Pesto grilled cheese sandwiches are a super fun and delicious way to simply dress up the classic handheld lunch staple with tried-and-true flavors that taste heavenly together.
Love interesting spins on grilled cheese? You can’t miss these incredible remixes of the toasty, cheesy sandwiches: Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Bacon and the really fun Crispy Ham and Cheese Waffles.
Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
My son made this sandwich for us the other day, and we fell in love! Such a smart idea on his part (and I have to admit, a proud mama moment for me). He asked me if his sandwich was good enough to make it on the blog, and I told him one-hundred-percent YES. So, here it is! Introducing: Henry’s grilled cheese and pesto sandwich recipe, made complete with a fresh garden tomato.
The tomato’s optional, and I like it both ways because pesto plus cheese is a pretty darn delicious combination on its own. But the fresh garden tomato *does* add something magical, so I recommend trying it! You can also add a bit of shredded chicken or deli turkey for a little protein, and pair it with your favorite tomato soup for a meal that warms you all the way through.
What is the best cheese for making grilled cheese?
You can use ANY cheese you love on grilled cheese -- that’s the beauty of this sandwich! Cheddar, Colby jack, and provolone are all super contenders. But because pesto is pretty strong in flavor, I’d say use a milder cheese for this sandwich, like mozzarella.
What goes well with grilled cheese?
The reason pesto pairs so nicely in grilled cheese is because, between bread, butter, and melted cheese, it can be a fairly heavy and rich sandwich. The bright, fresh flavors of pesto lighten up the sandwich and complement it nicely. Tomato soup also pairs well because it brings some acidic tang to an otherwise heavy sandwich. Anything light, bright, or tomato-y will go nicely with grilled cheese!
What is pesto made of?
I make an easy pesto using basil, salt, pepper, garlic, pecans, olive oil, a little avocado oil, and grated parmesan (optional). Traditional recipes call for pine nuts, but you can really use any nuts you like and have around!
Is pesto sauce healthy?
Absolutely! It has nuts, garlic, and fresh basil, plus healthy fat from the olive oil. It’s packed full of fresh goodness and goes well with so many meals (especially sandwiches, pastas, and marinades for chicken and fish).
Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves 2
Description
Pesto grilled cheese sandwiches are a super fun and delicious way to simply dress up the classic handheld lunch staple with tried-and-true flavors that taste heavenly together.
Ingredients
- 4 slices good sandwich bread
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons pesto
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 small garden tomato, sliced thin, optional
Instructions
- Preheat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat.
- Butter one side of all 4 pieces of bread.
- Add pesto to the other side of 2 pieces of the bread.
- Place the two pieces of bread with pesto on them in the hot pan, butter side down (against the pan).
- Add the sliced tomato on top of the pesto if using, top with ¼ cup of shredded cheese on each piece of bread.
- Top with the last piece of buttered bread, butter side up.
- Cook until the bottom piece of bread is toasted and golden-brown.
- Flip it over, and cook on the other side until it is toasted golden-brown and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the pan, and serve hot.
Notes
- No homemade pesto? We love the Kirkland Signature pesto from the refrigerated section at Costco.
- You can make these with or without the tomato, we like it both ways. A fresh garden tomato with pesto and warm cheese is pretty magical.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Category: lunch, sandwich
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pesto, pesto recipe, pesto sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich, easy lunch
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- The Ultimate Hummus and Veggie Sandwich
- Peperoncini Beef Sandwiches
- Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Bacon
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This pesto grilled cheese sandwich is heaven slapped on toasted, buttery bread, and you’ll love it as a simple, savory, and filling weeknight meal!
Shannon
Such an amazing recipe! We also added slices of turkey. I had all 4 kids loving it (even the 3 that are devout tomato haters enjoyed the sandwiches with tomatoes included!)
★★★★★
Melissa
Ohhh that sounds wonderful, thank you for sharing!