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    Home » Lunches » Sandwiches

    Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    Published: Mar 3, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    stacked grilled cheese sandwiches with text overlay.

    This Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich made on sourdough bread, with fresh chopped tomato takes your standard grilled cheese to a whole new level! Whether you cook it in a skillet or in the air fryer, you’re sure to enjoy a fantastic snack, lunch, or dinner.

    Make this tasty toastie on Sourdough Rye Bread and serve it alongside a bowl of Instant Pot Split Pea Soup for a filling, plant-based meal or beef it up with some Grilled Chicken Strips for something meatier.

    two pesto grilled cheese sandwiches cut and stacked on a wooden board with a black background. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs & Recipe Costs
    • To Use Leftover Pesto
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

    Need to liven up your sandwich game? Look no further. Grilled cheese just grew up.

    This Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich is fantastic! Sourdough bread, fresh chopped tomatoes, provolone cheese, and a slathering of pesto. Oh me, oh my! Very, very yummy.

    Why Make This

    It’s easy. With just five ingredients, this sandwich comes together for a quick and simple lunch, snack, or dinner.

    It’s delicious. Layers of flavor practically explode in this grilled cheese made of rich pesto, creamy provolone, and tart sweet tomatoes. Pair it with Instant Pot Tomato Soup for a fantastic meal.

    It’s affordable. Pesto tends to be a pricey condiment, but you’ll get your money’s worth in this flavorful sandwich. It works out to be just $1.75 a sandwich!

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you’ll need to make a Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich:

    ingredients for pesto grilled cheese laid out on a black table.

    sourdough bread – You can use store bought bread or homemade sourdough. Both are super tasty. You can also whole wheat, rye, or Italian sandwich bread. Whatever you like.

    butter – Softened butter helps toast the bread and add an extra layer of flavor. You can also use a plant butter, margarine, olive oil, or cooking spray.

    pesto – Obviously pesto is what gives this Pesto Grilled Cheese its spark. You can use store-bought or homemade pesto or this more affordable Easy 3-Ingredient Basil Sauce. See the notes below for more ways to use up the leftover spread.

    cheese slices – Choose a cheese that melts well, like provolone, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella.

    tomatoes – Tomatoes add a tart acid component which nicely offsets the richness of the pesto and the cheese. I have made this sandwich with both sliced and chopped tomatoes. I recommend using chopped tomatoes as it makes the sandwich easier to eat.

    Variations

    There are some great fillings you can add to this Pesto Grilled Cheese to make it a little more. Consider tucking in any of the following:

    • use a different kind of pesto: there’s basil, of course, but you can also use tomato, artichoke, eggplant, or whatever other variety crosses your path.
    • sliced grilled chicken
    • turkey deli slices
    • sliced ham or prosciutto
    • julienned sun-dried tomatoes
    • shredded carrot
    • shredded spinach
    • feta cheese crumbles
    • goat cheese crumbles

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    There are at least three ways to make a Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich: in a skillet or griddle, in the air fryer, or in the panini press.

    Skillet Instructions

    If you use a skillet, you can likely cook 2 sandwiches at one time. To cook more at once, use an electric griddle.

    two slices of buttered bread on board with knife and dish of butter.
    2 slices of bread, buttered side down, in skillet, topped with cheese slices and chopped tomatoes.
    spreading pesto on two slices of sourdough bread.
    assembled sandwich in skillet with butter on the top side of the bread.
    toasted sandwiches in the skillet.
    1. Heat a large skillet or griddle to medium high heat. Butter one side of each slice of bread.
    2. Place a slice of bread, buttered side down in the hot skillet. Layer on 2 slices of cheese and chopped tomatoes.
    3. Spread pesto on another slice of bread, the opposite side of the butter.
    4. Place this slice, butter-side out, atop the cheese and tomatoes. The pesto will be facing the other fillings.
    5. Cook on the hot griddle until the bread is crisp and toasty and the cheese is melted, flipping once. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

    Air Fryer Instructions

    Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may be able to make one to four sandwiches at a time. Work in batches, if needed, and have your eaters ready to eat them hot out of the fryer!

    two slices of bread, buttered side down in air fryer.
    sandwiches topped with bread, pesto on inside and butter on outside.
    toasted sandwiches in air fryer basket.
    1. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Place a slice of bread, buttered side down in the basket.
    2. Layer on 2 slices of cheese and chopped tomatoes.
    3. Top the sandwich(es) with a top slice of bread, pesto spread on the inside, butter on the outside.
    4. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes, flipping once, until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasty. Serve immediately.

    Panini Press Instructions

    • Assemble the sandwich as directed above and place on the surface of a panini press.
    • Close the press and cook on medium high until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted. Serve immediately.

    FAQs & Recipe Costs

    What kind of cheese goes well with pesto?

    Mozzarella and provolone are great creamy, mild cheeses that counterbalance the richness of pesto, but feta and goat cheese are great pairings as well for their tanginess.

    What’s the best cheese for a grilled cheese?

    Typically in a grilled cheese sandwich, you want a cheese that melts well, such as provolone, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack. Cheddar is nice for its full flavor.

    What is pesto used with?

    Pesto is great on pasta, cooked meats and fish, and even stirred into soup. You can use pesto to add rich flavor to wraps, sandwiches, and pizzas as well.

    Can you use pesto straight from the jar?

    Since pesto has a lot of olive oil in it, you may notice a certain amount of separation and olive oil will rise to the top. This is perfectly normal. Stir it back in and use straight from the jar.

    Recipe Costs

    Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.

    • sourdough bread – $2.50
    • butter – $0.40
    • pesto – $0.82
    • provolone cheese – $2.66
    • tomatoes – $0.60

    While your costs may vary depending on where and how you shop, you can expect to pay about $6.98 for a big batch of Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, about $1.75/serving.

    overhead shot of grilled sandwich cut in half with cheese pull and a knife and stacked sandwich on board nearby on black table.

    To Use Leftover Pesto

    If you buy the big, honking jar of pesto from Costco, it may take awhile to use it up. I like to get creative with my use of it, slathering it on a goat cheese pizza, mixing it into macaroni and cheese, stirring it into pasta salad.

    Sure, sometimes, I get efficient and freeze it in ½ cup portions so that I don’t have to eat it everyday for two weeks until it’s gone.

    Whether you get creative or efficient or not, don’t waste a single drop of that pesto! Consider these pesto recipes for ways to use what you have and avoid food waste.

    • pesto pasta salad in large white bowl on blue striped cloth.
      Pesto Pasta Salad with Cranberries & Feta (60 cents/serving)
    • A bowl filled with pasta and vegetables, with Pesto
      Vegetable Pasta Salad with Pesto: A Very Quick Dinner
    • stack of three turkey pesto sandwiches on wood cutting board.
      Hot Turkey Pesto Sandwiches
    • A plate of Pesto Shrimp Linguine Salad
      Pesto Shrimp Linguine Salad
    white spoon and fork on a teal plate logo.

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    close up of cut side of two sandwiches stacked with cheese pulls and pesto showing.
    Print Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    5 from 2 votes

    Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

    Garlicky pesto, juicy tomatoes, and gooey melted Jack cheese join forces in this grilled sammy that is packed with flavor.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 676kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • large skillet
    • air fryer

    Ingredients

    • 8 slices sourdough bread
    • ¼ cup butter softened
    • ¼ cup pesto
    • 8 provolone cheese slices jack and mozzarella are tasty, too!
    • 2 tomato chopped
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    To make it in a skillet

    • Heat a large skillet or griddle to medium high heat. Butter one side of each slice of bread.
    • Place a slice of bread, buttered side down in the hot skillet. Layer on 2 slices of cheese and chopped tomatoes.
    • Spread pesto on another slice of bread, the opposite side of the butter.
    • Place this slice, butter-side out, atop the cheese and tomatoes. The pesto will be facing the other fillings.
    • Cook on the hot griddle until the bread is crisp and toasty and the cheese is melted, flipping once. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

    To make it in the air fryer

    • Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Place a slice of bread, buttered side down in the basket.
    • Layer on 2 slices of cheese and chopped tomatoes.
    • Top the sandwich(es) with a top slice of bread, pesto spread on the inside, butter on the outside.
    • Cook for 7 to 10 minutes, flipping once, until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasty. Serve immediately.

    To make it in the panini press

    • Assemble the sandwich as directed above and place on the surface of a panini press.
    • Close the press and cook on medium high until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    Nutritional values are approximate and based on 1 sandwich. Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
    Variations – There are some great fillings you can add to this Pesto Grilled Cheese to make it a little more. Consider tucking in any of the following:
    • use a different kind of pesto: there’s basil, of course, but you can also use tomato, artichoke, eggplant, or whatever other variety crosses your path.
    • sliced grilled chicken
    • turkey deli slices
    • sliced ham or prosciutto
    • julienned sun-dried tomatoes
    • shredded carrot
    • shredded spinach
    • feta cheese crumbles
    • goat cheese crumbles

    Nutrition

    Calories: 676kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 1239mg | Potassium: 365mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1514IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 378mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tell us what you think!Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

    This post was originally published on March 30, 2011. It has been updated for content and clarity.

    « Robert Redford Dessert in Jar Recipe
    English Muffin Pizza Recipe »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marelie

      May 03, 2011 at 10:06 am

      I am new here.I found your linky while browsing.I just linked my Baked Chicken Tortilla Wrap.Thanks a lot for hosting

      Reply
    2. dawn

      April 19, 2011 at 12:00 pm

      your sandwich looks delicious!

      Reply
    3. AllieZirkle

      April 03, 2011 at 8:42 pm

      This looks YUMMY!

      When I have leftover pesto, I use it in red sauce instead of dried basil. It works great!

      Allie

      Reply
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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter their budget.

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