Corned Beef Patty Melts – Girls Can Grill

Your classic patty melt with ground beef, Swiss cheese and caramelized onions just got an upgrade. We’re making these with corned beef.

What is a patty melt?

Patty melts are a cross between a hamburger and a grilled cheese sandwich. They’re made by layering bread with a cooked ground beef hamburger patty, caramelized onions and cheese.

The sandwich is cooked up on a griddle like a grilled cheese sandwich, creating a crispy, buttery crust with a cheesy beefy center.

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Ingredients

• Corned Beef Brisket: Look for a point cut that has already been brined. You’ll find them in the grocery store right around St. Patrick’s Day.
• Onion: Use a large onion. White onion or sweet yellow onion both work.
• Rye Bread: Any bread works great, but Rye bread is a staple for deli pastrami sandwiches.
• Swiss Cheese: Plan on 3 slices per sandwich.
• Butter: Use softened salted butter to spread onto the bread before grilling. If you use unsalted butter, add a pinch of kosher salt to the sandwich after you cook it.
• Thousand Island: This is a classic flavor for pastrami sandwiches, so it works great with this patty melt recipe.
• Oil: I use avocado oil, but any high-heat oil will work.

Substitutions: If you can't find a point cut corned beef, flat cut will work too. You can also make this with a brisket that you corn yourself. This recipe can also be made with white bread, wheat bread or sourdough bread. Instead of two layers of melted Swiss, substitute one layer with American cheese for a creamier sandwich. 

See the full recipe card above for servings and a full list of ingredients.

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How to cook a patty melt

I used the NInja FlexFlame to cook this recipe. I set the grill to the roast/bake setting and the temperature to 425F. If you’re using any other griddle, set the temp to 425F. If you’re using a large cast iron skillet, place it on the stove over medium heat.

1. STEP ONE: Roll the ground corned beef into 4 balls. Drizzle a little oil on the preheated griddle. Place the balls on the hot griddle, and use a heavy press to smash them down. Cook for 4-5 minutes.

PRO TIP: If you're worried about the burger patties sticking to the press, place a piece of parchment paper on the patty first. 

2. STEP TWO: Flip. Cook for 2-3 more minutes. Remove and set aside.

3. STEP THREE: Add more oil to the griddle. Add the onions and sauté until tender.

4. STEP FOUR: Butter one side of each slice of rye bread. Add thousand island to other side of 2 slices.  Add 2 pieces of bread onto griddle butter side down, thousand island side up. Top each with 1 patty, half of the onions, 1 1/2 slices cheese, second patty, 1 1/2 slices cheese, slice of bread buttered side up.

5. STEP FIVE: Cook until golden brown. Use a large spatula to flip it over. Cook until golden and the cheese is melted.

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How to serve corned beef patty melts

Once you remove the patty melts from the griddle, serve them immediately while they’re still hot. These double decker sandwiches are huge, so they are a meal all on their own.

Cut them into quarters for appetizers great for game day or St. Patrick’s Day.

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Storage

This sandwich doesn’t store well because the bread will get soggy. If you want to make it ahead, cook the ground beef patties and onions and store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

When, you’re ready, build and grill your sandwiches over medium-low heat.

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