The Greatest American Patty Melt in The Country

1. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Lay patties on a wire rack and season one side with 1 TBS Black Powder Rub. Place the seasoned side of each patty directly on the griddle and use the back of a large spatula and smash to press down. Season the exposed sides with remaining Black Powder Rub. Griddle each side for about 5-6 minutes per side or until the burgers are crusty and seared, but medium to medium rare in the interior (about 130° F).
3. Thoroughly wipe the skillet clean and set it over medium-low heat.
4. On the bottom slices of rye, place 1 slice of American, then the patty, the onions, and 2 more slices of cheese. Top with the other slices. Butter the sandwiches on both sides (crust to crust is a must) and griddle over medium-low heat on both sides until the bread is slightly golden and the cheese is gooey. (Cover the the pan with a metal bowl while cooking if necessary to ensure the cheese melts). Slice and serve with your favorite yellow mustard!

Caramelized Onions

1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat until foaming subsides. 
2. Add onions and cook over undisturbed for about 10-15 minutes, until the bottoms of the onion begin to caramelize 
3. Stir only once and cook undisturbed for another 5 minutes. 
4. When the onions are the desired golden color, deglaze the pan with sherry. Season to taste and set aside.