Caprese Grilled Cheese is stuffed with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese & fresh pesto! Grilled to perfection & served pipping hot; the BEST fresh lunch!
If you need a new lunch or dinner idea, Caprese Grilled Cheese is the answer! It’s a super simple sandwich that takes barely any time to make, and is majorly delicious! There’s only a handful of ingredients, so it doesn’t take a lot to groceries as well. Caprese Grilled Cheese is going to be your new meal staple!
Making this sandwich couldn’t be easier! Here’s how:
How to make Caprese Grilled Cheese:
**Scroll down to see full ingredient list and printable recipe**
- Prep the ingredients: slice the tomatoes and let them sit in some balsamic vinegar.
- Start the sandwich assembly line.
- Butter both sides of bread (you need a CRUSTY BREAD for these sandwiches). Turn it over, so the butter is facing down. Top 1 slice with pesto, add 1 slice of cheese, 3 tomatoes, and then another slice of cheese. If you like it really pesto-y, add some more pesto to top slice. Place top bread slice butter side out.
- Now cook them: Heat skillet or panini press, and put sandwich on to cook. If using a skillet, flip when golden brown on one side. I cooked on a skillet for about 3 minutes on medium on each side.
- I cooked 2 sandwiches at a time and was easily able to flip with enough room in the pan. Repeat until the sandwiches are all done!
Want fresh pesto for your sandwiches? Here’s how to make it:
How to make fresh pesto:
- Ingredients
- 1 cup loose basil leaves
- 1 TBS olive oil
- 2 TBS pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds (all work)
- 2 TBS freshly grated parmesan cheese
- pinch of salt and pepper
- Add all ingredients in a Food Processor
or blender, blend until smooth, scraping sides down if needed. Set aside.
If you like grilled cheese as much as I do, be sure to check out these other sandwiches from Domestic Superhero:
- California Grilled Cheese (Turkey, Avocado, Tomato)
- Turkey Cranberry Grilled Cheese (Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwiches)
- Apple Grilled Cheese
- Roasted Red Pepper Grilled Cheese
- BBQ Chicken & Pineapple Grilled Cheese
- Spinach Pesto Grilled Cheese
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Caprese Grilled Cheese is stuffed with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese & fresh pesto! Grilled to perfection & served pipping hot; the BEST fresh lunch!
- 8 slices crusty bread
- 4 TBS fresh pesto
- 8 slices mozzarella cheese (I used pre-sliced, you could also use fresh)
- 3 large ripe tomatoes, sliced
- 2 TBS balsamic vinegar
- butter
-
Slice tomatoes in medium slices (should have about 12 slices for 4 sandwiches, or 3 slices per sandwich), and place them in a shallow dish. Pour 2 TBS balsamic vinegar over tomatoes. Let sit while preparing the rest.
-
Instructions to make 1 sandwich, repeat until you have desired number of sandwiches (recipe is for 4):
-
Butter both sides of bread lightly. Turn over, so butter is facing down. Top 1 slice of bread with 1 TBS of pesto, add 1 slice of cheese, 3 tomatoes, and then another slice of cheese. If you like it really pesto-y, add some more pesto to top slice. Place top bread slice butter side out.
-
Heat skillet or panini press, and put sandwich on to cook. If using a skillet, flip when golden brown on one side. I cooked on a skillet for about 3 minutes on medium on each side. I cooked 2 sandwiches at a time and was easily able to flip with enough room in the pan. Repeat until all sandwiches are cooked.
-
Cut in half with bread knife and enjoy!
Recipe first published in June 2015. Updated post August 2019.
JoAnn @ SweetPepperRose says
This really does look seriously good!
Allyson says
It so sooo drool worthy! Thanks for stopping by!
Katherine says
This looks delicious – simplicity is good!
Allyson says
It’s amazing how the best things are made with the simplest ingredients! Thanks for stopping by, Katherine!
Carolina Little says
It looks so yummy!
Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says
This looks amazing, Allyson!
Zenda says
This sounds like the perfect way to enjoy my end-of-the-season tomatoes! Thanks for the great idea!!!
Erica @ Spoonful of Imagination says
THis totally just made me want a second dinner! AMAZING! XOXO, Erica
Lizzie says
Good idea to use balsamic to season the tomatoes which always seem to end up tasteless & wimpy when used in a grilled sandwich… Thanks!!!
Allyson says
Thanks, Lizzie! I totally agree with the limp tomatoes, no good! I also wanted the flavor of the balsamic, but I didn’t want to overpower by pouring on later, and also risk having the crunchy bread get soggy! This was a great compromise! Thanks for coming by!
DesignedByBH says
This looks delicious…and reminds me that I need to get up and make dinner…
Lindsey says
oooh, golly that looks good. You had me at tomato.
Candace says
This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing the sandwich and the pesto recipe above it. I have always wanted to make homemade pesto. I didn’t realize how easy it is! Pinning for later.
Allyson says
It is super easy! Thanks for stopping by, Candace!
Kelley says
This looks fabulous! Found you on the linky party 🙂 Great photos and I love that you also keep your recipes separate so it’s easy to follow!
Allyson says
Thanks Kelley! I love having the recipes separate so they are easier to print!
Kelli says
All these sandwiches sound delish! I’m definitely going to try them!
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
I had it today and it’s amazing, so simple and super yummy.
Allyson says
Yay! I am so happy you tried it out and loved it! We definitely adore this sandwich at my house!
Diana says
I am diabetic so have to watch my butter intake, my trick is to use a pastry brush and coat both sides of the bread lightly. This works in a pan or a panini press. Thank you for the great sandwiches!
Allyson says
That is a great idea! Sometimes I find I dont even need butter, just a little olive oil spray!
Mary Frances says
So simple, so delicious! I try to eat very healthy, but my first thought upon seeing this was, we gotta add some bacon!
Allyson says
Oh yeah, bacon would be great!
Abbey says
Just made this! So yummy and filling! I loved the
Balsamic tomato touch. My fiancé didn’t even notice there wasn’t any meat 🙂
Allyson says
Oh I am so happy you loved it! It’s one of my FAVORITE recipes FOR SURE!
Rachael Yerkes says
Best lunch EVER!
April says
This is my new favorite go to lunch! I love caprese anything. yum.
Amy says
I love this twist on a grilled cheese. Yum!
Eden says
d This was so good!!! I love a good veggie meal and these were melt in your mouth good!
Mallory Lanz says
Now I can enjoy a grown up grilled cheese right along side my children. Thanks!
Kim Seghers says
Im drooling over this panini! It looks so delicious. I can’t wait to try it for lunch.
Sara Welch says
This is everything a gourmet sandwich is, and then some! Can’t wait to enjoy this tomorrow!
Dorothy Reinhold says
This sandwich has all of the best part of summer! I can’t wait to dig into this!
Michelle Nahom says
This really is the perfect lunch…it is one of my favorite sandwiches!
Catalina says
I love these flavors! I should try these sandwiches!
Taylor says
Such a delicious and easy lunch! I LOVE caprese flavors!
Jacque Hastert says
I just made a couple of these sandwiches for my husband and I. The addition of tomatoes, pesto, mozzarella cheese, and balsamic really take it to the next level.
Beth Pierce says
I know what I will be making for dinner tonight! This looks so savory, delicious and easy too!
Allyson says
Sorry I just saw this, you can cover or not, it doesn’t matter and shouldn’t effect the outcome!