Pesto Grilled Cheese (Printable)
Golden sourdough layered with basil pesto and melting mozzarella for an upgraded comfort food classic.
# What You'll Need:
→ Bread
01 - 4 slices sourdough bread or favorite sandwich bread
→ Cheese
02 - 4 slices mozzarella cheese
03 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
→ Pesto
04 - 3 tablespoons basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
→ Butter
05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
→ Optional Add-ins
06 - 2 slices tomato
07 - Fresh baby spinach leaves
# How To Make It:
01 - Spread 1 tablespoon of softened butter evenly on one side of each bread slice.
02 - Flip the bread slices and spread approximately 1½ tablespoons of basil pesto on the unbuttered side of two slices.
03 - Layer mozzarella cheese (2 slices per sandwich) over the pesto-coated side, then sprinkle 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese on top. Add tomato slices or fresh spinach if desired.
04 - Top each assembled sandwich with the remaining bread slices, ensuring the buttered side faces outward.
05 - Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches in the skillet and cook for 3–4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula until bread turns golden brown and cheese melts completely.
06 - Remove sandwiches from skillet and let rest for 1 minute. Slice diagonally and serve warm.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It transforms ordinary grilled cheese into something that feels restaurant quality with zero extra effort
- The pesto adds an bright herbal punch that cuts through all that rich melted cheese perfectly
02 -
- Medium heat is your friend, anything higher will burn the bread before the cheese has time to melt properly
- Pressing too hard with your spatula squeezes out all that good melted cheese, use just gentle pressure
03 -
- Let the bread come to room temperature before starting, it browns more evenly than cold bread
- Mayo instead of butter creates an even crispier exterior if you want to try something different