A delicious and hearty Whataburger Patty Melt featuring juicy beef patties, caramelized onions, and creamy pepper sauce, all grilled between slices of buttery Texas toast.
Author:Lorenzo Bonucci
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:30 minutes
Total Time:45 minutes
Yield:2 servings 1x
Category:Sandwich
Method:Grilling
Cuisine:American
Diet:Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
1 lb ground beef (80/20)
4 slices Texas toast or thick-cut white bread
4 slices Monterey Jack cheese
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
Make the Creamy Pepper Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, if using. Cover and refrigerate while preparing the burgers.
Caramelize the Onions: Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft, golden, and caramelized. Transfer the onions to a plate and set aside.
Shape and Season the Patties: Divide the ground beef into two equal portions. Shape each into a thin patty slightly larger than the bread. Season both sides with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
Cook the Beef Patties: Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for approximately 3–4 minutes per side until browned and cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F. Transfer to a plate and let rest briefly.
Butter the Bread: Spread softened butter evenly over one side of each slice of Texas toast.
Assemble the Patty Melts: Place two slices of bread butter-side down in the skillet. Add one slice of cheese to each, followed by a cooked beef patty and caramelized onions. Spread the creamy pepper sauce over the onions, add another slice of cheese, and top with the remaining bread, butter-side facing up.
Grill Until Golden: Cook over medium-low heat for 3–4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until the bread is golden and crisp and the cheese is melted.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding jalapeños or other toppings of your choice.
Ensure the beef patties are slightly larger than the bread to account for shrinkage during cooking.
Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper based on your spice preference.