Air fryer patty melts are a delicious twist on the classic diner favorite. To make these mouthwatering sandwiches, start by preheating your air fryer to the recommended temperature. While it heats up, season your ground beef patties with salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings. Place the patties in the air fryer basket and cook until they reach your desired level of doneness, flipping halfway through.
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Why You Will Like This Recipe
I love making patty melts and I've made plenty of them. I've tested them in the air fryer and on a Blackstone - Blackstone Patty Melts. I've also caramelized onions on a Blackstone that you can add to your patty melts.
A good patty melt consists of decent bread, a burger patty, cheese, and caramelized onions. The hardest part of the recipe is waiting for the caramelized onions to get done. If you prep everything in advance like the patties and onions, these sandwiches can be easily made for lunch the next day. All you need to do is toast the bread.
Holy heck I posted a new recipe! Just so you know I’m still here, just been very busy updating older recipes that I should probably just be reposting on the front page when I’m done with it. I’m going to try and remember to do that from now on.
You will also like this Air Fryer Tuna Melt
What you need for Patty Melts
- 2 burger patties (pre-cooked or raw, depending on time)
- 4 slices of bread (sourdough, rye, or white) - I like the sour dough bread at Aldi and I cut it according to the burger size.
- 4 slices of cheese (Swiss, cheddar, or American)
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1–2 tablespoon butter or olive oil spray or mayo
How to make Air Fryer Patty Melts
Step 1: Caramelize the onions. Sauté sliced onions in a skillet with a little butter until soft and golden (10–15 min). You can also air fry them at 360°F for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway. You can do this on a stove or a Blackstone Griddle - How to Caramelize Onions on Blackstone
Step 2 Cook the burger patties: If raw: Air fry at 375°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway (until 160°F inside). If pre-cooked/frozen: Heat at 360°F for 5–6 minutes until warmed through.
Sep 3 Assemble the melts: Lay down bread → cheese → burger patty → onions → another cheese slice → bread. Lightly butter the outsides or spray with oil for crispiness.
Air fry: Place sandwiches in the air fryer basket. Cook at 360°F for 5–7 minutes, flipping halfway, until the bread is golden and the cheese is melty.
Pro Tips:
- Use toothpicks to hold the sandwich together if needed (remove after cooking).
- Don’t overcrowd — air fry one at a time if needed.
- Press the sandwich slightly before air frying for a classic patty melt feel.
- Experiment with different types of cheese (colby jack, cheddar, swiss, etc)
Recipe FAQS
A patty melt is technically a type of burger, but instead of a bun, it’s served on toasted bread (usually rye or sourdough) with melted cheese and sautéed onions. It’s grilled like a sandwich, giving it that crispy, buttery outside.
Absolutely! The air fryer toasts the bread and melts the cheese perfectly without needing a skillet. You just need to flip it halfway and possibly use toothpicks to hold it together.
Other Recipes to Try
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Air Fryer Patty Melts
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 40 min
- Total Time: 65 min
- Yield: 4
- Category: Medium
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
A good patty melt consists of decent bread, a burger patty, cheese, and caramelized onions. The hardest part of the recipe is waiting for the caramelized onions to get done.
Ingredients
- 2 burger patties (pre-cooked or raw, depending on time)
- 4 slices of bread (sourdough, rye, or white)
- 4 slices of cheese (Swiss, cheddar, or American)
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1–2 tablespoon butter or olive oil spray
Instructions
Sauté sliced onions in a skillet with a little butter until soft and golden (10–15 min). You can also air fry them at 360°F for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway.
If raw: Air fry at 375°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway (until 160°F inside).
If pre-cooked/frozen: Heat at 360°F for 5–6 minutes until warmed through.
Lay down bread → cheese → burger patty → onions → another cheese slice → bread.
Lightly butter the outsides or spray with oil for crispiness.
Place sandwiches in the air fryer basket. Cook at 360°F for 5–7 minutes, flipping halfway, until the bread is golden and the cheese is melty.
Notes
my WW: blue 9; green 9; purple: 9
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 patty melt
- Calories: 435
- Sugar: 6g
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 37g
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