Patty Melt Bites—The Perfect Game Day Appetizer

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Juicy ground beef, caramelized onions, and gooey cheese are layered between golden tortillas before being cut into 2 to 3-bite squares in this twist on classic patty melts. Perfect for game days, parties, or even weeknight meals, dunk these patty melt bites in your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Patty Melt Bites Recipe

If a patty melt and a quesadilla had a baby, it would be these irresistible patty melt bites! Containing layers of ground beef, caramelized onions, and melty cheese, these 2 to 3-bite little snacks are perfect for game days, parties, or even an easy weeknight dinner.

Patty Melt Bites Ingredients

Tortillas: I use extra large tortillas for this recipe (about 12″ in diameter). If you only have smaller tortillas on hand, make sure you use less ground beef to make a thin layer or cook the meat longer if it is made into a thicker layer.

Seasoned Ground Beef: One pound of ground beef is spread onto a tortilla before sprinkling my favorite Hi Mountain Hickory Burger Seasoning (shop on Amazon) over the top. If you don’t have this specific seasoning, sub in your own favorite burger seasoning or a blend of salt, pepper, onion powder, and a bit of garlic powder. 

Caramelized Onions: Sweet onions are sliced and cooked on medium-low/medium heat until they have reached a deep caramel brown color. Salt and garlic powder add a little extra flavor, while a small sprinkle of sugar amps up the sweetness.

Cheese: A mixture of good ol’ Kraft singles and grated smoked gouda creates a perfectly gooey, flavorful layer of cheese in the patty melt bites. Feel free to use your favorite kinds of cheese, but I suggest going with ones that melt very easily.

Patty Melt Bites Collage

You’ll also need…

  • Large skillets: I use a 12″ skillet to caramelize the onions and a 14″ skillet to cook the patty melt.
  • Large plates: I have found that the easiest way to flip this huge patty melt is to slide it onto a large plate (just a bit bigger than the tortillas you are using). Then place another plate on top, quickly flip the patty melt, and slide it back into the pan. 
Patty Melt Bites With Boom Boom Sauce

Serve these patty melt bites with boom boom sauce (pictured above), which is one of my favorite versatile dipping sauces–or with another sauce of your choice! You can also cut this patty melt into quarters and serve with soup or salad for an easy weeknight meal. Read on for the recipe for these delicious patty melt bites. Then, make sure to leave a rating and review once you try them for yourself!

Patty Melt Bites Recipe

Patty Melt Bites

Juicy ground beef, caramelized onions, and gooey cheese are layered between golden tortillas before being cut into 2 to 3-bite squares in this twist on classic patty melts. Perfect for game days, parties, or even weeknight meals, dunk these patty melt bites in your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 4

Equipment (Shop on Amazon)

Ingredients

Caramelized Onions

  • 2 medium sweet onions thinly-sliced
  • 2 tbsp salted butter
  • 1 tsp avocado oil
  • ¼ tsp white granulated sugar
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp salt

Patty Melt Bites

  • 2 Old El Paso Restaurant Style Grande flour tortillas
  • 1 lb ground beef (I use 93/7)
  • ¼ tsp Hi Mountain Hickory Burger Seasoning (See Note 1 below)
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp avocado oil
  • 8 slices American cheese
  • ½ cup grated smoked gouda cheese
  • Caramelized onions
  • Extra butter or oil to cook both sides of the patty melt

Instructions

Caramelize the Onions

  • Place the avocado oil and butter in a 12" skillet and turn the heat to medium-low/medium. Once the butter has melted, add your sliced onions and toss them in the butter and oil, making sure to break the onions up into individual pieces/strips.
    2 medium sweet onions, 2 tbsp salted butter, 1 tsp avocado oil
    Onions in Pan
  • Sprinkle the sugar, salt, and garlic powder over the onions and stir. Cook the onions on medium-low/medium heat until caramelized, approximately 20-25 minutes (depending on how cooked you like them). Make sure to regularly stir the onions so they do not burn. Set the onions aside to cool.
    ¼ tsp white granulated sugar, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp salt
    Caramelized Onions in Pan

Make the Patty Melt Bites

  • Gently spread out and pat down 1 lb of ground beef across one of the large tortillas. Sprinkle the burger seasoning across the entire surface of the ground beef.
    2 Old El Paso Restaurant Style Grande flour tortillas, 1 lb ground beef, ¼ tsp Hi Mountain Hickory Burger Seasoning
    Ground Beef on Tortilla
  • Add the butter and avocado oil to a large (14") skillet and heat on medium until the butter is melted. Then, quickly but carefully place the tortilla with the ground beef in the pan, meat side down. Cook for approximately 8-9 minutes, or until the meat is fully cooked. (See Note 2 below)
    2 tbsp butter, 1 tsp avocado oil
    Flipping the Tortilla Into the Pan Meat-Side Down
  • While the hamburger is cooking, prep your other tortilla. Put the tortilla on a large plate and place 8 slices of American cheese across the tortilla. Sprinkle the grated smoked gouda over the top of the American cheese before adding the caramelized onions, spreading them evenly over the entire surface of the tortilla.
    2 Old El Paso Restaurant Style Grande flour tortillas, 8 slices American cheese, ½ cup grated smoked gouda cheese, Caramelized onions
    Prepping the Other Tortilla With Cheese and Onions
  • Once the ground beef is fully cooked, slide the tortilla (meat-side down) directly onto the other tortilla with the toppings. Add another tablespoon of butter to the pan (if needed) and then slide the patty melt back into the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until the tortilla reaches your desired level of golden brown color.
    Extra butter or oil to cook both sides of the patty melt
    Sliding the Hamburger Tortilla On To the Other Tortilla With Toppings
  • Time to flip the patty melt! Slide the patty melt onto a large plate. Place another plate on top and quickly flip the patty melt. Add another tablespoon of butter to your pan, if needed. Then, slide the patty melt back into the pan to brown the other side, cooking for about 1-2 minutes on medium heat or until the color and crispiness of the tortilla suits your taste.
    Cooking the Last Side of the Patty Melt
  • Slide the patty melt onto a large cutting board and give it 3-4 minutes to cool before cutting it into small, couple-bite squares using a pizza cutter. Serve these patty melt bites right away! (See Note 3 below)
    Patty Melt Bites After Being Cut

Notes from the Happy To Be Here Kitchen

Note 1. Hickory Burger Seasoning: I love the Hi Mountain Hickory Burger Seasoning (shop it on Amazon here) and I think it adds great flavor to the meat in this recipe. If you do not have this specific seasoning, sub in your own favorite burger seasoning or sprinkle a blend of salt, pepper, onion powder, and a bit of garlic powder across the meat. You're just looking to add a bit of flavor to the ground beef.
Note 2. Cooking the Ground Beef: Your cooking time may be affected if you use smaller tortillas and create a thicker layer of meat, use less meat and create an even thinner layer, etc. Keep an eye on the meat as it cooks, using a spatula to peek at it. Make sure it is completely done cooking before you slide it onto the other tortilla with the cheese and onions as the rest of the cooking time is just enough to brown the tortillas and likely will not cook the meat much further.
Note 3. Leftovers: I think these patty melts are best served right away, but if you have leftovers you can store them in an airtight bag or container in the fridge.

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