This killer pesto grilled cheese recipe will have your mouth watering at just the very thought of it! This sandwich will boost your grilled cheese game into a different echelon.
Grilled Cheese or Panini
Onto another question you may be asking yourselves, is this technically a pesto panini or is it, in fact, a grilled cheese?
There are some grilled cheese purists that might argue that real grilled cheese is cheese only and any other additions makes it nothing but a fancy sandwich.
I am calling this thing a grilled cheese and that is the end of it. All you need to know is that it is delicious. Whether you want to call it a flavor-packed vegetarian panini or a gourmet grilled cheese, it is a fabulous nonetheless!
What You’ll Need
Making a pesto grilled cheese is as simple as could be! A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Sourdough – I used thick-cut sourdough bread, but Italian bread is a great substitution if you want to switch it up. Both are hearty enough to give you good bite and not “sog out” from all the delicious fillings.
- Jarlsberg cheese – Jarlsberg cheese hails from Vestfold County in Norway and was developed by Swiss cheesemakers, but is not Swiss cheese. But check the section below for other cheese options.
- Pesto – Fresh pesto will give you a brighter greener flavor and allow you to personalize, while store bought will save you precious time if you need it.
- Butter
- Roasted red peppers
- Pine nuts
Make it A Meal
A pesto grilled cheese sandwich is a fabulous quick and easy dinner idea, lunch or even after school snack.
Serve this with a bowl of creamy tomato soup on a cold day or with a bowl of gazpacho if it is hot out. You can even cut it into strips and serve it as an appetizer at your next party. Who can say no to grilled cheese in finger food form? Exactly – no one!
5S Philosophy 👩🏻
- Salt – I don’t add any additional salt to this recipe because the cheese and pesto already have salt. And if you use salted butter, you should be good to go.
- Seasoning – The best part of this grilled cheese is that the pesto packs all of the seasoning and flavor you should need!
- Sauces – Pesto and bell pepper always taste good with a drizzle of caramelized balsamic vinegar. Drizzle it in the sandwich or serve on the side for dipping. Same as the reduction, garlic is a match made in flavor heaven. Spread on the inside, or omit the butter and spread on the outside for a crunchy garlic crust.
- Swaps – Feel free to swap the cheese I used for swiss instead. Fresh mozzarella cheese, goat cheese, provolone cheese, sharp white cheddar, fontina, parmesan cheeses and gouda are other lovely additions.
- Senses – Golden and crispy on the outside, this pesto grilled cheese oozes with melted cheese and bursts with the fresh, garlicky aroma of basil pesto—rich, gooey, and irresistibly savory in every bite.
Pesto Grilled Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter , softened
- 8 thick slices sourdough or Italian bread
- 16 slices Jarlsberg cheese
- 1/4 cup roasted red peppers , cut into strips
- 4 tablespoons pesto
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts , toasted
Instructions
- Butter one side of each piece of the 8 thick slices sourdough or Italian bread with the 2 tablespoons butter, buttered sides out.
- Evenly divide the 16 slices Jarlsberg cheese, 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, 4 tablespoons pesto, and 2 tablespoons pine nuts between four of the slices.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Place 1-2 sandwiches in the skillet at a time. Do not crowd the pan, work in batches.
- Using a spatula, apply pressure to get a nice buttery crust. When lightly browned, flip and repeat on the other side.
- Remove from the pan and cut in half. Serve hot.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.
Nutrition
Storage and Freezing
Grilled cheese sandwiches can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you do want to reheat, try doing it in a hot skillet, panini press or even the Air Fryer.
Unfortunately I do not recommend freezing these sandwiches. With the melted cheese and the sauce, it will become quite soggy upon thawing.
More Cheesy Sandwiches
My motto is always “the cheesier, the better!” Here are some of my favorite cheesy sandwiches.
Yep, that looks delicious! I love pesto and that cheese looks sooo good. thanks for sharing your recipe.
I love panini’s I buy them from Panera because mine never come out good. I am going to try again though this time with this recipe.
Love making Panini. I will have to try this.
Yum – a pesto panini sounds so good right now. The cheese makes all the difference too.
This looks so tasty,Thank you for the recipe.
I love anything that involves pesto and cheese. This looks like a fantastic recipe!
Oh my word. Did you know how much I love paninis. I seriously could eat one every day. That looks sooooo good!
oooh with that little cup of tomato soup, it looks delish! I love pesto and cheeses!
Nothing is better than when you have a panini and the cheese melts out of the slice in the sandwich. Yum!
LOVE the pesto in here! So fun to be able to take part in this with you! Pinned!
Thanks so much, Taylor! I’m excited too- I love Jarlsberg cheese!