Pioneer Woman Breakfast Patty Melt

Pioneer Woman breakfast patty melt takes 35 minutes and breakfast sausage, soft scrambled-style eggs and caramelized onions to make a crispy, cheesy griddled sandwich. It's an easy weekend brunch sandwich for lazy Sundays, date night or breakfast for dinner, and it's a one-skillet-at-a-time classic.

Cook the sandwich low and slow for a full 8 to 10 minutes, because that gives the three layers of cheese time to melt completely. Turn the heat up to hurry it and you get burnt bread with cold, unmelted cheese inside.

Pressing the sausage into a thin patty the width of the bread means every bite has meat, egg and onion together, with no thick center to bite through. Since sausage carries so much more flavor than ground beef, a thin patty still tastes bold.

Pioneer Woman Breakfast Patty Melt

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Course: BreakfastCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

2

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

760

kcal

Crisp, buttery bread holds a thin sausage patty, a folded egg round and a pile of jammy onions, all glued together with melted cheese. Cooking it over low heat lets the middle melt while the outside turns deeply golden.

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp. Butter, More If Needed
  

• 1/2 whole Medium Yellow Onion, Sliced
  

• 1/4 lb. Breakfast Sausage (Jimmy Dean, JC Potter, Etc)
  

• 2 whole Eggs, Beaten
  

• 3 slices Cheddar, Swiss, Provolone, Or Other Cheese
  

• 2 slices Bread (sourdough, Rye, Whole Wheat, Etc.)
  

Directions

• Caramelize the onions: Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a non-stick skillet over low heat, then add the sliced onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized, then move them to a plate.
• Cook the sausage patty: Form the 1/4 pound of breakfast sausage into a thin patty about the width of your bread. Cook it in the same skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes total, flipping once, until it's cooked through.
• Cook the eggs: Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel, then pour in the 2 beaten eggs. Push them into a rough circle as they set, then flip to finish the other side.
• Assemble the sandwich: Layer bread, cheese, sausage patty, eggs, cheese, onions, cheese and the second slice of bread. Keeping a slice of cheese between each filling helps hold everything together once it melts.
• Griddle until crisp: Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a clean skillet over low heat and set the sandwich in it. Cook low and slow for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping once, until the cheese is melted and the bread is crisp.
• Butter and serve: Add a little more butter to the skillet if the bread starts to look dry, because you want it golden, not dull. Slice the sandwich in half and serve right away while the cheese is still stretchy.

Tools for this recipe

• Lodge 10.25-inch cast iron skillet, Winco slotted fish spatula. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

What kind of bread works best for a breakfast patty melt?

Sourdough, rye and whole wheat all work well because they're sturdy enough to hold the fillings and crisp up in butter. Soft, thin sandwich bread tends to go soggy, so pick something with a bit of structure.

Can I use ground beef or turkey instead of breakfast sausage?

Yes, but season the meat well with salt, pepper and a pinch of sage, since plain meat won't have the same punch as sausage. Chorizo is another good swap if you want some heat.

Can I make the onions ahead of time?

Caramelized onions keep well in the fridge for several days, so you can cook a big batch ahead and reheat them gently. It cuts the sandwich down to about 20 minutes of cooking.

How do I reheat a leftover breakfast patty melt?

Warm it in a skillet over low heat for a few minutes per side so the bread re-crisps and the cheese softens again. The microwave makes the bread chewy, so I'd skip it. This sandwich is best eaten fresh, so I wouldn't plan on storing it for long.

Why does my bread burn before the cheese melts?

The heat is too high. Keep the skillet on low and give the sandwich the full 8 to 10 minutes. If the middle still isn't melting, cover the pan with a lid for a minute to trap the heat.