5 Minute Easy Caprese Panini Sandwich with Pesto
This caprese panini sandwich with pesto features ooey, gooey mozzarella cheese, sweet tomato slices, fragrant basil, and bright herby pesto pressed between two slices of golden brown bread. The perfect easy lunch or dinner!
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We’ve been on a serious panini kick lately.
Maybe it was because we made these Easy Ham and Cheese Paninis after Easter.
But more than likely it’s because paninis are basically grilled cheeses with a fancy Italian name so you feel all swanky eating kid comfort food.
And now that it is practically summer that means it’s the season of Caprese everything.
So you know lunches and dinners on repeat all summer long will be caprese panini sandwich with pesto.
Ingredients and Kitchen Supplies for Caprese panini sandwich with pesto
To make these caprese panini sandwiches you’ll need:
- Bread– Use a good bread for this, preferably bakery style sliced bread.
- Pesto– Your favorite Easy Lemon Pesto Sauce, Traditional Pesto Genovese, homemade walnut pesto or storebought kind.
- Tomato– Use roma tomatoes or plum tomatoes since they don’t have tons of extra water content. Slice it.
- Basil– Enough fresh basil to spread out over the sandwich.
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil– To put in the panini press or pan
Kitchen supplies are pretty limited here but include:
- Panini press– You can use a fancier panini press like this one here or-
- Grill pan with a weight– You can use a grill pan with a panini weight like this.
- Knife and cutting board
How to Make a Caprese Panini Sandwich
1. Spread the pesto on the bread.
Cover one side of four slices of bread with pesto.
Leave the opposite side of the bread plain.
2. Build the caprese panini.
Layer a piece of the pesto covered bread with slices of fresh mozzarella, followed by fresh basil leaves, then the sliced tomato.
Top the tomato layer with another layer of fresh basil leaves.
Finish the sandwich off with a final layer of fresh mozzarella.
Sprinkle on salt and pepper to taste.
Place the second piece of bread on top of the sandwich, pesto side down.
Repeat this to make the second sandwich.
3. Cook the panini.
Heat the olive oil in a grill pan over medium heat.
When the pan is hot, add the sandwiches.
Spray the bottom of the press with nonstick spray.
Press the weighted press down on top of the sandwich.
Let the paninis cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the first side or until golden brown and the cheese starts to melt.
Remove the press weight and flip the paninis over to cook on the second side for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown, putting the press back on top.
Serve and enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
Like most paninis, I don’t recommend planning for leftovers.
The sandwiches will get very soggy in the fridge.
FAQs
What is a caprese panini?
A caprese panini sandwich is a delicious, Italian spin on a classic grilled cheese sandwich. Rather than just having cheese melted between two slices of bread, a caprese panini uses fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato, and fresh basil. This version also has pesto slathered on the interior.
Why is it called caprese?
Caprese just means it originated Capri, an Italian island not too far off the coast of Naples.
What is a panini?
A panini is an Italian variation of a grilled sandwich. So basically it’s a sandwich, often that uses Italian bread and Italian meats and cheeses, grilled on a grill pan and served warm.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t forget to spray the panini weight press with cooking spray. It may stick and rip your bread if you do not spray it.
- Let the pan get to hot prior to adding the sandwich to cook it.
- Assemble the sandwich off the pan for even cooking.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper on the bread as desired.
- You may need to add more olive oil to the pan between sides.
- This recipe is easy to double to feed 4 or cut in half to feed 1.
- Substitue lemon pesto sauce for a little extra flavor.
Other Caprese Recipes
- Fried Mozzarella Caprese– Why not fry the cheese first?
- Easy Baguette Caprese Sandwich with Pesto– A hoagie or sub style sandwich featuring classic Caprese flavors on a crusty baguette.
- Puff Pastry Caprese Cups– Handheld appetizer portions of Caprese salad get tucked in buttery puff pastry.
- Instant Pot Caprese Pasta– Serve it hot or cold!
- Burrata Panzanella Salad Recipe– Cream filled mozzarella in a tomato bread salad.
- Strawberry Caprese Salad– Sweet strawberries replace tomatoes in this salad.
- Panzanella Caprese Salad– Caprese and toasted bread cubes.
- Easy Tortellini Caprese Skewers– Skewers of tortellini, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella pearls
- Mini Caprese Skewers– Make the salad into a beautiful portable appetizer
- Shrimp Caprese Pasta– Caprese pasta dotted with shrimp
- The Best Burrata Caprese Salad– Creamy burrata replaces mozzarella in this simple variation.
- Elegant and Easy Prosciutto Caprese Skewers– Caprese skewers with the addition of thinly sliced prosciutto.
- Easy Pesto Caprese Salad (Italian Mozzarella, Tomato, Basil Salad)– A classic!
- Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad with Pesto – a fresh, delicious take on cold pesto pasta salad!
- Air Fryer Gnocchi Caprese– Crunchy air fried gnocchi tossed with the classic Caprese trio of flavors.
- Easy Baked Gnocchi with Pesto Sauce– Ok so technically this is not Caprese but it’s perfect for any pesto fan!
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 slices bread bakery style
- 4 tbsp pesto
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced
- 1 handful fresh basil leaves
- 1 whole tomato sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cover one side of four slices of bread with pesto. Leave the opposite side of the bread plain.4 slices bread, 4 tbsp pesto
- Layer a piece of the pesto covered bread with slices of fresh mozzarella, followed by fresh basil leaves, then the sliced tomato.4 ounces fresh mozzarella, 1 whole tomato, 1 handful fresh basil leaves
- Top the tomato layer with another layer of fresh basil leaves.1 handful fresh basil leaves
- Finish the sandwich off with a final layer of fresh mozzarella.4 ounces fresh mozzarella
- Sprinkle on salt and pepper to taste.1/4 tsp salt and pepper
- Place the second piece of bread on top of the sandwich, pesto side down.4 slices bread
- Repeat this to make the second sandwich.
- Heat the olive oil in a grill pan over medium heat.2 tbsp olive oil
- When the pan is hot, add the sandwiches.
- Spray the bottom of the press with nonstick spray.
- Press the weighted press down on top of the sandwich.
- Let the paninis cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the first side or until golden brown and the cheese starts to melt.
- Remove the press weight and flip the paninis over to cook on the second side for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown, putting the press back on top.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
