Don't underestimate a homemade patty melt! This is no average sandwich- it's crispy bread filled to the brim with a homemade patty and LOTS of cheese. To top it off, it's got savory and sweet caramelized onions that just make your mouth water.
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Split your ground beef in half and form two patties the same size and shape as your bread. Season your patties with salt and pepper and cook them on your skillet, about 1-2 minutes per side. Allow each side to cook until they have developed a dark brown crust. Remove from heat and set aside
Melt 2 tablespoons of your butter in your skillet and add your prepared onions and toss in the butter. Add in t tablespoons of your water and cook the onions, continually tossing to evenly cook them. Once the water has cooked off add another 2 tablespoons and Continue cooking. If the onions still need time to fry and crisp up, add another 2 tablespoons of water and cook the water off. They should be soft but caramelized.
Melt the remaining butter in the skillet and place two pieces of your bread on the skillet, toast one side of each slice for about 3 minutes. Remove from the skillet and place 2 slices of swiss on one piece on the cooked side, and 2 slices of provolone on the other piece on the cooked side.
Put your cooked patty onto one of the cheese covered breads and cover the patty with half of the cooked onions. Place the other cheese covered slice cheese side down on top of the sandwich and place the whole sandwich back in the skillet.
Cook each side for 2-3 minutes until the outside of the sandwich is toasted. Repeat assembly of the sandwich with the next two slices of bread, cheese, patty, and remaining onions.