge for no more than 3 days.

Store in the freezer

We wouldn’t recommend storing the entire patty melt, as the bread will become soggy and soft no matter what defrosting method you use.

That being said, you can remove the beef patties and keep them in a freezer bag or an airtight container for up to three months.

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