Indulge in a delicious Air Fryer Patty Melt, with juicy beef patties, melted cheese, and caramelized onions, all sandwiched between crispy, buttery bread. A quick and easy recipe perfect for a comforting meal!
An Air Fryer Patty Melt is a delicious and easy-to-make twist on the classic patty melt, offering a crispy, golden exterior with a perfectly melted interior. This recipe combines juicy, seasoned beef patties, melted cheese, and caramelized onions, all sandwiched between buttery, toasted bread.
The air fryer cooks the sandwich to perfection, creating a crispy crust without the need for excessive oil, making it a healthier yet indulgent option for a quick lunch or dinner. It’s a comforting, savory meal that’s sure to satisfy your cravings for a classic diner-style sandwich!
If you love Air Fryer Hamburgers, you will absolutely love this patty melt; this is a great lunch or a great dinner. Served next to some Air Fryer Homemade Potato Chips or even some easy Air Fryer French Fries, you have a great meal!!
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Quick and Easy: This Air Fryer Patty Melt is a fast, hassle-free way to enjoy a classic comfort food without the need for a stove or grill.
- Crispy and Golden: The Air Fryer ensures your patty melt gets perfectly crispy and golden on the outside, while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
- Delicious Flavor: With melted cheese, caramelized onions, and seasoned beef patties, every bite is packed with savory, mouthwatering flavor.
- Customizable: You can easily adjust the toppings and cheese to suit your taste, making this recipe as unique as you are.
Ingredients Needed
- Onions: Thinly sliced and caramelized to a golden brown, onions add a natural sweetness and depth of flavor essential to any good patty melt.
- Ground Beef: Shaped into thin patties, seasoned to your liking. Choose a higher fat content for juicier results.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Tenderizes the meat.
- Rye Bread: Traditionally used for its distinctive taste, rye bread is lightly buttered and toasted to create the perfect crispy exterior for the sandwich.
- Butter: Spread on the outside of the bread, butter enhances the flavor and achieves that golden, crispy texture when air-fried.
- Swiss Cheese: Perfectly complements the savory beef and sweet onions, adding a gooey layer to the sandwich.
- Spices: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, and Black Pepper: Bringing out the natural flavors of the meat and making the patty melt more savory
- Other: Cooking Spray
How To Make Air Fryer Patty Melt
Step One: Season the ground beef with Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, Kosher salt and black pepper, and shape into thin patties slightly larger than your bread slices. Remember, they’ll shrink a bit as they cook.
Step Two: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F (176°C). Place the patties in the air fryer basket, ensuring they’re not touching. Set cook time for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through or until they reach your desired doneness. Remove the patties and set aside.
Step Three: While the patties cook, caramelize the onions in a skillet over medium heat with a little butter, stirring occasionally until they’re golden brown and soft. This could take about 15-20 minutes for the best flavor.
Step Four: Butter one side of each slice of rye bread. On the unbuttered side, layer a slice of Swiss cheese, a cooked beef patty, a generous helping of caramelized onions, another slice of cheese, and finally, top with another slice of bread, buttered side up.
Step Five: Place the assembled sandwiches back in the air fryer. You might need to cook them one at a time, depending on the size of your air fryer. Cook at 370°F (187°C) for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until the bread is toasted to your liking and the cheese has melted. Once cooked, remove the patty melts from the air fryer. Let them sit for a minute before cutting into halves. Serve hot for the best experience.
Air Fryer Patty Melt Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer: Make sure the patties and sandwiches are placed in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking. If necessary, cook the patties or sandwiches in batches.
- Adjust Cooking Time for Preferred Doneness: The cooking time can vary based on the thickness of your patties and how well-done you prefer your meat. For a medium patty, cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Butter the Bread Generously: For that perfect golden-brown and crispy texture, be generous with the butter on the bread. This helps achieve the crispy crust you want without burning.
- Experiment with Cheese: While Swiss cheese is traditional, you can mix it up by adding cheddar, gouda, or provolone for a different flavor profile.
- Caramelize Onions Slowly: Caramelizing the onions slowly over low heat enhances their sweetness, making the flavor more intense and delicious.
- Use Thin Patties: For a perfectly crispy patty melt, make sure your patties are thinner than the bread slices. This ensures they cook evenly and match the thickness of the sandwich.
- Let It Rest: After air frying, let your patty melt sit for a minute or two before cutting into it. This helps the cheese set and prevents it from spilling out.
Storing
- Storing: Store leftover Air Fryer Patty Melts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be sure to let them cool down completely before storing to avoid sogginess.
- Freezing: To freeze, wrap the patty melt tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in a freezer-safe bag. You can store it in the freezer for up to 1-2 months for the best taste and texture.
- Reheating Patty Melt In Air Fryer: Reheat the Air Fryer Patty Melt in the air fryer at 350°F (176°C) for about 3-5 minutes until the bread crisps up again and the cheese melts. Alternatively, reheat in a skillet on low heat for a few minutes on each side.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Patty Melt
When serving an Air Fryer Patty Melt, consider pairing it with classic sides that complement its rich, savory flavors. Crispy, golden French fries or sweet potato fries make a perfect match, offering a crunchy contrast to the soft, melty sandwich. For a lighter option, serve with a side of coleslaw or a fresh green salad, which adds a refreshing, tangy balance to the richness of the melt. Pickles or pickled vegetables also work well, bringing a touch of acidity that cuts through the savory flavors, enhancing the overall meal experience.
Air Fryer Patty Melt Recipe Faqs
Can I make a patty melt in the air fryer without flipping the sandwich? While you can try, flipping the sandwich ensures even cooking and browning on both sides. It’s recommended to flip for the best results.
What type of bread works best for a patty melt? Traditionally, rye bread is used for its distinct flavor, but you can also use sourdough or Texas toast for a different taste or texture.
Can I use pre-formed hamburger patties for this recipe? Absolutely. Pre-formed patties can save time. Just make sure they’re thin enough to cook quickly and fit well within your bread slices.
What if my cheese isn’t melting? If the cheese isn’t melting by the time the bread is toasted, you can briefly open the air fryer and cover the top of the sandwich with a piece of aluminum foil to help trap heat and melt the cheese without further browning the bread.
Can I add other toppings to my patty melt? Definitely. Feel free to customize your patty melt with additional toppings like sautéed mushrooms, bacon, or avocado. Just be mindful not to overstuff the sandwich to ensure it cooks evenly.
Is it better to use fresh or caramelized onions? Caramelized onions are traditional for a patty melt because of their sweetness and depth of flavor, but you can use fresh onions for a sharper taste or if you’re short on time.
Can I make a vegetarian patty melt in the air fryer? Yes, you can replace the beef patty with a vegetarian patty of your choice. Cooking times may vary based on the patty, so adjust accordingly.
Can I make the patty melt ahead of time? While you can prep the components (like caramelizing the onions and forming the beef patties) ahead of time, it’s best to cook the sandwich just before serving to enjoy its crispy texture and melty cheese.
Serving Suggestions
- AIR FRYER POTATO WEDGES
- AIR FRYER FROZEN SWEET POTATO FRIES
- NINJA FOODI BOXED MACARONI AND CHEESE
- INSTANT POT MASHED POTATOES
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- AIR FRYER FLUFFERNUTTER SANDWICH
- AIR FRYER GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH
- EASY AIR FRYER PEPPERONI CALZONE
- AIR FRYER REUBEN SANDWICH
- AIR FRYER SAUSAGE, PEPPERS, AND ONIONS
Equipment Used
Don’t Forget To Pin!
Air Fryer Patty Melt
Description
Ingredients
- 1/2 large sweet onion, cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 8 ounces ground beef
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 slices marble rye bread
- 2 tablespoons butter, unsalted, room temperature
- 4 slices Swiss Cheese
Instructions
- Season the ground beef with Worcestershire Sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper, and shape into thin patties slightly larger than your bread slices. Remember, they'll shrink a bit as they cook.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F (187°C). Place the patties in the air fryer basket, ensuring they’re not touching. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until they reach your desired doneness. Remove the patties and set aside.
- While the patties cook, caramelize the onions in a skillet over medium heat with a little butter, stirring occasionally until they’re golden brown and soft. This could take about 15-20 minutes for the best flavor.
- Butter one side of each slice of rye bread. On the unbuttered side, layer a slice of Swiss cheese, a cooked beef patty, a generous helping of caramelized onions, another slice of cheese, and finally, top with another slice of bread, buttered side up.
- Place the assembled sandwiches back in the air fryer. You might need to cook them one at a time, depending on the size of your air fryer. Cook at 370°F (187°C) for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until the bread is toasted to your liking and the cheese has melted.
- Once cooked, remove the patty melts from the air fryer. Let them sit for a minute before cutting into halves. Serve hot for the best experience.
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Nutrition
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Betsy
Miss Laurie, are the patties well-done if you’re air frying for 11 minutes? Thank you for your help.