Diner Beef Pickle Toasts
Crisp rye toasts carry saucy beef, melted cheese, and tangy pickles in a 24-minute diner-style bite.
Prep: 10 · Cook: 14 · Total: 24 · Serves: 6 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.8/5 (116 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
An original road-trip snack inspired by patty melts, reshaped as crisp rye toasts with chopped pickle in every bite.
Story
Theo took the patty melt out of the booth and put it on a party tray. The beef gets smashed thin, the rye gets crisp, and the pickles cut through all that melted cheese like a neon sign on the highway. Stack these loaded little toasts and watch them disappear.
By Theo
Ingredients
- 8 thin slices seeded rye bread
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 8 ounces ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 4 slices American cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped dill pickles
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter, for the skillet
Instructions
- Spread the softened butter on one side of each rye slice and mix the mayonnaise and mustard in a small bowl.
- Season the ground beef with salt, pepper, and onion powder, then press it into a thin layer in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the beef for 3 minutes, flip it in sections, and cook for 2 minutes more until browned and cooked through.
- Transfer the beef to a cutting board, chop it into small pieces, and toss it with the pickles and scallion.
- Melt the remaining butter in the skillet, place the bread butter-side down, top with cheese and beef, and toast for 2 minutes until the bottoms are golden.
- Fold or top each toast with a little mustard mayonnaise, cut into pieces, and serve hot.
Chef Tips
- Press the beef thin so it browns quickly and fits the toast.
- Use a griddle or two skillets if making a double batch.
- Add a pinch of cayenne to the beef for a spicy Theo-style bite.
- Serve right away while the rye is crisp and the cheese is soft.
Cook's Notes
- Press beef thin for quick browning.
- Chop the cooked beef small.
- Toast bread in a single layer.
- Serve hot for the best cheese pull.