Margherita Grilled Cheese Sandwich

5 from 5 votes
9 Comments

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This Margherita Grilled Cheese Sandwich is loaded with mozzarella cheese, sweet tomatoes, and basil pesto all on sourdough bread. Not your ordinary grilled cheese sandwich!

Margherita grilled cheese sandwich on a white plate.
Featured with this recipe
  1. Ingredients in Margherita Grilled Cheese Sandwich
  2. Tips for the Perfect “Grown Up” Grilled Cheese Sandwich
  3. Frequently Asked Questions
  4. What to Serve with a Grilled Cheese Lunch
  5. How to Make Margherita Grilled Cheese Sandwich
  6. Margherita Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe

Grilled cheese sandwiches are a highly requested lunchtime favorite, especially during summer months when the kids are at home. Personally, I get tired of boring grilled cheese, so I decided to create my own, fancier version: the Grown Up Margherita Grilled Cheese Sandwich! The combination of crisp sourdough bread, soft mozzarella, savory pesto, and sweet balsamic vinegar topped with juicy tomatoes is like a party for my taste buds! Plus, it’s a delicious way to use up garden tomatoes during the summer. Grilled cheese is not just for kids anymore!

Ingredients in Margherita Grilled Cheese Sandwich

  • Sourdough bread
  • Fresh mozzarella slices – sliced thick
  • Pesto sauce
  • Tomato
  • Arugula lettuce
  • Balsamic vinegar – a good, aged bottle

Tips for the Perfect “Grown Up” Grilled Cheese Sandwich

  • I highly recommend investing in a good bottle of aged balsamic. I recently purchased a REALLY good balsamic and it is amazing the difference between it and the cheap stuff. An aged balsamic is almost like a balsamic reduction, it comes out more thick like a syrup. The taste is incredible and it will last you a really long time!
  • If you can’t find a good, thick aged balsamic, you can easily make a balsamic reduction. Just take regular balsamic vinegar and pour desired amount into a small sauce pan. Add about a tablespoon of honey per one cup balsamic vinegar. Simmer and stir until the mixture begins to thicken. Remove from heat and cool.
  • Fresh is best! Use fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, and fresh bread. It always makes the best sandwich. If you don’t love sourdough bread, thick slices of French bread, Italian bread, hearty white bread, or even our Honey Whole Wheat bread tastes delicious too.
  • You can make your own pesto using our Fresh Homemade Basil Pesto recipe, or buy your favorite brand at the grocery store.
  • I like to pile my grilled cheese sandwich high with spicy arugula lettuce, but you can use any lettuce you have on hand, including some fresh basil leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to butter the bread or pan for grilled cheese?

For more even browning and overall crispiness, it is better to butter the bread. Buttering the bread gives more flavor to your sandwich, as well as prevents any sticking or burning.

Is mayo or butter better for grilled cheese?

After much research, I can tell you that both do an equally good job. Both mayo and butter make crispy sandwiches with golden brown surfaces. The main difference is the flavor– while the buttered bread tasted more salty and buttery, the bread slathered with mayo had a slight tang. In the end, it comes down to personal preference.

Read More: 35+ Easy Lunch Ideas (Quick, Easy & Healthy)

What to Serve with a Grilled Cheese Lunch

My kids love apple slices and carrot sticks with their grilled cheese sandwiches, but since we’re keeping this lunch a little more “grown up” try a few of these delicious side dishes to round out your meal:

Mandarin Spinach Salad

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Pasta e Fagioli Soup (Olive Garden Copycat Recipe)

Tomato Basil Soup

How to Make Margherita Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Margherita grilled cheese sandwich on a white plate.

Margherita Grilled Cheese Sandwich

5 from 5 votes
This Margherita Grilled Cheese Sandwich is loaded with mozzarella cheese, sweet tomatoes, and basil pesto all on sourdough bread. Not your ordinary grilled cheese sandwich!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Lunch
Cuisine American, Grill/BBQ
Servings 2

Video

Equipment

  • Electric Griddle

Ingredients

  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 2 slices fresh mozzarella sliced thick
  • 2 tablespoon pesto sauce
  • 1 tomato sliced
  • 1 cup arugula lettuce
  • 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar a good, aged bottle

Instructions

  • Butter one side of two slices of sourdough. Place one of the slices of bread in a skillet over medium heat.
  • Layer with sliced mozzarella, then a thin spread of pesto, then sliced tomatoes. I also like to salt and pepper my tomatoes.
  • Put on the top slice of bread and grill both sides until toasty.
  • Remove to a plate and open the sandwich to add the arugula tossed in some balsamic. Put sandwich back together and enjoy!

Notes

These Margherita sandwiches contain some of my favorite ingredients, the thick sliced mozzarella, arugula, and pesto combine to make an unforgettable sandwich! But this sandwich tastes best fresh, not placed in the refrigerator and saved for later. Something about the magic of the skillet and the cheese.. Enjoy! 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 541kcalCarbohydrates: 80gProtein: 23gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 984mgPotassium: 386mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1244IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 246mgIron: 5mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is everything a gourmet sandwich should be and then some! Looking forward to having this for lunch today! Yum!

  2. Yummy, this looks just perfect… crispy on the outside and my favorite part, ooey-gooey in the middle :)!

  3. I am excited to try this! I will pair it with my yummy chicken tortilla soup and serve it to my Sweetheart soon! Thank you!