Frisco melt with Frisco Sauce (Steak 'n Shake Copycat)

This Frisco melt is a Steak ’n Shake copycat made with crispy thin beef patties, Texas toast, Swiss cheese, American cheese, and creamy tangy Frisco sauce. The sandwich gets toasted in butter until the bread is golden and crisp and the cheese melts into the patties. 

Why You’ll Love This Frisco Melt with Sauce

This Frisco melt has everything that makes the Steak ’n Shake version so good.  The sandwich is built on buttery toast, with thin crispy burger patties, two kinds of cheese, and that sweet, tangy, creamy Frisco melt sauce.

When I tested this recipe, the biggest difference-maker was cooking the beef into thin patties and letting them crisp before flipping. That gives the sandwich more texture and makes it taste closer to a diner-style patty melt instead of a regular burger on toast.

The cheese layering is what I think makes this melt so good too. Swiss gives the sandwich that classic patty melt flavor, while American cheese melts smoothly and helps hold the two patties together. Add the iconic Frisco sauce to the toasted bread, and every bite is rich, tangy, cheesy, and a little sweet.

Another thing I love about this recipe is that the sauce takes less than a minute to mix together. You’ll have extra, and it’s great on burgers, sandwiches, fries, patty melts, and grilled chicken.

Ingredients

This recipe has two parts: the homemade Frisco sauce and the patty melt.

Here's what you need for the Frisco Sauce: 

• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon French dressing
• ½ tablespoon sweet relish
• ⅛ teaspoon Sriracha
• Garlic powder, to taste
• Salt, to taste

And for the Patty Melt:

• 6 ounces ground beef
• 2 slices Texas toast
• 2 slices Swiss cheese
• 2 slices American cheese
• 1 tablespoon Frisco sauce
• 2 pats salted butter

How To Make a Frisco Melt with Frisco Sauce

Step 1: Make The Frisco Sauce

Add the mayonnaise, ketchup, French dressing, sweet relish, Sriracha, garlic powder, and salt to a small bowl. Stir until smooth and fully combined. Set the sauce aside while you cook the patties. You’ll have extra sauce, so save it for sandwiches, burgers, fries, or another melt.

Step 2: Heat The Cast Iron Skillet

Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat and lightly coat it with cooking spray. A hot skillet helps the thin patties brown and crisp quickly.

Step 3: Cook The Burger Patties

Divide the ground beef into two thin, flat patties. Add the patties to the hot skillet and cook until browned, crisp on the outside, and cooked through. Flip the patties as little as possible. They’ll crisp best if you only flip them once. Transfer the cooked patties to a plate and wipe out the skillet.

Step 4: Assemble the Frisco Melt

Lay one slice of Texas toast down. Add the Swiss cheese, then one cooked burger patty. Add the American cheese, then the second cooked burger patty.

Spread the Frisco sauce on the remaining slice of bread and place that sauce-side down on top of the sandwich.

Step 5: Toast the Sandwich

Return the wiped-out cast iron skillet to medium heat and add 1 pat of butter. Once the butter melts, add the assembled Frisco melt to the skillet. Move it gently around the pan so the bread soaks up the butter and starts to crisp.

Step 6: Butter The Top and Flip

Add the second pat of butter to the top slice of bread. Once the bottom bread is golden and crispy and the cheese starts to melt, carefully flip the sandwich. Move it around the pan again so the second side soaks up the melted butter. Cook for a few more minutes, or until the bread is crisp and the cheese is melted.

Step 7: Serve

Remove the Frisco melt from the skillet, let it sit for a minute, then slice and serve warm.

My Tested Expert Tips For The Best Frisco Melt

• Use Texas toast. Thick-cut Texas toast gives the sandwich the best structure and texture. It crisps in butter without getting too thin or soggy from the sauce and melted cheese.
• Make the patties thin. A Frisco melt should have thin, crispy patties, not one thick burger. Thin patties give you more browned edges and make the sandwich easier to bite into.
• Use a hot cast iron skillet for the patties. Cast iron holds heat well and helps the beef form a crust. That crispy outside is one of the biggest reasons the sandwich tastes like a diner-style melt.
• Flip the patties only once if possible. Letting the patties sit undisturbed gives them time to brown. If you keep moving them around, they won’t crisp as well.
• Wipe out the skillet before toasting the sandwich. After cooking the patties, there may be beef drippings or browned bits in the pan. Wiping it out helps the bread toast cleanly in butter without burning.
• Use both Swiss and American cheese. Swiss gives the sandwich flavor, while American cheese melts better and adds creaminess. The combination is what makes the copycat Frisco melt taste closer to the original.
• Put cheese between the patties. Layering cheese between the patties helps the sandwich hold together and gives you melted cheese in the center, not just on the outside.
• Don’t overdo the sauce. Frisco sauce is rich and tangy, so 1 tablespoon is enough for one sandwich. Too much sauce can make the bread slide around or soften too quickly.
• Toast over medium heat. Once the sandwich is assembled, medium heat is better than high heat. You want the bread to get golden while the cheese has time to melt. High heat can burn the toast before the inside is hot.
• Move the sandwich around in the butter. Sliding the sandwich gently through the melted butter helps the bread toast evenly and soak up that rich flavor.
• Butter both sides. Adding butter to the top before flipping makes sure the second side gets just as golden and crisp as the first.
• Let it rest for a minute before slicing. This gives the cheese a moment to settle so the sandwich holds together better when cut.

How To Store and Reheat a Frisco Melt

A Frisco melt is best served fresh, but you can store and reheat leftovers if needed.

• Store the sandwich: Let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly or place it in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• Store the sauce: Keep leftover Frisco sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Reheat in a skillet: Warm the sandwich in a skillet over medium-low heat until the bread is crisp again and the cheese is melted.
• Reheat in an air fryer: Air fry at 325°F for a few minutes until hot and crispy.
• Microwave: The microwave will warm it, but the bread will soften. For the best texture, use a skillet or air fryer.
• Best make-ahead tip: Cook the patties and make the sauce ahead, then assemble and toast the sandwich fresh when you’re ready to eat.

Frisco Melt and Sauce Recipe FAQs

What is a Frisco melt?

A Frisco melt is a patty melt-style sandwich made with beef patties, melted cheese, toasted bread, and Frisco sauce. The Steak ’n Shake version is known for its buttery toast, tangy sauce, and double-patty filling.

What is on a Steak ’n Shake Frisco Melt?

A Steak ’n Shake-style Frisco melt usually has beef patties, Swiss cheese, American cheese, toasted bread, and Frisco sauce. This homemade version uses Texas toast, two thin beef patties, Swiss, American cheese, and copycat Frisco sauce.

What is Frisco sauce made of?

This copycat Frisco sauce is made with mayonnaise, ketchup, French dressing, sweet relish, Sriracha, garlic powder, and salt. It’s creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and really good on patty melts and burgers.

Is Frisco sauce the same as Thousand Island?

Not exactly. They’re similar, but Frisco sauce has a different flavor from the French dressing, relish, and seasonings. It tastes a little tangier and more savory than standard Thousand Island.

Can I make Frisco sauce ahead of time?

Yes. Frisco sauce can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for up to 5 days. It actually tastes better after chilling because the flavors have more time to blend.

What bread is best for a Frisco melt?

Texas toast works really well because it’s thick enough to hold the patties, cheese, and sauce while still getting crisp and buttery in the skillet. Rye, sourdough, or thick white bread can also work.

What cheese goes on a Frisco melt?

Swiss and American cheese are the classic combination. Swiss adds flavor, and American melts smoothly, which gives the sandwich that creamy, diner-style finish.

Why is my Frisco melt soggy?

Usually it’s from too much sauce, bread that wasn’t toasted enough, or a skillet that wasn’t hot enough. Use sturdy bread, toast it well in butter, and don’t overdo the sauce.

More Copycat Recipes To Try Next

• Whataburger patty melt
• Whataburger creamy pepper sauce
• Taco Bell baja sauce
• Burger King zesty sauce
• Dave's hot chicken
• Asian Zing wings