Lighter Classic Patty Melt

Oh I love a good patty melt.  What I don't love are all the fat and calories that come with it.  In an attempt to make the Classic Patty Melt a little more diet friendly, I found using reduced fat cheese and this product:

worked VERY well.  These BIG FAT burgers taste incredible.  And the resulting sandwich?  Tastes as good as it looks.  In fact, I wish I had one right now as I look at the pictures again!  haha

The nice thing about using these patties for the melts is that you cook the burgers in the microwave while you saute up the onions, saving you the time you would have needed to take to brown up real burgers in the pan. You could go with the smaller veggie burger patties for less calories if you wish, but I like to splurge a little so the sandwich tastes more like the real deal.  I used Weight Watchers American reduced fat pasteurized process cheese slices (1PP per slice) to make my melt super cheesy without all the fat and calories of regular cheese.

Patty melts are notorious for being a BAD choice when dining out. Fatty meats combined with gobs of cheese and oil laden onions, but you can't dispute their magical properties as pure comfort food.  While many melts clock in at nearly 900 calories, mine will cost you 521 calories or 14 Points+. Paired with some fresh fruit or veggies it makes a very satisfying meal.  Again, you could use the smaller veggie patties, which are about half the calories of the big ones, to reduce the numbers even more.   (Please note, the nutrition information given was calculated using WW reduced fat cheese slices, Morningstar Farms Grillers-1/4 pound patties, and a local brand of rye bread.  If your products vary from mine, the information provided might not be accurate.)

Lighter Classic Patty Melt

Printable Recipe

Servings - 2   Serving Size - 1 sandwich   Points Plus per serving - 14 Points+

Calories - 521.6,   Total Fat - 22.6g,   Carb. - 45g,   Protein - 38.7g,   Fiber - 8g

Ingredients:

4 slices of deli style Jewish Rye bread

1 cup sliced sweet onion

2 tsp. olive oil

2 Morning Star Farms Grillers - 1/4 Pound Burger

4 slices of Weight Watchers Reduced Fat Processed American Cheese

Directions:

1. Heat large non-stick skillet with the oil.  Add in the onions and cook over medium heat until soft and somewhat brown.   (To get a nice brown on the onions, don't move them around in the pan too often)

2.  While onions are cooking, microwave the veggie patties according to package directions.  

3.  Remove onions to small bowl when done, but leave heat on the pan.  Place two slices of the rye bread directly onto the hot pan where the onions were.  (the leftover oil and browned parts of the onion will help toast the bread)  Top each bread slice with one slice of cheese, then the burgers, then half of the browned onions per burger, then top with cheese slice again, and finally, with rye bread slice.  When the bottoms are toasted carefully flip (the melted cheese will help hold it all together) to get the other side toasted.  Serve immediately. 

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I know this is somewhat of a splurge meal, but it can definitely be worked into your plan.  It is still much better than it's restaurant counterpart!  And the taste, the taste is so worth it! 

If you haven't used the Morningstar Farms Grillers products before, I strongly urge you to give them a try.  I love making "fake" fast food burgers with them because, every now and then, a girl has got to have a burger.  I don't eat much fast food these days, but that doesn't mean I don't get cravings for the stuff now and again.  This recipe certainly helps curb those fast food/diner cravings for me. 

What about you?  Do you ever try to recreate "BAD" restaurant choices at home making them healthier and more diet friendly?