Caprese Pesto Grilled Cheese (Printable)

Fresh mozzarella, ripe tomato, and basil pesto melted between crispy golden bread. A vibrant Italian-American twist on a classic.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dairy

01 - 4 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

→ Vegetables & Herbs

03 - 1 large ripe tomato, sliced into rounds
04 - 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves

→ Spreads & Condiments

05 - 2 tbsp basil pesto

→ Bread

06 - 4 slices rustic or sourdough bread

→ Seasonings

07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Spread 1/2 tbsp of softened butter on one side of each bread slice.
02 - Place two slices of bread, buttered side down, on a clean surface. Spread 1 tbsp of pesto on the unbuttered side of each bread slice.
03 - Distribute mozzarella slices evenly over the pesto, then arrange tomato rounds on top. Season tomatoes lightly with salt and pepper.
04 - Cover each sandwich with the remaining bread slices, positioning the buttered side facing outward.
05 - Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat until evenly warmed.
06 - Place sandwiches in the skillet and cook until the bread is golden brown and crisp, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
07 - Flip sandwiches carefully and cook the other side until golden and the cheese is melted, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
08 - Remove from heat, allow to cool for 1 to 2 minutes, slice diagonally in half, and garnish with fresh basil if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The pesto creates this incredible herbaceous base that makes regular grilled cheese taste boring by comparison
  • Fresh mozzarella melts into these milky pools that balance perfectly with the bright acidity of ripe tomato
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that medium-low heat is your friend, high heat gives you burnt bread with cold cheese inside, which is basically a tragedy
  • Patting your tomato slices with a paper towel before layering them saves your bread from becoming soggy, a mistake I made three times before accepting this truth
03 -
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, the heat distribution creates the most evenly golden, restaurant-quality crust
  • Weighing down your sandwich with another heavy pan while cooking presses everything together into this perfect compact unit that doesn't fall apart when you bite into it
Go Back