These 5-Star Shaved Onion Patty Melts Are the Ultimate July 4th Burger Upgrade

Chances are you’re firing up the grill this weekend for the Fourth of July holiday, and while there’s certainly nothing wrong with your standard hamburgers and hot dogs, we’re here to upgrade your holiday weekend menu. Meet our Shaved Onion Patty Melts, which are inspired by Oklahoma onion burgers, and call for a delectable combination of ground beef, thinly sliced onion, and American cheese. These perfectly crispy, cheesy patties come together in just 30 minutes, meaning you’ll have plenty of time to pour a drink and celebrate America’s birthday. 

This quick, satisfying meal is a new REAL SIMPLE dish, but it’s already become a fan favorite. The Shaved Onion Patty Melts recipe has been saved more than 2,100 times, which means thousands of people have made it already, or plan to make it at some point in the future. Additionally, this recipe has received 5 out of 5 stars, which means it’s definitely worthy of your holiday BBQ and beyond.

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How to Make Our Shaved Onion Patty Melts

One of the many things to love about this recipe is that you don’t need a grill. While you can use one, the patties come together best in a large cast-iron skillet or griddle. To make our Shaved Onion Patty Melts for four, start by shaping the beef into four patties, making sure each one is about 1-inch thick. Once the patties are formed, use your thumb to make an indent in the center of each one. Then, season the patties with salt and pepper. 

Next, heat canola oil in a large cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and place two patties in the skillet at a time. Place 1/3 cup of thinly sliced onion next to each patty, and let everything cook for two minutes. Be sure to leave the onion alone for the first minute, and gently stir it during the second minute.

After two minutes, flip the patties and place the onion on top of each one. Let the patties cook for an additional minute, then top the onion with a slice of American cheese. Let the patties continue to cook until the cheese is melted and the burger has reached just under your desired degree of doneness—you’ll need about two minutes for medium-rare, and about five minutes for medium-well. Transfer the patties to a plate and set aside. 

Repeat the above cooking process with the remaining two patties, onion, and cheese. Once all of the patties are cooked, remove the skillet from the heat and let it cool slightly.

To assemble the patty melts, the buns should be inverted. This means you will place the bottom buns, cut side down, on a clean work surface. Top with patties, then pickles. Then, place the bun tops on the patties, cut side up.

Lastly, return the skillet to medium heat and add a tablespoon of butter. Place two burgers in the skillet and cook until the buns are golden brown, about 1 minute. Flip the burgers carefully and cook until the buns are golden brown on the other side. Remove the patties from the skillet and repeat the process with the remaining tablespoon of butter and two burgers. 

What to Serve With Shaved Onion Patty Melts

So, now that you’ve made our Shaved Onion Patty Melts, what should you serve with ‘em? Sweet potato fries (or fries of any variety, really) are always a great match, but you can also serve the patty melts with potato salad (another BBQ fave) or roasted potatoes for something a touch different. Speaking of things you can roast, roasted vegetables, such as asparagus or summer squash, are also a solid choice, as is a simply dressed side salad.

And if you want to make your patty melts even more delicious, use your favorite store-bought burger sauce, or whip up a homemade condiment by stirring together mayonnaise, ketchup, and sweet relish.