Oklahoma Onion Patty Melt

A juicy diner patty melt and the Oklahoma onion smash burger both remind me of going to an old-fashioned diner with my friends, enjoying one of my favorite foods in simpler times. Why not combine the two and make a mega-nostalgia burger? Well, that’s exactly what we did with this Oklahoma Onion Patty Melt!

Smashing some hamburger patties in a sizzling cast iron pan with thinly-sliced onions on top is the best way to make this classic Oklahoma burger. To transform it into a mega patty melt, I drizzled my special sauce recipe over some Texas toast instead of hamburger buns and added crispy bacon and melty Swiss cheese.

The thick Texas toast is extra crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, which makes for the best burgers you can have at home with simple ingredients. They’re fun to grill, and even better to eat!

Oklahoma Onion Patty Melt Recipe:

Servings: 4 People

Prep: 30 minutes

Cook: 1 hours

Burger:

• 1.5 lbs Ground Beef
• 1 tbsp Kosher Salt
• 1 tbsp Black Pepper
• 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
• 1 whole White Onion, sliced thin

Diner Sauce:

• 2 tbsp Ketchup
• 2 tbsp Yellow Mustard
• 2 tbsp Mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp Pickled Relish
• 1.5 tsp Hot Sauce

Patty Melt:

• 1 loaf Texas Toast
• 10-12 Swiss Cheese, sliced
• 10-12 Bacon Slices

How to Make Oklahoma Onion Patty Melt

To make these Oklahoma-style Oonion Patty Melt, the first thing you need to do is begin by loosely forming ¼ pound balls of hamburger meat. Set them onto a tray, and place them in the fridge to firm for 30 minutes.

In another bowl, mix together all the ingredients for your diner sauce and set that in the fridge until you are ready.

Finally, thinly slice some white onions and squeeze out any excess water. Set to the side.

To start on your savory meats, preheat your grill to medium-high heat (around 350F) adding a cast iron skillet or plancha to the grill 2 minutes before cooking. Add your bacon to cook on the large skillet and cook until done to your liking. Then, pull the bacon off and let cool. 

It’s a Smashing Time

Now you’re ready to smash some burgers. Pull your burger balls out of the fridge and then add them to the hot skillet, topping with your thinly sliced onions. As the meat sizzles, get out a small piece of parchment paper and a larger spatula/burger smasher.

To make smashed burger patties, place the parchment over one onion covered burger ball and then firmly press with the spatula until the burger is “smashed” on the skillet. Repeat this for each hamburger patty, and let cook for another 1-2 minutes. During this time, top the patty with some salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Carefully flip each burger over, then season the new side with salt, pepper, and garlic. Top each burger with a piece of cheese and then 2-3 slices of bacon. Let cheese melt, then transfer patties off the grill and keep warm until ready to use.

For more with smashed patties, check out my Steakhouse Smash Burgers, Chopped Texas Patty Melt and Cheesy Onion Smash Burgers.

Assembling Oklahoma Onion Patty Melt

Start assembling your Oklahoma Onion Patty Melt with a spoonful of the diner sauce on the bottom piece of Texas toast, double patties topped with a slice of cheese and bacon and another slice of bread with diner sauce on top of the burger.

Repeat this for all the patty melts, then place them on a clean skillet/plancha to toast the outside of the bread. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown, then pull off and let cool.

Serve your finished burgers with fries, ketchup, and dill pickles for the best flavor. Enjoy!

FAQs

What is the difference between a hamburger and a patty melt?

Meat-lovers around the world crave both of these delicious sandwiches, but you might find yourself wondering what the difference is. Thankfully, it’s simple: hamburgers are served on burger buns, while patty melts are best enjoyed with grilled bread. Patty melts are also known for featuring melted cheese and caramelized onions on top of the burger patty. A traditional patty melt uses rye bread, but modern variations tend to branch out.

Where Did Oklahoma Onion Burgers Come From?

The legendary Oklahoma Onion Burger is a Great Depression invention that was birthed in Ardmore, Oklahoma at the Hamburger Inn to save money on hamburger meat. Today, you can get these authentic Depression burgers containing the iconic thin patty and half an onion at Sid’s Diner. If you’re ever going through El Reno, it’s a must! 

The only thing more important than where a food comes from is where it’s headed, and my Oklahoma Onion Patty Melt is a recipe fusion that will make you feel like you’re living in the future.

If you’d like to try more delicious recipes or master the perfectly cooked burger, check out my second cookbook Flavor X Fire or my first cookbook Food X Fire!

Needing more spice in your life? My spice line can help with that. Check them out here.