Pesto Grilled Cheese (Printer-Friendly)

Melty mozzarella, basil pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes grilled between golden sourdough slices.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices sourdough or country bread

→ Cheese

02 - 4 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced

→ Pesto

03 - 2 tablespoons basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)

→ Vegetables

04 - 4 to 6 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced

→ For Grilling

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# Method:

01 - Spread 1 tablespoon of pesto evenly over two slices of bread.
02 - Layer the sliced mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes evenly over the pesto-covered bread slices.
03 - Top with remaining bread slices to form sandwiches.
04 - Spread a thin layer of softened butter on the outside of each sandwich.
05 - Preheat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat.
06 - Place sandwiches buttered side down in the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown.
07 - Butter the top side, flip the sandwiches, and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, pressing gently, until the cheese melts and both sides are golden.
08 - Remove sandwiches from heat, let rest for 1 minute, then slice and serve warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's crispy outside, melty inside, and somehow feels more sophisticated than regular grilled cheese without being any harder to make.
  • The pesto keeps everything from tasting heavy, and those sun-dried tomatoes add just enough tang to make you want another bite.
02 -
  • Medium-low heat is not optional, because rushing this with high heat will burn your bread to charcoal while your cheese stays cold in the middle.
  • Draining those sun-dried tomatoes completely changes the outcome, the difference between a crispy sandwich and one that steams itself into sogginess.
03 -
  • Make the sandwich assembly line style if you're feeding more than one person, spreading all the bread, layering everything, then buttering and cooking in batches.
  • A light press with the spatula while the second side cooks helps the cheese melt evenly without squishing the sandwich flat.
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