The ultimate cheesy brunch: buttery toasted country slices sandwiching two all-beef patties, an over-easy egg, and ALL the cheese! April is Grilled Cheese Month (who invents these things?!) and even though I’m not really about random food days/months, I’m all about grilled cheese, so bring it on! We couldn’t let the month pass by without eating grilled cheese, so we celebrated with this big breakfast monster: crusty country bread, two beef patties, an over-easy egg, and so much cheese.

This guy is essentially a patty melt: a burger on bread instead of in a bun. Patty melts are classic diner food and I’m sad to say that I’ve never actually had one in a diner. I love diners and diner food in general, so this is my kind of grilled cheese.

Ingredients:

• 6 oz lean ground beef
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• Oil for the pan
• 2 slices of your favorite bread
• 1-2 tablespoons butter
• 1 over-easy egg
• 1 cup shredded cheese of choice

How to Make It:

1. Divide the ground beef into two and pat into very thin patties, the shape of your bread. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over high heat and add a bit of oil. Cook the patties, pressing down to get a good sear, until very brown, about 1-2 minutes. Flip and cook the other side. Remove from the pan.
2. Build your sandwich, buttered bread facing outwards: bread, cheese, burger, cheese, burger, cheese, egg, cheese, bread.
3. Grill on medium-low until golden brown and toasty and cheese is melted, flipping once. Enjoy!

Helpful Hints:

• For a perfectly over-easy egg, cook until the whites are set but the yolk is still runny. It adds a delicious creaminess to the sandwich.
• If you like your burger patties well-done, cook them for an additional minute on each side.
• Experiment with different cheeses for a unique flavor profile. Cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack all work wonderfully.