Hot Sandwich with Ground Beef and Cheese

Ingredients

• ground beef — 450 g
• large onion (thinly sliced) — 1 pcs
• bread (rye or toast), slices — 4 pcs
• cheese (Swiss or cheddar), slices — 4 pcs
• butter — 2 tbsp
• salt
• black pepper
• mayonnaise (optional)
• ketchup (optional)
• Thousand Island dressing (optional)

Steps

1. Prepare the ingredients: thinly slice the onion into half-rings; have the cheese and bread ready.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of butter; add the onion and cook, stirring, for 10–12 minutes until soft and lightly caramelized; season with salt and pepper to taste, then transfer the onion to a plate.
3. In the same skillet, over medium-high heat, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter; add the ground beef, break it up with a spatula, and cook for 6–8 minutes until browned and fully cooked; season with salt and pepper.
4. Reduce the heat to medium; place the cheese slices over the beef and cover with a lid for 1–2 minutes to allow the cheese to begin melting.
5. Concurrently or after cooking the beef, toast the bread slices: in a clean skillet over medium heat, fry the bread with a small amount of butter for 1–2 minutes per side until golden brown.
6. Assemble the sandwich: place a portion of the beef with melted cheese on one slice of bread, top with caramelized onion, and cover with the second slice of bread; if desired, spread mayonnaise, ketchup, or Thousand Island dressing on the bread before assembling.
7. Return the sandwich to the skillet and heat under a press or a weighted object for 1–2 minutes per side until even crispier and the cheese is fully melted; cut in half and serve hot.