In this blog post, I am going to share how to make a Patty Melt with Homemade Brioche Bread. This is one recipe that is simple to do if you have the bread on hand, any bread really, but Brioche bread does take over a day to prepare and bake. Planning ahead is key if you want to make a Patty Melt and then use homemade from scratch Brioche bread.

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Published January 9, 2023
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Patty Melt Inspiration

Living in the Midwest, there are many restaurants that are staples. Culvers is iconic for not only their custard, but also their burgers. While dining there a few weeks back, we were accidentally given a Patty Melt instead of my typical Mushroom Swiss burger.

I was, indeed, disappointed as I love a good Mushroom and Swiss burger. However, my husband rectified the situation by eating it himself after getting me the right sandwich. No harm!

A few weeks past and while menu planning, he mentions that having Patty Melts for dinner would be great, much to my dismay! I am never one to shy away from trying a new food, unless it is sardines or snails. Hard pass. Been there, won’t go back.

So, resigned to make the best Patty Melts, I set out to get the most delicious burger patties that are reasonably priced for this recipe.

If you have never heard of Culvers, are outside of the Midwest, i.e., Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota… then you can check them out by clicking the link below. It is a family-owned business that deals right with local farmers to get the best products to their consumers.

Culver’s Patty Melts: Serving Up Tradition (culvers.com)

Cost breakdown for this recipe

I had every intention of making rolls out of this Brioche dough recipe. But you know what is said about good intentions, so here we are with bread instead.

Instead of rolls, which would have been great for this recipe, this momma completely forgot to skip down and make rolls instead of bread.

Truly, the bread, when grilled held up incredibly well and developed this crispy and flavorful coating while maintaining a soft and super fluffy texture on the inside.

If our family made Patty Melts in the future, Brioche bread would not be the first bread that would be chosen. A nice sourdough would be fantastic as it would not be as sweet as the Brioche, however Brioche did give an amazing result after grilled on the griddle. For the full blog with the recipe for Brioche bread, click the link below.

Below is a cost breakdown for each item used to make this Patty Melt recipe for dinner, which made up to 16 sandwiches.

Burgers $11.99
Brioche Bread $3.84
1 onion $0.32
3 Tbsp butter $0.49
Sliced cheese $6.00

The total cost to make this recipe, for 16 Patty Melts, was $22.64, making each Patty Melt cost $1.41.
We even had three leftover Patty Melts for the next day!
All of these prices were from ALDI in January 2023.

Brioche Bread Cost:
3 1/4 cups bread flour $0.48
2 1/4 tsp yeast $0.06
1 1/2 tsp salt $0.01
7 large eggs $1.54
1/3 cup sugar $0.09
16 Tbsp unsalted butter $1.65

Recipe

Ingredients

3 1/4 cups bread flour
2 1/4 tsp yeast
1 1/2 tsp salt
7 large eggs
1/2 cup water, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
16 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted, cooled slightly
16 Burger Patty
1 onion
3 Tbsp Butter
Sliced Cheese

Directions for Brioche Bread

Below are the directions on how to make homemade from scratch Brioche Bread. When grilled on a griddle, the bread will develop a crispy and delicious coating while maintaining a soft and fluffy texture on the inside.

This Brioche bread is not the typical bread used to make a Patty Melt. Typically, a sourdough bread will be used, however, I thought it would be interesting to try to make a Patty Melt with Brioche.

If you are interested in pictures to go along with the process, click the link below. This is a recipe for Brioche Bread and how to make it from scratch. Just make sure to start Brioche dough 18-24 hours before needed as it does need to proof in the fridge.

How to make Brioche Bread Recipe

1. In a medium saucepan, add 16 Tablespoons unsalted butter and then melt on medium heat. When the butter is completely melted, turn off the heat, remove the pan from the hot burner and allow the butter to cool slightly.
2. In a large bowl, measure and add flour, yeast and salt then whisk together gently.
3. In a medium bowl, add 6 eggs, water, and sugar and whisk together well until the sugar is dissolved, around 2-3 minutes.
4. Whisk the melted and slightly cooled butter into the egg mixture until smooth.
5. To the flour mixture, add the wet ingredients and slowly combine with a wooden spoon until a uniform mass forms and no dry ingredients remain, around 1-2 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and rest on the counter for 10 minutes.
6. Holding the edge of the dough with your fingertips, fold the dough over itself toward the middle. Then turn the bowl 45 degrees and fold again, repeating for a total of 8 folds. Cover the bowl and then rest for 30 minutes. Repeat for a total of 4 folds:
1 Fold, rest 30 minutes
2 Fold, rest 30 minutes
3 Fold, rest 30 minutes
4 Fold, rest in fridge for at least 16-48 hours
7. Transfer the dough onto a well-floured counter and then use a bench scraper and divide the dough into four equal pieces.
8. Work the dough one piece at a time and pat it into a 4-inch disk. Fold the edges into the middle, working around the edges and not applying too much pressure, until a ball forms.
9. Repeat the forming of each dough ball and then cover all four dough balls with plastic wrap and let them rest for 5 minutes.
10. Spray two 8 X 4 loaf pans and then set aside.
11. Flip the dough balls seam-side up and then repeat the rounding step.
12. Place two dough balls into a prepared loaf pan, seam side down, and then gently press into the corners.
13. Cover loaves with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until almost doubled, around 1 1/2-2 hours.
14. Thirty minutes before baking, adjust the oven rack to the middle position and place a baking stone on the rack. Turn the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
15. Remove the plastic wrap and then brush the loaves with 1 beaten egg with a pinch of salt.
16. Set the loaf pans on the baking stone in the warm oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the loaf registers an internal temperature of 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Rotate pans halfway through baking.
17. Remove the baked Brioche from the oven and then rest the pans on a cooling rack for 5 minutes.
18. Remove the loaves from the loaf pans and cool completely on the rack for up to 2 hours before slicing and enjoy!
When the Brioche Bread is completely cooled, slice it using a bread knife to 1/2-inch-thick slices and then set aside.

How to make fried onions

Fried onions can be made many different ways. Typically, they are a low and slow process, to develop the flavors and to caramelize the onions. However, this momma was short on time and needed fried onions in under 10 minutes.

This is a quick recipe on how to make fried onions, in a cast iron skillet, in under 10 minutes. Just make sure to NOT take your eyes off of them or they will burn.

1. Place a cast iron skillet, or equally heavy bottom skillet onto the stove, and then heat to medium-high.
2. Peel and then thinly slice 1 yellow onion into strips.
3. Melt 3 Tbsp butter in the warm skillet.
4. Add the onion slices to the melted butter and then stir to coat the onions in butter.
5. Season with salt and pepper if desired, and then stir with a spatula often to prevent burning.
6. Cook the onions until they are slightly browned and translucent.
7. Transfer the fried onions to a bowl and then set aside.

Cook the burger patties

1. Preheat the oven to BROIL.
2. Place a rimmed baking sheet on the countertop and then spray it with non-stick spray.

3. Place the burger patties onto the baking sheet, and then place the baking sheet into the oven and cook until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Remove the baking sheet with the cooked burgers from the oven and then place it onto a potholder to cool.

Patty Melt Assembly Directions

1. Preheat a griddle to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Butter one side of a piece of bread and then place it onto the warm griddle butter-side-up, do this for as many pieces of bread that will fit on the griddle.

3. When the bread is toasted, flip the bread with a spatula and then lay a slice of cheese onto it.

4. Place a cooked burger patty onto the sliced cheese on the toasted bread.

5. Measure 1 tsp fried onions and then place them onto the patty, spreading them out evenly.

6. Place another piece of cheese onto the fried onions, and then using a spatula, flip a slice of toasted bread, toasted side down, onto the sliced cheese and then continue to toast the Patty Melt until both outer sides are fully toasted.

7. Remove the Patty Melt from the griddle with a spatula, place on a platter, and then continue to cook and plate the rest of the sandwiches.

Finally, serve with your favorite sides and enjoy!
~Monica

Patty Melt Recipe

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