This Unexpected Bread Makes Better Patty Melts, According To Cowboy Kent Rollins

A patty melt is one of the ultimate comfort foods. There's nothing like a hearty layer of juicy hamburger meat, gooey cheese, and sweet caramelized onions to warm the soul, especially when it's sandwiched between two slices of freshly griddled bread. That last part is the real key — patty melts need to be served on perfectly thick slices that will crisp up and add that necessary crunch. To find out exactly which bread is best to use, Tasting Table spoke to Kent Rollins, host of the Outdoor Channel series "Cast Iron Cowboy" and the Cowboy Coffee Hour podcast.

"Texas toast is what I prefer," Rollins reveals. "It is thicker and stands up better to hold all that cheese and meat." A specialty bread that was, in fact, invented in Texas, Texas toast is a style of white bread that's sliced almost twice as thick as normal. The one-inch pieces are buttered on both sides and browned on a griddle, giving them a crispy, golden exterior and a fluffy, soft interior. All this makes Texas toast an excellent sandwich bread, especially for something as loaded as a classic patty melt. As Rollins notes, "I would never use thin-sliced bread for a patty melt."

Patty melts are typically served on rye bread, as the strong flavor complements the meat and offers a lot of texture. When the sandwich was invented in California in the mid-20th century, it was served on sourdough. Both work, but Texas toast wins out in terms of thickness. The most important thing is to just use bread that will hold the fillings well. So, something like Wonderbread is probably a no-no. "The stouter the bread, the better the foundation you have," Rollins adds, "when we are talking about a slice of cheese on each piece of bread and two patties, it needs a strong foundation that's going to hold it all in place."

When you have the right bread, you can really go all-in on the fillings. Further elevate your patty melt with brandy caramelized onions, experiment with different condiments, or add mushrooms or peppers. Using two different types of cheese is also a great way to upgrade the flavor. Muenster and cheddar are delicious, as are combinations like Swiss and American cheese and cheddar and provolone. Layer the cheese in the middle to hold everything together and use thinner slices so it melts completely. For the meat, use ground chuck and add garlic and onion powder for more flavor. Your Texas toast should hold it all together perfectly, especially when griddled the right way.