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–+ servings
A close-up of a juicy ground beef sandwich with crispy toasted bread, melted cheese, and caramelized onions.

Crispy Outside, Juicy Inside Ground Beef Sandwiches

This recipe delivers a ground beef sandwich with a crispy exterior and a juicy interior, perfect for a quick and flavorful meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 large onion thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp. kosher salt divided
  • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 lb. ground chuck
  • 8 slices rye bread
  • 4 Tbsp. mayonnaise
American cheese
  • 4 (1 oz.) slices white American cheese torn in half
Swiss cheese
  • 4 (1 oz.) slices Swiss cheese torn in half
Butter
  • 4 Tbsp. salted butter divided

Equipment

  • Cast iron skillet
  • Parchment paper
  • Medium bowl

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring often, until the onions are well browned.
  2. Transfer the cooked onions to a medium bowl and stir in the Worcestershire sauce. Do not wipe the skillet clean.
  3. While the onions cook, divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions. Press each portion into a thin patty the same size as the bread, using two pieces of parchment paper. Sprinkle the patties evenly with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt.
  4. Cook the patties two at a time, pressing them slightly, until they are just barely pink in the middle, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove the patties from the skillet and wipe the skillet clean.
  5. Assemble the sandwiches. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the outside of each slice of bread. Divide the American cheese slices among 4 slices of rye bread, spacing them evenly. Top each with a burger patty, 1/4 of the cooked onions, and the Swiss cheese slices.
  6. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add 2 assembled sandwiches and cook until browned on each side and the cheese has melted, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches. Serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe is a great base for customization. Feel free to add your favorite spices to the ground beef or experiment with different types of cheese.

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