High ProteinComfort Food

Sandwiches·Updated Jan 9, 2026

Air Fryer Patty Melt

Name: Air Fryer Patty Melt
Prep time: 14 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 14 min
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients: 8 oz ground beef (80/20); 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp onion powder; salt and pepper to taste; 4 slices rye bread; 4 slices Swiss cheese; 1 medium onion, thinly sliced and caramelized; 2 tbsp butter, softened; 1 tbsp Thousand Island dressing (optional)

4.5(112)

14 min

Time

370°F

Temp

580 cal

Cal

Serves

Air Fryer Patty Melt is made with ground beef, garlic powder, onion powder, rye bread; air fry at 370°F for 14 minutes to serve 2. 580 calories per serving.

Clara Moretti·Recipe Developer & Air Fryer Specialist

Updated Jan 9, 2026

Ingredients

Patties

8 oz ground beef (80/20)

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

salt and pepper to taste

Assembly

4 slices rye bread

4 slices Swiss cheese

1 medium onion, thinly sliced and caramelized

2 tbsp butter, softened

1 tbsp Thousand Island dressing (optional)

Equipment

Instant-Read Meat Thermometer

Steps

1
Divide the ground beef into two portions and form thin, wide patties slightly larger than your bread slices, seasoning both sides.
2
Air fry the patties at 370°F for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway, until cooked through.
3
Butter one side of each bread slice and spread Thousand Island dressing on the unbuttered sides if desired.
4
Build each sandwich butter-side out: bread, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, patty, Swiss cheese, bread.
5
Place the assembled sandwiches in the air fryer and cook at 370°F for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cheese is melted.

💡

Tip: Caramelize your onions on the stovetop ahead of time — low and slow for 20-25 minutes with a pinch of sugar for the best flavor. Form the patties thin and slightly larger than the bread since they shrink as they cook.

Why Air Fry This?

⏱️Ready in 14 minutes vs ~22 in a conventional oven — no preheating needed.
🔥Rapid air circulation delivers oven-quality results in a fraction of the time.
⚡Uses significantly less energy than heating a full-size oven for a single batch.

🎉

How did it turn out?

Share your result and inspire others

Frequently Asked Questions

Cook Air Fryer Patty Melt at 370°F for 14 minutes. Caramelize your onions on the stovetop ahead of time — low and slow for 20-25 minutes with a pinch of sugar for the best flavor. Form the patties thin and slightly larger than the bread since they shrink as they cook.

You need: 8 oz ground beef (80/20), 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, salt and pepper to taste, 4 slices rye bread, 4 slices Swiss cheese, 1 medium onion, thinly sliced and caramelized, 2 tbsp butter, softened, 1 tbsp Thousand Island dressing (optional). This recipe serves 2 with 580 calories per serving.

Air Fryer Patty Melt takes 14 minutes total at 370°F. Place the assembled sandwiches in the air fryer and cook at 370°F for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cheese is melted.

This recipe is rated Medium. It serves 2 and takes just 14 minutes at 370°F.

More Sandwiches

10 min375°FMedium

Air Fryer Cuban Sandwich

Air Fryer Cuban Sandwich features roasted pork, deli ham, Swiss cheese, and dill pickle slices on Cuban bread; press at 375°F for 10 minutes until golden.

4.9(89)

520 cal

12 min380°FMedium

Air Fryer Monte Cristo Sandwich

Monte Cristo Sandwich combines deli turkey, ham, Swiss cheese, and an egg-cinnamon batter; air fry at 380°F for 12 minutes until golden, served with raspberry jam.

4.5(91)

610 cal

10 min390°FEasy

Air Fryer BLT

Air Fryer BLT features thick-cut bacon, ripe tomato, romaine lettuce, and garlic aioli on sourdough; crisp bacon at 390°F for 10 minutes until perfectly done.

4.7(82)

420 cal

Back