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Pesto Grilled Cheese

By Sarah On   |  Updated:

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This pesto grilled cheese is packed with plenty of flavorful pesto, juicy tomato slices, and three kinds of cheese.

This pesto grilled cheese is packed with plenty of flavorful pesto, juicy tomato slices, and three kinds of cheese.

Grown-up versions of grilled cheese take the lunch prize every dang time! Especially if said grilled cheese is packed with THREE kinds of cheese, thick tomato slices, and a metric ton of herby basil pesto.

This is THE sandwich, folks. The one that you will continually go back to because it uses minimal ingredients, is ready in minutes, and is absolutely packed with the works.

Classic grilled cheese has its time and place, but this beaut is in a category all its own. Pesto really works its magic here, lemme tell ya!

This pesto grilled cheese is packed with plenty of flavorful pesto, juicy tomato slices, and three kinds of cheese.

You won’t need any fancy ingredients to pull off this grilled cheese either! Just 7 basic ingredients, 10 minutes to cook, and all the room for creativity you desire.

You can easily swap out different cheeses, add meat, skip the tomatoes, the sky’s really the limit here!

This Grilled Cheese features…

  • Thick and hearty bread slices
  • Gooey fresh mozzarella, gouda, and Parmesan cheese
  • Lots of flavorful basil pesto and juicy tomato slices
  • Minutes to make and goes well with a variety of soups or salads
This pesto grilled cheese is packed with plenty of flavorful pesto, juicy tomato slices, and three kinds of cheese.

Making the Grilled Cheese

(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)

Ingredients You Will Need

  • Bread
  • Unsalted butter
  • Basil pesto
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Gouda cheese
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Tomatoes

Choosing Your Bread

This grilled cheese works with a variety of bread. I recommend going with a heartier loaf such as ciabatta, Italian, sourdough, or multi-grain.

This pesto grilled cheese is packed with plenty of flavorful pesto, juicy tomato slices, and three kinds of cheese.

Tips for Perfect Grilled Cheese

  1. Use pre-made or homemade pesto – this recipe works great with both. Obviously you’ll get a fresher herby flavor if you use homemade, but both work great in this grilled cheese.
  2. Salt and pepper tomatoes – this brings lots of flavor out of sweet tomato slices.
  3. Cook grilled cheese over medium heat – don’t be tempted to bump the heat up otherwise the outside of grilled cheese will burn before the cheese melts.

Recipe Variations

Try these ideas for a different twist on this grilled cheese.

  • Make it meaty – add a few slices of deli turkey, roast beef, chicken, or bacon to grilled cheese.
  • Add more veggies – try adding roasted red pepper strips, sauteed spinach, or mushrooms.
  • Skip tomatoes – if you’re not a fan of tomatoes, just leave them out.
  • Use a different cheese – this grilled cheese works well with a variety of cheeses – try white cheddar, asiago, swiss, provolone, or goat cheese.
This pesto grilled cheese is packed with plenty of flavorful pesto, juicy tomato slices, and three kinds of cheese.

If you’re looking for a way to seriously upgrade your grilled cheese game, this is the one, folks! The pesto adds so much flavor and pairs beautifully with the gooey cheese, sweet tomato slices, and all that crusty, buttery ciabatta.

Congrats on your newest lunch win!

Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.

This pesto grilled cheese is packed with plenty of flavorful pesto, juicy tomato slices, and three kinds of cheese.

Watch this grilled cheese made step-by-step on Google web stories.

Try these other loaded lunch sandwiches next!

This pesto grilled cheese is packed with plenty of flavorful pesto, juicy tomato slices, and three kinds of cheese.
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Pesto Grilled Cheese

This pesto grilled cheese is packed with plenty of flavorful pesto, juicy tomato slices, and three kinds of cheese.

This recipe may included paid links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 658kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 slices ciabatta or Italian bread
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup basil pesto
  • 8 slices fresh mozzarella
  • 4 slices gouda cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • 2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place bread slices on a cutting board and butter each slice with softened butter. Place bread butter-side down on cutting board.
  • Spread 1-2 tablespoons pesto on half of bread slices and begin layering mozzarella, gouda, and Parmesan on top of pesto. Top with tomato slices and season tomatoes with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Working in batches, cook grilled cheese in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat 3-4 minutes per side until grilled cheese is golden brown and cheese is melted. Repeat cooking with remaining grilled cheese.
  • Serve grilled cheese immediately warm and enjoy!

Notes

Storing Instructions
Grilled cheese is best if served immediately after assembly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 grilled cheese | Calories: 658kcal | Carbohydrates: 35.2g | Protein: 35.3g | Fat: 46.5g | Saturated Fat: 22.6g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 3.7g | Sugar: 1.7g | Calcium: 512mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below. Feel free to share a picture on Instagram and tag @wholeandheavenlyoven or hashtag it #wholeandheavenlyoven

This post was updated with new recipe tips and photos on 5/23/24.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Sarah says

      It really is one of the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had. 😉 Like you say, probably because of the pesto. LOVE the stuff. Thanks for the pin love, Gayle!

      Reply

  5. Isadora @ she likes food says

    This sandwich is pretty much the best thing ever! Pesto, cheese, and tomatoes are some of my favorite foods and I bet they taste amazing all together on this sandwich! I got a panini maker for Christmas, and for some reason I still haven’t used it yet. This grilled cheese is calling my name and will be the perfect way to break in my panini press 🙂

    Reply

  7. Kelly says

    Haha I live for green food too and my husband calls ME the weirdo – hmph 😉 I’m pretty sure he would change his tune if he saw this grilled cheese though – it sounds fantastic with the pesto in here!

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Thanks Kelly! Most men I’ve met just don’t understand the amazing-ness of something green. THEY’RE the weirdos, for sure. 😉 Green food forever!

      Reply

  8. Allison says

    These look like the best darn sammies ever! Pesto and tomatoes are made for each other! I love the panini-style look of these because I really think that makes for the best grilled sandwiches ever! So crispy. Mmmm these look like the perfect lunch with some tomato soup. Send leftovers my way please 😀

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Panini-style, YES! Totally describes this grilled cheese perf. And I would gladly send you leftovers, Alli but sadly I ate them all! Hehe. I guess you’ll just have to make these sandwiches asap then!

      Reply

  11. marcie says

    I’m with you on the pesto — I love it! I make different varieties all the time, and it makes everything better. It’s divine with mozzarella, too. 🙂 I love grown-up versions of grilled cheese where they’re jazzed up with different ingredients — it’s so much more fun and interesting to eat! This sandwich looks amazing, my friend!

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      I make different kinds of pesto all the time too! Soo many fun and tasty variations out there! And YES, isn’t grown-up grilled cheese the best?? Haha. Thanks so much Marcie!

      Reply

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