Caprese Pesto Grilled Cheese (Printable)

Gourmet grilled cheese with creamy fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and fragrant basil pesto on crusty sourdough.

# Ingredient List:

→ Bread & Cheese

01 - 4 slices sourdough bread
02 - 7 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 large ripe tomato, sliced

→ Condiments

04 - 4 tablespoons basil pesto
05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# Directions:

01 - Spread 1 tablespoon of basil pesto on one side of each slice of sourdough bread
02 - Layer half the mozzarella slices and half the tomato slices evenly on two bread slices on top of the pesto side
03 - Top with the remaining bread slices, pesto side down, to form two sandwiches
04 - Lightly butter the outside of each sandwich on both top and bottom surfaces
05 - Preheat a nonstick skillet or grill pan over medium heat
06 - Place sandwiches in the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted
07 - Remove from pan, let rest for 1 minute, then slice and serve warm

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It takes everything you love about a Caprese salad and wraps it in warm, buttery, toasted bread that gets impossibly crispy on the outside.
  • The pesto acts as both seasoning and sauce, so every bite is packed with herby, garlicky flavor without any extra effort.
  • You can make it in under 20 minutes, which means its fancy enough to impress but fast enough for a weeknight dinner.
02 -
  • If your tomato is really juicy, pat the slices dry with a paper towel before layering them in, or your sandwich will leak and the bread will get soggy.
  • Dont crank the heat too high, or the bread will burn before the cheese melts, which I learned the hard way on my first attempt when I got impatient.
03 -
  • If your mozzarella is very wet, squeeze it gently in a clean kitchen towel before slicing to remove excess moisture and prevent sogginess.
  • Let the sandwiches rest for a full minute after cooking, which gives the cheese just enough time to set so it doesnt all slide out when you cut into it.
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