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Caprese Grilled Cheese turns a classic salad into a fresh mozzarella and tomato sandwich.
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Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe stacks fresh tomato and mozzarella slices between the golden brown buttered bread, with a drizzle of balsamic and a smear of basil pesto sauce to dress up this more mature meal.

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Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Our Caprese Grilled Cheese recipe takes my favorite salad components, merges them with a simple childhood staple, and makes one delicious melted cheese caprese salad sandwich.

Filled with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, balsamic glaze, and pesto, this caprese sandwich turns a time-honored classic into the best grilled cheese with a grown up flavor and flair.

With its crunchy, crispy, golden exterior and ooey, gooey melted middle, this hot-off-the-griddle gourmet grilled mozzarella sandwich takes all the comforts of a simple grilled cheese and dresses it up between the bread.

Why We Love This Fresh Mozzarella Grilled Cheese

  • Quick and easy to make in minutes.
  • Uses 6 simple ingredients.
  • Takes a simple sandwich and transforms it into a gourmet grilled cheese.
  • Crispy, crunchy outside with a warm and melty inside.
  • Perfectly satisfying when served as a meal for lunch or paired with a small side for supper.
Caprese Grilled Cheese ingredients

Caprese Grilled Cheese Ingredients

  • White bread
  • Butter
  • Fresh mozzarella cheese
  • Tomato
  • Balsamic glaze
  • Pesto

Substitutions and Additions

  • Make With Mayo: If you don’t want to soften the butter, spread mayo on the bread instead.
  • Select Your Slice: Feel free to use your favorite sliced bread for your sandwiches. My favorites include sourdough bread, crusty Italian bread, focaccia, or ciabatta bread.
  • Fill With Fresh Herbs: For extra taste and texture, you can stuff your sandwich with fresh basil leaves or arugula.
Caprese Grilled Cheese on a white table
  • Paper towel
  • Large skillet
Caprese Grilled Cheese collage 1

How to Make Caprese Grilled Cheese

  1. Prepare The Produce: Pat the tomato slice with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
  2. Butter The Bread: Spread butter onto one side of each slice of bread.
  3. Assemble: Place the mozzarella and tomato slices onto two unbuttered sides of bread and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Spread the pesto onto the unbuttered sides of the other two slices and place the pesto side down onto the sandwiches. 
  4. Cook: Cook each side until the bread is golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side. 
  5. Serve: Serve warm and enjoy!
Caprese Grilled Cheese collage 2

Tips For Making Caprese Grilled Cheese

  • You can use shredded mozzarella cheese instead of fresh mozzarella if you prefer. It gives you the same texture as a classic grilled cheese sandwich.
  • You can find pesto in the refrigerated section of your grocery store near the cheese. I like to use the Buitoni brand of pesto.
  • Feel free to butter your bread with a roasted garlic butter spread instead of the plain variety.

How to Store Caprese Grilled Cheese

  • To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight.
  • To Reheat: You can reheat the sandwiches in the skillet until the cheese melts.
Caprese Grilled Cheese on a white plate

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I dry the tomatoes before placing them onto the sandwich?

As the sandwich cooks, the moisture from the tomatoes will start seeping out, making your bread soggy. Since you are putting tomatoes and balsamic glaze on the sandwich, it will be a more moist sandwich than a typical grilled cheese. To help minimize some excess liquid, I like patting my tomatoes dry to remove any excess moisture.

What is balsamic glaze, and can I use balsamic vinegar instead?

Balsamic glaze is a reduction of balsamic vinegar. The flavor and texture are different than regular balsamic vinegar, so I would not use regular balsamic vinegar in this recipe. If you cannot find any, I would leave it out.

Caprese Grilled Cheese on a table

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5 from 1 vote
Caprese Grilled Cheese featured image

Caprese Grilled Cheese

Serves — 2
Caprese Grilled Cheese turns a classic salad into a fresh mozzarella and tomato sandwich.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 11 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 slices white bread
  • 4 tablespoons butter room temperature
  • 6 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tomato sliced
  • ½ teaspoon balsamic glaze
  • ¼ cup pesto

Instructions
 

  • Pat your tomato slice with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
  • Spread about 1 tablespoon of the butter onto one side of each slice of bread.
    4 slices white bread, 4 tablespoons butter
  • Place the mozzarella slices and tomato slices onto two unbuttered sides of the bread. Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the tomatoes.
    6 slices fresh mozzarella cheese, 1 tomato, ½ teaspoon balsamic glaze
  • Spread the pesto onto the unbuttered sides of the last two slices. Place the bread slices onto the sandwiches with the pesto side down.
    ¼ cup pesto
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Place the sandwiches into the pan and cook each side until the bread is golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage:
  • To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight.
  • To Reheat: You can reheat the sandwiches in the skillet until the cheese is melty.
Tips:
  • You can use shredded mozzarella cheese instead of fresh mozzarella if you prefer. It gives you the same texture as a classic grilled cheese sandwich.
  • You can find pesto in the refrigerated section of your grocery store near the cheese. I like to use the Buitoni brand of pesto.
  • Feel free to butter your bread with a roasted garlic butter spread instead of the plain variety.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 724kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 55g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 1244mg | Potassium: 276mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2412IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 598mg | Iron: 2mg

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