Caprese Grilled Cheese is stuffed with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese & pesto! Grilled to perfection & served pipping hot; the BEST fresh lunch!
This Caprese Grilled Cheese is the answer to your lunch slump! 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 is affordable as well. Caprese Grilled Cheese is going to be your new meal staple!
The caprese mixture is on of my favorite flavors! I have already shared with you some delicious recipes such as Caprese Stuffed Pull Apart Bread, Caprese Stuffed Spaghetti Squash, Caprese Cottage Cheese Toast, and Caprese Sliders!
Cutting down on carbs? Try out this delicious Burrata Caprese Salad!
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 one side oh each slice 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 the sandwich: 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 the caprese grilled cheese 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. Use on Caprese Grilled Cheese as desired.
or blender, blend until smooth, scraping sides down if needed. Set aside. Use on Caprese Grilled Cheese as desired.Serve the sandwiches with a delicious side dish such as:
- Air Fryer French Fries (homemade)
- In-N-Out Animal Style Fries (Copycat)
- Honey Lime Fruit Salad
- Air Fryer Asparagus Fries (easy recipe)
- The Crispiest and Best Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
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
Caprese Grilled Cheese is stuffed with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese & 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.
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Instructions to make 1 sandwich, repeat until you have desired number of sandwiches (recipe is for 4):
-
Butter one side of the slices 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.
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Cut in half with bread knife and enjoy!
Recipe first published in June 2015. Updated post August 2019. Updated June 2022
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!
Catalina says
These Caprese grilled cheese are now our favorite! My family go crazy over them!
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.
Melinda says
Amazing recipe! Only thing I added was a little garlic to the butter to pan fry. So yummy!
Allyson says
SO YUM! Great idea!
Beth Pierce says
I know what I will be making for dinner tonight! This looks so savory, delicious and easy too!
Linda C says
Loved the recipe. A silly question: you state to butter BOTH SIDES of the bread. Then say to put the buttered side down. Do you mean to butter one side of each slice of bread? I buttered both sides of each piece of bread but think one side would be enough. Again, loved the recipe and will make often..
Allyson says
You are totally right and I see how that sounds confusing now..sorry! It should be butter one side of each of the slices (so there is not butter in the center), but I think it would still taste good with extra butter!
Melissa says
YUM - all my favorites in a sandwich, I had to try it. It was soooo good making this again soon, thank you!
Erin says
Made these sammies with my husband's homemade sourdough bread. OMG, so good! Will definitely make again.
Beth says
This is one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever made. The flavors work so well together.
Amanda says
Hands down my new favorite sandwich. Everything works so well together!
Krystle says
Thanks for helping me use my leftover pesto. This is a new favorite lunch
Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert says
Looks amazingly delicious! This is a hit for sure on our table!
Juliane says
I love everything about this!