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Two thick slices of garlicky Texas toast sandwiched together with juicy beef and cheese? That’s exactly what a patty melt is, but the Whataburger Patty Melt takes it one step further and adds a creamy, slightly spicy pepper sauce.

This recipe will have you feasting on a lightened up version of the patty melt in no time. They work out to be 12 points for two compared to the restaurant version’s whopping 30 points on the freestyle plan.

A great way to change up burger night, these patty melts are great even if you haven’t had the Whataburger version — in fact, you won’t even need to — these are even better (IMHO)!

We toast the bread first, so there’s no need for double-cooking. Just fry up your patties, let the cheese melt then assemble the toasted bread with the perfect pepper sauce and dinner is on the table.

Made with prime ground beef, this recipe is also lower in saturated fat than the restaurant patty melt, but the seasoning and sauce make sure they are still absolutely packed with flavor.

Why you should try this Whataburger Patty Melt (Copycat) recipe

A healthier alternative to takeout, these are ready in practically the same time as it would take to get Whataburger delivered! They’re half the points value of the original.
Only a few typical ingredients are needed for these patty melts. You probably have everything already.
Lower in saturated fat and points, these are the perfect amount of cheesy, beefy goodness without being overloaded with calories.

Ingredients

Thick sliced bread- white. 8 slices
Premium ground beef – 1 lb
Sliced cheddar cheese, 4 slices
Onion, brown, 1 large
Mayonnaise, light 4 tablespoons
Dijon mustard, 1 tsp
Lemon juice, 1 tablespoon
Garlic powder, ½ tsp
Onion powder, ½ tsp
Black pepper
1 tsp sugar
White vinegar, 2 tsp
Olive oil, drizzle

Instructions

Makes 4 patty melts

Remove the ground beef from its packaging and sprinkle with salt. Form into 4 equal balls and press each as thinly as possible. Slice onions into thin slivers.
Heat a frypan over a medium-high heat and drizzle with olive oil. Add the thinly sliced onions and a sprinkle of salt. Cook 1-2 minutes to give them a bit of color then turn the heat down to medium-low and add the vinegar and a teaspoon of sugar. Let cook 15-20 minutes until golden and caramelized. If they begin to stick, add a tiny splash of water.
Heat a second frypan over a medium heat and drizzle with olive oil. Add the patties one or two at a time depending on the size of the pan. Cook 3-4 minutes then flip, press down with the spatula and cook a further 1-2 minutes. Top each with a slice of cheese and add a lid to the pan. Once the cheesy is melty, remove to a plate and repeat with the other patties.
Spray each side of the bread with cooking spray and toast in a dry fry pan over a medium heat until browned. Repeat with all sides. NB: if you’re stretched for time, just toast them in the toaster.
To assemble the patty melts: Top one piece of toast with a few spoons of the sauce, top with onion then a patty and press another toast on top. Slice in half and serve.
To make the sauce: Place mayonnaise, dijon, lemon juice, garlic and onion powders, salt and black pepper in a bowl and mix until combined.

Weight Watchers points breakdown

Thick sliced bread- white. 8 slices: 16 points
Premium ground beef – 1 lb: 12 points
Sliced cheddar cheese, 4 slices: 5 points
Onion, brown, 1 large: 0 points
Mayonnaise, light 4 tablespoons: 4 points
Dijon mustard, 1 tsp: 0 points
Lemon juice, 1 tablespoon: 0 points
Garlic powder, ½ tsp: 0 points
Onion powder, ½ tsp: 0 points
Black pepper: 0 points
White vinegar, 2 tsp: 0 points
Olive oil, drizzle: 0/1 point

Variations and Substitutions

You can sub out the ground beef for ground pork or ground turkey. Add a few dashes of soy sauce, a drizzle of honey and some grated ginger as well for an Asian-inspired twist!
Use shredded chicken instead of the ground beef. It will make prep even quicker, you can be done in the time it takes to melt some cheese!
Pepperjack cheese is a nice substitution for a spicier version. Add a few chilli flakes if you like things hot!
The thick white bread is what makes this so close to Whataburger’s version, but to save points even further and increase nutritional value, you can substitute wheat or whole grain bread in its place.

Tips and Tricks

You can make the sauce up to a day ahead. Be sure to toast the bread as close to serving as possible.
The patty melts reheat well in a toaster oven for a few minutes. Not suitable for freezing.
Serve with a garden salad to increase your vegetable intake but if you have a few points up your sleeve, some homemade chips would go perfectly with these.

Whataburger Patty Melt served with sauce

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