Pesto Grilled Cheese
Ah, warm melted cheese, homemade pesto, and crunchy buttery bread…all together sounds like heaven! And what takes this simple grilled cheese to a whole new level is the homemade pesto (and the combination of cheeses, of course).
I love (practically addicted to) pesto so much I could practically eat it right out of the jar with a spoon! I put that *** on everything! Like this pesto grilled cheese, pesto chicken stuffed shells, shrimp pesto pasta, and much more.
As far as the rest of the sandwich goes, it’s a classic tried and true grilled cheese! Mozzarella and provolone melt together to create the most delightful cheese pull. This is such an easy sandwich packed with Italian flavors. Italian flavors are perfect in a grilled cheese (just ask my Italian garlic bread grilled cheese.)
Making Pesto Grilled Cheese Tips
- Use an artisan bread. It’s usually more dense and great for grilled cheeses! Don’t use overly soft bread because it won’t be sturdy enough.
- Use homemade basil pesto. Homemade really does taste superior to store-bought pesto. It’s very easy to make and you can even make a batch ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for recipes like this.
- Butter the bread on the outside. You can use a butter spread, which is softer than a block of butter and you don’t have to wait for it to soften.
- Spread basil pesto evenly on the inside of each slice of bread. This way each bite gets the beautiful pesto.
- Spread cheese evenly as well, beak up pieces of need to.
- Don’t set the stove temperature too high! You want to give the cheese time to melt and if you set the heat too high, outside will burn before cheese is melted.
- Let it rest! Rest the grilled cheese for 5-10 minutes before cutting.
Additional Flavors and Variations to Try
- Add diced or shredded rotisserie chicken
- Sun-dried tomatoes in oil (drain well and pat dry first)
- You can use sun-dried tomato pesto instead.
- Add Crispy chopped bacon
- Add Diced ham (great for using leftover holiday ham)
- Caramelized Onions
- Pine nuts
- Try different cheeses like adding or substituting one with asiago, parmesan, fontina or pecorino.
Sides That Go Well With Pesto Grilled Cheese?
Keep things on the fresher side with summery sides like Cucumber Broccoli Salad, Creamy Corn Salad or leafy greens with Green Goddess Dressing. A classic Southern Potato Salad is another sunny weather staple!
Of course, you can’t go wrong with a bowl of soup either! This grilled cheese goes beautifully with tomato soup or tomato bisque. It’s also lovely with mushroom soup.
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Pesto Grilled Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 slices of artisan bread note that these bread slices are typically larger than average
- 2-3 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 4 tbsp basil pesto
- 1-2 oz sliced mozzarella cheese 2-3 sliced depending on bread size and thickness of cheese
- 1-2 oz sliced provolone cheese 2-3 sliced depending on bread size and thickness of cheese
Instructions
- Start preheating a large cooking pan over medium to medium-low heat while assembling the grilled cheese. (Don't use heat that's too high of the bread will burn and the cheese won't have time to melt.)
- Spread softened butter on each slice of bread on one side.
- Spread basil pesto on the inside of each slice of bread.
- Place the mozzarella cheese slices on top on one half and provolone on the other half. (Repeat with the other two bread slices.)
- Place the slices of bread into the preheated pan, butter side down.
- Let the bread heat up and get crispy as the cheese melts. Once cheese is melted, combine the two bread slices.
- Rest the grilled cheese for 5-10 minutes before cutting.
Notes
- Use an artisan bread. It’s usually more dense and great for grilled cheeses! Don’t use overly soft bread because it won’t be sturdy enough.
- Use homemade pesto. Homemade really does taste superior to store-bought pesto. It’s very easy to make and you can even make a batch ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for recipes like this.
- Or, use a good quality brand. If using store-bought, make sure to use good quality and one you’ve tried before and know you like. There are so many pesto brands out on the market and most of them do not taste good.
- make it gluten free: Use your favorite gluten free dream, just make sure that you buy gluten free bread that’s on the sturdier side. Check all of the labels on the other ingredients just to ensure that they’re all gluten free, which they should be.
Nutrition
More of the Best Grilled Cheese Recipes
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles in May 2012.
All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
I made this pesto grilled cheese to go with some homemade tomato soup and it was amazing!!!
That sounds like the perfect combo! 😍 I’m so glad you enjoyed the pesto grilled cheese!
I am featuring your sandwiches at out party tomorrow. They look delish! Thanks for partying with us.:)
I hope everyone loves it! 🙂
Oh my this looks fantastic!! I just planted more basil so I could make more pesto, LOVE IT! Everything about this sandwich looks yummy. Thanks for sharing with us at Link It Up Thursday.
I am so glad you liked it!
YUMMMM!I’m so making this!!! Love the bread too. I always buy black bread from winco bakery. Love my bread!! 😉
Sounds so good! I hope you like the grilled cheese!