Pimento Cheese Patty Melts are the ultimate southern patty melt. Beef patties, red pepper jelly-flavored caramelized onions, and pimento cheese are grilled between two slices of white bread.

Patty Melt cut in half with fries.

The Patty Melt is a classic diner-style American sandwich and is one of my favroties. Typically made with grilled onion and American cheese, this one has a southern flair with onions cooked in  butter and then flavored with a little thyme and red pepper jelly. The red pepper jelly adds both sweetness and a little heat to the onions. Instead of American cheese, these Pimento Cheese Patty Melts have a healthy slather of pimento cheese. The pimento cheese melts and gets so creamy, no sauce is needed. Plus it adds tons of cheese flavor.

Pimento Cheese Patty Melt cut in half with fries.

Pimento Cheese Patty Melts Recipe Tips

You can use homemade pimento cheese for this recipe or store bought.

A cast iron pan is perfect for this recipe. It gets a great sear on both the burger patties and the bread. As an alternative, use a nonstick pan.

I like to use 80 to 85% lean ground beef for this recipe. Having a good amount of fat produces a juicy and flavorful burger. You can use a leaner ground beef if you wish.

Close-up of Pimento Cheese Patty Melt

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Pimento Cheese Patty Melts

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 32 minutes
Servings: 4
Pimento Cheese Patty Melts are the ultimate southern patty melt. Beef patties, red pepper jelly-flavored caramelized onions, and pimento cheese are grilled between two slices of white bread.
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Ingredients

  • 2 medium sweet onions,, cut in half and thinly sliced
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter,, divided
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried
  • 2 tablespoons red pepper jelly
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon Worscestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 8 slices sturdy white sandwich bread or sourdough bread.
  • 1 1/3 cups pimento cheese

Instructions 

  • Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large cast iron or nonstick skillet.
    Add onion and cook, stirring often for 20 minutes. Turn heat down if they are getting too browned.
  • Transfer onion to a bowl and stir in thyme and red pepper jelly. Set aside.
  • While the onion is cooking, combine the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Gently mix together.
    Shape into 4 oval patties.
  • Wipe skillet clean, but leave a little grease.
    Heat over medium-high heat. Add patties and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes per side or until desired degree of doneness.
  • Remove patties to a plate.
    Wipe skillet clean.
  • Spread 1/3 cup of pimento cheese on half of the bread slices. Top each with a burger patty.
  • Spread the onion mixture on the remaining bread slices and place them onion side down on top of the burger patties.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add 2 patty melts. Press down some on the patty melts as they cook and turn them over when golden on the bottom. Cook until second side is golden.
  • Repeat with remaining butter and patty melts.

Notes

I like to use ground beef that is 80 to 85% lean. You can use leaner ground beef if you wish.
Homemade or storebought pimento cheese can be used.

Nutrition

Calories: 840kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Recipe adapted from Southern cast Iron

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1 Comment

  1. melanie a swett says:

    yummy