When you think about classic American foods, the cheeseburger definitely ranks among the top of the list. There’s something so satisfying about biting into a juicy, perfectly cooked burger on a toasted bun.
Even plain, a burger is delicious. But with a bun in hand, everybody can be a Picasso and ‘paint the canvas’ with the perfect combination of toppings. For most, that includes cheese, cheese and more cheese, please!
The patty melt is deceptively simple. Aside from the seasonings and butter, there are only about four ingredients: meat, onion, cheese and bread. It’s the preparation and how these ingredients are combined that give the patty melt its sizzle.
Sometimes a patty melt will be served with only sautéed onions and sometimes with a “secret sauce” – which is usually Thousand Island dressing. That tangy, creamy flavor is a great pairing with the sautéed onions.
For my Ranch Patty Melt recipe, I’m substituting the Thousand Island dressing with Kraft Classic Ranch dressing as a topping and with extra on the side for dipping.
During a trip to my local Walmart, I picked up all of the ingredients – including Kraft Natural Swiss Cheese (the BIG slices!) and Kraft Classic Ranch Dressing. I prefer ground turkey for my burgers, but you could also easily use lean hamburger.
Ranch Patty Melt
After getting my ingredients in place, I mixed together the ground turkey, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Don’t skimp on the Worcestershire!
Form four oval patties with the meat, matching the relative shape of the crusty rye bread. Set the patties aside as we prepare the onions.
Slice up a yellow onion and sauté it in a skillet with butter over medium-low heat. It takes about 25 minutes to properly brown the onions, but be patient. If you rush the process, the onions could easily burn.
Can you see the buttery steam rising from the pan in the photo below? It smells sooooo goooood.
Next up, cook the patties in a skillet over medium heat until done in the middle and browned on the outside. When the patties are cooked, you’re ready to start the final assembly.
In another skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. You’re going to assemble each Ranch Patty Melt as follows:
- slice of crusty rye bread
- slice of Kraft Swiss cheese
- turkey burger patty
- one-fourth of the sautéed onions
- two tablespoons Kraft Classic Ranch dressing
- another slice of Kraft Swiss cheese
- another slice of crusty rye bread
Grill the sandwiches in the skillet until golden brown on one side. Add the remaining butter to the skillet and flip the Ranch Patty Melt sandwiches over. Cook until golden brown and crisp.
The cheese should be all melted and gooey. Cut in half and serve immediately.
Doesn’t this look like absolute burger perfection? After you bite into it, you’ll think you went to burger heaven. How can it get any better?
When you serve it with your favorite chips or fries and – most importantly – a side of Kraft Classic Ranch dressing for dipping!
With the summer grilling season in full swing, you’ve got to try creating your own version of a cheeseburger classic.
How do you #SayCheeseburger? What are your favorite toppings for crafting the ultimate classic cheeseburger?
Ingredients
Instructions
Organize your ingredients and cooking instruments. You'll need a medium bowl and three skillets (one small, one medium and one large) to prepare the onions, burgers and the completed patty melts.
In a medium bowl, mix together ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Form into 4 oval-shaped patties, similar to the size of the rye bread slices. Put patties on a plate; set aside.
In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Toss in the onions and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Onions are done when they are golden brown and soft. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Cook the turkey burger patties on both sides, until done in the middle and browned on the outside. Set aside.
In the medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Assemble the patty melts first with a slice of rye bread topped with a slice of Swiss cheese. Add the turkey burger patty and one-fourth of the cooked onions. Cover the patty with 2 tablespoons ranch dressing followed by another slice of Swiss cheese. Top with another slice of rye bread, and grill the sandwiches until golden brown.
Repeat until all 4 sandwiches are in the skillet. When browned on one side, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Carefully flip each sandwich over, and cook until golden brown, crisp and cheese has melted.
Cut in half and serve immediately. Serve with additional ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
https://bakedchicago.com/ranch-patty-melt-recipe/
Walgreens, headquartered in Deerfield, IL (a Chicago suburb), has almost 9,000 stores throughout the United States. They are literally everywhere; I have at least 8 Walgreens stores within a half-mile radius of my home. So it’s more than convenient to get 
