Turkey Patty Melt is the perfect combination of melty cheddar cheese, caramelized onion, rye bread, and flavorful ground turkey. So yummy!
The Turkey Melt is a great way to cut back on some fat without giving up on enjoying a favorite recipe. Just like Turkey Burgers are a healthier alternative to classic beef burgers, this is a great way to make healthier melts. The turkey is lower in saturated fat, but still flavorful, filling, and delicious. Even if you’re not cutting back on beef, this turkey version is a delicious way to change things up for a new spin on classic patty melts. It’s a delicious Sandwich Recipe that is easy to make for lunch or an easy family dinner! It’s just like our classic Patty Melt, only this version is made with ground turkey instead of ground beef.
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Sabrina’s Turkey Patty Melt Recipe
This delicious sandwich is an effortless recipe with simple ingredients that are ready in just 25 minutes. The ground turkey is flavored with Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. The easy combination makes a savory, tender, turkey base that the onions and melty cheese go perfectly with.
To complete the amazing meal, serve your Patty Melt with some of your favorite sandwich side dishes. Use store-bought potato chips, or slice up some potatoes to make your own Homemade Fries. Additionally, a Wedge Salad or Boiled Corn would also taste amazing!
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Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Turkey: Ground turkey serves as the protein base for this dish. You can substitute ground chicken or beef burger patties if preferred.
- 1 teaspoon Salt: Flakey kosher salt enhances the flavor of the turkey patties and other ingredients. You can use regular table salt as a substitute.
- ½ teaspoon Dried Thyme: Dried thyme adds a subtle earthy and herby flavor to the turkey patties. You can use dried rosemary or oregano as alternatives.
- ½ teaspoon Coarse Ground Black Pepper: Black pepper adds a mild spicy kick and enhances the overall seasoning of the turkey patties. Ground white pepper can be a substitute.
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter: Unsalted butter is used to caramelize the sliced onions. You can use olive oil or cooking spray as a healthier alternative.
- 1 Yellow Onion, Sliced: Sliced yellow onions become sweet and caramelized during cooking, providing a sweet and savory topping for the patty melt. You can use red onions or shallots for a different flavor profile.
- ⅓ cup Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise is spread on the bread, adding creaminess and a hint of tanginess to the sandwich.
- 8 slices Rye Bread: Rye bread is the classic choice for a patty melt, offering a slightly tangy and hearty base. You can use other bread varieties like sourdough or whole wheat if preferred.
- 8 slices Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar cheese melts beautifully and adds a rich, creamy texture to the sandwich. Swiss or provolone can be used for a different cheese flavor.
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Kitchen Tools and Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet: A large skillet or cast iron pan is essential for cooking the turkey patties, caramelizing the onions, and toasting the bread. Make sure it’s large enough to accommodate the patties without overcrowding.
- Mixing Bowl: A mixing bowl is used for combining the ground turkey with seasonings and Worcestershire sauce to form the patties. Use a large bowl to ensure easy mixing and shaping.
- Spatula: A spatula is handy for flipping the turkey patties and transferring them from the skillet to the sandwich.
- Butter Knife: You’ll need a butter spreader or a knife to evenly spread mayonnaise on one side of the rye bread slices before grilling. Ensure the bread is coated evenly for a delicious crust.
- Cooking Tongs: Cooking tongs are useful for handling the hot cheese slices and topping the turkey patties with them. They help melt the cheese evenly and create a gooey, cheesy layer.
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How to Make
Time needed: 25 minutes.
- Step 1: Prepare Turkey Patties
In a mixing bowl, combine ground turkey with Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Shape the mixture into 4 equal oblong patties and make a small indentation in the center of each patty.
- Step 2: Caramelize Onions
In a large skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat, melt unsalted butter. Add sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they become translucent and start to caramelize, which usually takes about 8-10 minutes. Remove the sautéed onions from the pan and set them aside.
- Step 3: Cook Turkey Patties
Increase the heat to high, then add the turkey patties to the hot skillet. Cook each patty for about 4 minutes on each side, or until they are fully cooked through. Remove the cooked patties from the skillet.
- Step 4: Assemble Patty Melts
Spread mayonnaise on one side of each rye bread slice. Place four slices in a single layer on the skillet, mayonnaise side down. Add a slice of cheddar cheese on top of each bread slice. Transfer patties onto the cheese, then transfer onions on top. Add a second slice of cheddar on top of the onions. Finally, place the remaining four bread slices on top, mayonnaise side up.
- Step 5: Grill Patty Melts
Cook the assembled sandwiches in the skillet for about 2-3 minutes until the bottom slice of bread is browned. Carefully flip the sandwiches and cook for an additional 4 minutes on the other side, gently pressing down on them with a spatula.
- Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Once both sides are golden brown, remove the Turkey Patty Melts from the skillet. Slice them in half diagonally and serve hot. Enjoy your delicious homemade Turkey Patty Melts as a lunch or yummy weeknight dinner!
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Can This Be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make components of the Turkey Patty Melt ahead of time. Caramelize onions and prepare the turkey patties, then store them separately in the fridge. Assemble and grill just before serving for a fresh, hot meal.
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Nutritional Facts
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How to Store
Storing
If you have any leftover sandwiches, don’t leave them at room temperature for more than 2 hours. To keep the Patty Melt in the fridge wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. You can keep it for up to 2 days.
Reheating Tips
For reheating Turkey Patty Melts, a pan on the stovetop on low heat for 5-7 minutes with a lid works. Reheat Turkey Patty Melts in an air fryer or toaster oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes, using foil to prevent drying. Remove delicate toppings before reheating.
Freezing
It’s not recommended but you can also freeze the sandwich for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Just thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. It’s better to just freeze the patties and the onions separately than the entire sandwich.
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Alternative Cooking Methods
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Oven Turkey Melt
If you don’t want to be spending your time flipping patties on the stove, you can try making a batch in the oven.
- Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees. Spread onions over a baking sheet.
- Shape the patties with the ground turkey and other ingredients. Then lay them over the onions.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the turkey is cooked through.
- Remove the meat from the oven and turn the oven to broil.
- Place the cheese over the meat to melt.
- Brush the bread with butter and broil for 2-3 minutes.
- Assemble the Turkey Patty Melts, press down on the bread, and serve.
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Frequent Questions
You can substitute ground chicken or beef for the ground turkey in this recipe if you prefer a different protein.
Rye bread is a type of bread made primarily from rye flour, which gives it a distinct flavor and dense texture. It’s known for its slightly tangy taste and is often darker in color compared to white bread.
Yes, if you don’t have rye bread, you can use other bread varieties like sourdough, whole wheat, or even white bread.
Certainly! While cheddar cheese is traditional, you can use Swiss, provolone, or any cheese mixture you prefer for your Patty Melt.
Yes, you can make caramelized onions ahead of time and store them in the fridge. Reheat them gently before assembling the Patty Melt.
It’s best to enjoy Patty Melts fresh. But, to prevent soggy bread when reheating leftovers, use an oven, air fryer, or toaster oven for even heating. Cover with foil and heat at 350°F until warmed through. Avoid the microwave if possible.
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Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 yellow onion , sliced
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 8 slices rye bread
- 8 slices cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the turkey, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper and form into 4 equal portions.
- Shape into patties and press down on the middle of the patty to make an indentation.
- To a large heavy skillet or cast iron pan on medium heat add the butter and sliced onions.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until translucent and just starting to caramelize.
- Remove onions from the pan and raise heat to high.
- Add beef patties and cook for 4 minutes on each side.
- Remove patties.
- Spread bread with mayonnaise on one side.
- Place four slices of bread in skillet (working in batches based on the size of your skillet) mayonnaise side down.
- Add cheddar to the top of each piece of bread and add patties to the bread pieces.
- Top with onions and a second slice of cheddar.
- Add the remaining four slices of bread to the top with the mayonnaise facing up, away from the rest of the sandwich.
- Cook for 2-3 additional minutes until browned, then flip the sandwich and cook for 4 minutes on the second side, pressing down on the sandwich gently.
Notes
- Click on the “yield” amount to slide and change the number of servings and the recipe will automatically update!
- Click on times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer while cooking.
- To convert measurements to grams, click on the “Metric” option next to “Ingredients” in the recipe card.
Nutrition
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Variations
- Sandwich Bread: Instead of rye bread, you can use other kinds of your favorite sandwich breads like whole wheat bread, pumpernickel bread, soft white bread, French bread, or sourdough.
- Cheese: You can replace the cheddar cheese with muenster, provolone, pepper jack, American cheese, and Swiss cheese. Or, even try out reduced-fat Swiss cheese for a lighter recipe.
- Meat: Instead of ground turkey, you can try using ground beef or ground chicken in the same sandwich recipe.
- Seasonings: Try different kinds of seasonings to flavor the turkey like fresh thyme, parsley, oregano, basil, paprika, or crushed red pepper.
- Condiments: Another way to get some different flavoring is by spreading condiments on the bread slices. Use toppings like Dijon mustard, pesto, guacamole, sriracha sauce, or ranch. You could also lightly butter the bread if you prefer buttered bread to mayo.
- Veggies: You can add other vegetables to the recipe like mushrooms, cabbage, scallions, spinach, bell peppers, or tomatoes.
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