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Pesto Grilled Cheese

Pesto grilled cheese makes one mouthwatering sandwich! Pair the herbaceous spread with melty mozzarella and Monterey jack cheese. It’s the…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Pesto grilled cheese makes one mouthwatering sandwich! Pair the herbaceous spread with melty mozzarella and Monterey jack cheese.

Pesto Grilled Cheese

It’s the time of year when our basil plant is big and bushy, and that means all things pesto. Here’s one of our favorite ways to use this herbaceous spread: in pesto grilled cheese! It gives the best garlicky, herby flavor to the gooey melty cheese, making it one irresistible sandwich. It’s quick to put together and almost impossible to put down.

Ingredients in pesto grilled cheese

Pesto grilled cheese is simple to whip up, but since there are only a few ingredients you’ll want them to be as high quality as possible. Homemade basil pesto has the best flavor and tastes so much fresher than store-bought: it’s a must if at all possible! Here’s what you’ll need for pesto grilled cheese:

  • Basil pesto
  • Fresh mozzarella cheese
  • Monterey jack cheese
  • Italian bread
  • Butter
Basil Pesto Recipe

For the pesto: homemade vs storebought

This pesto grilled cheese tastes best with homemade basil pesto made with fresh basil! Of course, we know that’s not always possible. But if you’re using purchased pesto, keep this in mind: the flavor and quality of jarred pesto varies greatly between brands. Many jarred brands taste intensely acidic or have an odd aftertaste. Here’s what to know:

  • Homemade pesto has the best flavor! Basil Pesto is best homemade. Or, try you can try Arugula Pesto or Kale Pesto, which will have a slightly spicier flavor.
  • Purchased pesto brands vary greatly in flavor: some are very acidic. Brands all have a different salt and acid level. Some brands we have stopped using altogether because of the bitter and acidic notes can overwhelm the dish.
  • Some brands of refrigerated fresh pesto are now on the market (in the produce section). This type of pesto tends to have better flavor than pesto in jars. Experiment to find one you love!

Best bread for pesto grilled cheese

What’s the best bread for a grilled cheese sandwich? We have some opinions! Here are a few pointers:

  • Use an artisan bread. Wonderbread or mushy wheat bread just don’t work well for grilled cheese. Use an artisan bread like a crusty loaf or sourdough if you can.
  • Make sure the bread is not too crusty. Artisan bread that’s too crusty can make for very tough crusts, which can be hard to bite. Here we used a store-bought sourdough bread which had just the right texture.
Pesto Grilled Cheese

Adders for pesto grilled cheese

There are lots of ways to step up this pesto grilled cheese sandwich (you probably have lots of ideas). Just keep in mind, if you’re adding a tomato make sure to slice it very thinly: adding a tomato can make it harder to melt the cheese! Here are a few ideas for adders to this pesto grilled cheese sandwich:

What else would you add to your pesto grilled cheese? Let us know in the comments below!

More recipes with pesto

There are so many delicious ways to use pesto in your cooking! Here are some more recipes with pesto we love:

This pesto grilled cheese recipe is…

Vegetarian.

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Pesto Grilled Cheese

Pesto Grilled Cheese


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 sandwiches

Description

Pesto grilled cheese makes one mouthwatering sandwich! Pair the herbaceous spread with melty mozzarella and Monterey jack cheese.


Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon butter, softened
  • 4 slices sourdough bread (or other artisan-style loaf)
  • 4 tablespoons basil pesto
  • 4 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into slices and patted dry
  • 2 slices (1.5 oz) Monterey jack cheese

Instructions

  1. Place a skillet over medium low heat and melt the butter. Add two bread slices to the pan and toast until one side is golden.
  2. Flip the bread slices and layer them with the pesto, fresh mozzarella cheese, and Monterey jack cheese. Top with the other slice of bread.
  3. Cook until the bread is golden brown and toasted, then flip and cook a few minutes more until the second bread slice is toasted and the cheese is warm. Return to low and cover until the cheese is melted. Serve immediately. 
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Vegetarian
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Pesto grilled cheese

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.


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Candied Jalapeño Bacon Grilled Cheese!

Bacon grilled cheese is the star of the show today. If you’re a grilled cheese lover, only you can appreciate the high-maintenance style of this grilled cheese. It’s off the charts.  And it comes with a soup dipper! REJOICE FOR FALL. This is a homemade version of a grilled cheese sandwich that I had over […]

The post Candied Jalapeño Bacon Grilled Cheese! appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Bacon grilled cheese is the star of the show today.

This bacon grilled cheese is filled with sharp cheddar and candied jalapeños! Served alongside a soup dipped for the ultimate comforting meal.

If you’re a grilled cheese lover, only you can appreciate the high-maintenance style of this grilled cheese. It’s off the charts. 

And it comes with a soup dipper!

REJOICE FOR FALL.

This bacon grilled cheese is filled with sharp cheddar and candied jalapeños! Served alongside a soup dipped for the ultimate comforting meal.

This is a homemade version of a grilled cheese sandwich that I had over the summer on our michigan vacation. Actually, I think I’ve had it two years in a row! 

That version is SUPER spicy, so I tamed it down a bit since I don’t love overly spicy things. To me, foods that are crazy spicy don’t have much taste – all I can taste is heat. Maybe I have the most sensitive taste buds in the world but I just don’t get covering every meal in hot sauce. 

Tell me your thoughts! Am I alone? In my family, I’m pretty much alone on this one. 

But anyway.

That grilled cheese has pickled jalapeños but I went ahead and used quick candied. You know I freak over the sweet + savory combo. Doing a quick version of the candied jalapeños takes a bit of heat out, even though we leave in the seeds. 

This bacon grilled cheese is filled with sharp cheddar and candied jalapeños! Served alongside a soup dipped for the ultimate comforting meal.

Then we have a bacon jam. Smoky bacon jam! I’ve actually used this before on a grilled cheese and it might just be the most made grilled cheese here on the blog. You guys looooove it. 

This is another one of those recipes that is my version of self-care. I mean, sure, it’s comfort food. But we tend to look at grilled cheese recipes as being a quick and easy way to get a meal in, even if it comfort food or something more indulgent than we usually enjoy.

With a recipe like this – one that tastes incredible, is ridiculously satisfying and on the majorly decadent side – I love taking my time to make it.

I mean, let’s be real. With two little kids, I barely take time to do ANYTHING. A lot of times we are rushing around or out the door, they always want things ten minutes ago and throwing working into that mix? It’s basically a race throughout the week to see if I can accomplish everything I need to.

This bacon grilled cheese is filled with sharp cheddar and candied jalapeños! Served alongside a soup dipped for the ultimate comforting meal.

Taking the time to make a treat like this is not only something I enjoy – but it gives us extras for other meals! Both the jalapeños and bacon jam stay great in the fridge for up to a week and can be used on so many other things!

This bacon grilled cheese is filled with sharp cheddar and candied jalapeños! Served alongside a soup dipped for the ultimate comforting meal.

Now for the fun part… a soup dipper!

If you have a copy of Seriously Delish, then you know I have a delish grilled cheese in there and you make a small batch potato soup to go with it. In this recipe, I made a half batch of my creamy cauliflower soup. But you could also do a batch of this tomato soup, or this sweet potato soup, this pumpkin bisque or this caramelized leek soup! Anything that is creamy and silky makes for the best dipper ever.

This almost seems like a basic or overdone grilled cheese combo in my brain. But I had to share because it.tastes.amazing. Like you won’t believe how delicious it is. And if you take the time to put it all together… you are my people.

This bacon grilled cheese is filled with sharp cheddar and candied jalapeños! Served alongside a soup dipped for the ultimate comforting meal.

Candied Jalapeño Bacon Grilled Cheese

Candied Jalapeño and Bacon Jam Grilled Cheese

This bacon grilled cheese is filled with sharp cheddar and candied jalapeños! Served alongside a soup dipped for the ultimate comforting meal.

soup dipper suggestions

  • the best tomato soup
  • cauliflower soup
  • silky sweet potato soup
  • caramelized leek soup
  • pumpkin bisque

candied jalapeños

  • 4 jalapeño peppers sliced
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

bacon jam

  • 1 pound bacon, (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 cup bourbon
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoons unsalted butter

grilled cheese

  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
  1. To bring this entire recipe together, I suggest making the candied jalapenos and bacon jam first. You can even do it a day before. Once that’s ready, prepare your soup and while it cooks, make your grilled cheese.
  2. candied jalapeños
  3. To make the candied jalapeños, Add the vinegar, sugar and garlic powder to a small saucepan over medium heat and whisk until the sugar dissolves. Allow the mixture to boil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add in the peppers and stir with a wooden spoon, making sure all of the slices are submerged. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the peppers with a slotted spoon and place them in a jar or a bowl. Continue to cook the liquid for another 5 minutes until it has reduced by half, then pour it over the jalapeños. Allow the peppers to cool completely – you can do this a day ahead of time too.
  4. bacon jam
  5. Heat a large dutch oven over medium-low heat and add the bacon. Cook until the fat is started to render and a few pieces of the bacon are crispy. Stir in the onion, paprika, salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar and cook for another minute or so.
  6. Stream in 3/4 cup bourbon and 1/2 cup of chicken stock, stirring with a wooden spoon to release any bits of flavor from the bottom of the pot. Simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until the liquid has evaporated and the mixture has thickened. Stir in the remaining bourbon and 1 cup of stock, cooking again for 10 more minutes while stirring, until that liquid has evaporated too. Add the last of the chicken stock.
  7. Transfer the mixture to a blender and very carefully, blend until pureed. (I put a towel over the top and hold it down.)
  8. Return the mixture to the same pot and cook for another 10 minutes until it has cooked down a bit more and thickened. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed. Stir in the butter. Let cool completely before scooping into an airtight container and storing in the fridge.
  9. grilled cheese
  10. To make the grilled cheese, heat a griddle or skillet over medium-low heat. To assemble the sandwich, spread one of the inside slices with bacon jam. Top with the grated cheese and a few spoonfuls of the jalapenos. Cook until the bread is toasty and golden brown and the cheese is melted. Serve with a soup dipper!

This bacon grilled cheese is filled with sharp cheddar and candied jalapeños! Served alongside a soup dipped for the ultimate comforting meal.

Carbs with a side of carbs is just how I like it!

The post Candied Jalapeño Bacon Grilled Cheese! appeared first on How Sweet Eats.


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Shiitake Bacon Grilled Cheese

This Vegan Shiitake Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich is the ultimate savory comfort food. Whip it up in minutes and enjoy cheezy flavor and loads of mushrooms. I am always looking for delicious ways to add more mushrooms to my diet and this recipe really …

This Vegan Shiitake Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich is the ultimate savory comfort food. Whip it up in minutes and enjoy cheezy flavor and loads of mushrooms. I am always looking for delicious ways to add more mushrooms to my diet and this recipe really worked for me! Get the recipe...Read more »

This is a summary, images and full post available on HHL website!