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    Home » Recipes » Sandwiches

    Grilled Caprese Sandwich

    Published: Oct 4, 2022 · Modified: Jan 9, 2024 · by Renée B. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Whole caprese sandwich on a small cutting board. Cut sandwich on a plate in the background. Pin text reads: Grilled Caprese Sandwich

    Made with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and sweet basil, a freshly-pressed Grilled Caprese Panini is one of the tastiest handheld meals around! Easy to make, and ready to eat in 10 minutes.

    Whole caprese sandwich on a small cutting board. Cut sandwich on a plate in the background.
    Jump to:
    • Why this Caprese Sandwich Recipe Works
    • What Goes into this Caprese Sandwich Recipe
    • How to Make a Caprese Sandwich with Pesto
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • FAQ
    • More Sandwich Recipes
    • What to Serve with a Caprese Sandwich
    • Grilled Caprese Sandwich

    Why this Caprese Sandwich Recipe Works

    This ridiculously fresh and tasty sandwich is quick and easy to make, and a delicious way to enjoy those late-summer tomatoes as they come off the vine. Inspired by the classic Italian Caprese salad, it is a light, satisfying combination of fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and sweet basil, all layered between sourdough bread and fresh pesto.

    The only thing that can really go awry when making a grilled caprese sandwich is if you put it together wrong and it ends up soggy. As I mentioned while detailing our classic Rueben recipe, the sequence in which you assemble the ingredients in a grilled sandwich is critical.

    In the case of a caprese sandwich, the trick is to create a solid barrier between the sliced tomatoes and the bread. The the oil from the pesto will leak into the bread a bit, but it won't break it down or make it too soggy. The tomato juices, on the other hand, can make a real mess.

    We solve this problem by lining one side of the sandwich with a wall of basil leaves, and the other with a layer of arugula reinforced with a layer of sliced mozzarella. Assembling the sandwich this way, the tomatoes are literally partitioned away from the bread layers.

    What Goes into this Caprese Sandwich Recipe

    Caprese sandwich ingredients, labeled: bread, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, arugula, and pesto.
    • Bread: Sourdough is our first choice for grilled caprese sandwiches. It has enough body to withstand the pesto, and grills up nicely in the process. We also often use ciabatta rolls.
      • For cold-pressed sandwiches that you don't intend to grill, we suggest using ciabatta rolls. They hold up to the sandwich fillings for long periods of time, and are perfect for picnic sandwiches.
      • Avoid using soft white breads; they won't hold up well.
    • Pesto: Use either purchased or homemade basil pesto. If you want to make your own, the recipe card below includes a quick and easy pesto that you can make in about 5 minutes.
    • Fresh mozzarella: Use fresh mozzarella.
      • Fresh mozzarella and the mozzarella that you sprinkle on your pizza are two different things. Fresh mozzarella usually comes in balls or logs packed in a mild brine. It had a mild, creamy flavor, and it melts like a dream. Fresh mozzarella is also soft and porous like a sponge, and will absorb some of the juices that are created from grilling the sandwich.
      • The next best cheese choice is burrata, a soft, fresh Italian cow's milk cheese with an outer shell made of soft mozzarella.
    • Tomatoes: Use flavorful, meaty tomatoes. (We love making caprese sandwiches in the late summer when heirloom tomatoes are in season!)
    • Fresh basil: You really need to use fresh basil to even call it a caprese, but in a pinch, you can sub in more arugula or some fresh mint.
    • Arugula: Lemony, peppery, and bright, arugula can stand up to the heat of grilling and still taste fresh. Use baby arugula if you can find it. Baby arugula has smaller, more tender leaves and a milder flavor.
      • Substitutes: Fresh spinach or more fresh basil.

    How to Make a Caprese Sandwich with Pesto

    Whether you are making your sandwich cold-pressed or grilled, the assembly process is the same.

    Spread pesto onto one side of each piece of bread. Layer arugula onto one pesto-covered slice, and basil onto the other.

    Put the sliced tomatoes on top of the basil, and mozzarella slices on top of the arugula, and then put the whole thing together.

    Collage detailing the assembly process for caprese sandwich.

    With your sandwich now assembled, you have three choices. You can:

    1. Eat the sandwich cold, as is.
    2. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until you're ready to grill or eat it.
    3. Grill it now.
    Closeup shot of an assembled sandwich with tomatoes, mozzarella, arugula, basil, etc., ready to eat, wrap, or grill.

    Grilled Caprese Panini

    Preheat the grill.

    Lightly brush the outside faces of the sandwich with olive oil.

    Grill the prepared sandwich for 3-5 minutes on each side. (If you use a panini press or waffle iron, it is not necessary to flip the sandwich, as you are cooking both sides at the same time.)

    Allow the sandwich to rest for 5 minutes before cutting.

    Substitutions

    • Mozzarella: The next best cheese choice is burrata, a soft, fresh Italian cow's milk cheese with an outer shell made of soft mozzarella.
    • Basil: You can sub in more arugula or some fresh mint.
    • Arugula: Substitute fresh spinach or more fresh basil.

    Variations

    Adding a single simple ingredient can change the whole flavor profile of a caprese sandwich. Here are few we particularly enjoy.

    • Avocado Caprese: Add slices of fresh avocado, or spread on mashed avocado for a fresh, unique flavor.
    • Meatball Caprese: Add sliced Italian meatballs to your sandwich.
    • Figs Caprese: Fresh figs are surprisingly delicious in this combo!

    Equipment

    We bought a panini press a few years ago, and I have to say, it is the single most surprisingly useful kitchen item we have gotten in years!

    We use our press a lot, especially when we are on the road: it takes up very little space, and you can cook or reheat a staggering variety of items with it, from fish to omeletes to frozen breakfast sandwiches. It cooks bacon twice as fast as a skillet, with no spatter and virtually no mess to clean up.

    That said, if you don't have a panini press, there are plenty of other ways to grill a sandwich:

    • Electric Grill or Skillet - Set the grill to 275°-300°F (135°-150°C) and grill the sandwich low and slow; about 4-5 minutes on each side. Use a bacon/sandwich press or a small frying pan on top of the sandwich to press it down as it grills.
    • Waffle Iron - This is by far my favorite: it gives your sandwiches a funky waffle pattern as it presses it!
    • Grill Pan & Press - Heat up the grill pan and then use a bacon/sandwich press to press the sandwich from the top. Leave the press or pan on top while the sandwich grills.
    • Skillet & Press - Same using as a grill pan.
    • Double Frying Pan - Use a smaller frying pan on top of the sandwich to press it down as it grills in a large frying pan.

    If you just aren't into any of those ideas, just grill it as you would a grilled cheese sandwich.

    FAQ

    How do you say Caprese?

    Caprese, in Italian, is short for insalata caprese; literally, "salad in the manner of Capri." Many (including myself) have a habit of pronouncing it cah-prey-zee; however, the correct pronunciation is cah-preh-zeh or cah-prey-zay.

    Source

    Caprese sandwich cut in halft, resting on a small cutting board, with the cut face showing toward the viewer.

    More Sandwich Recipes

    • Two halves of a Rueben stacked on parchment, on a Russian black-lacquered tray. Russian dressing in a small service cup in the background.
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    • Grilled cheese sandwich, cut on diagonal, with cheese and apple butter smooshing out slightly. Three thin slices of granny smith apple fanned on the plate for garnish.
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    • Grilled cheese sandwich with a hole cut out of the middle and an egg cooked it in. Yolk is runny, and the sandwich hole sets to the side with yolk on it. Grapes and arugula on the side of the plate.
      Egg-in-a-Hole Grilled Cheese Sandwich
    • Ultimate Monte Cristo Sandwich
      Ultimate Monte Cristo Sandwich

    What to Serve with a Caprese Sandwich

    A caprese sandwich is a meal in itself, so it's best to keep sides simple. Serve it with fresh grapes, roasted veggies, a savory dip, Italian salad, or bowl of fresh gazpacho.

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    Whole caprese sandwich on a small cutting board. Cut sandwich on a plate in the background.

    Grilled Caprese Sandwich

    Made with sweet basil, ripe tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella, a freshly-pressed caprese panini is one of the tastiest handheld meals around! Easy to make, and ready to eat in 10 minutes.
    Ready in 10 minutes.
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Lunch, Main
    Cuisine: Italian
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time:5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time:5 minutes minutes
    Total Time:10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 sandwich
    Calories: 330kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 panini press optional; or electric grill, heavy skillet, or waffle iron
    • 1 pastry brush optional

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    Sandwiches
    • 2 slices sourdough bread or ciabatta roll
    • 2 tablespoons basil pesto purchased or homemade (recipe below)
    • 2-3 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced ¼-inch thick
    • 1 large tomato sliced ¼-inch thick
    • 1 handful arugula
    • 6-8 large basil leaves more or less
    • kosher salt to taste
    • light olive oil for grilling
    Easy Basil Pesto (optional)
    • 1 handful basil leaves about a cup, loosely packed
    • 2 tablespoons pine nuts or chopped walnuts
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan
    • ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 3-4 turns freshly ground pepper

    Instructions

    Sandwich Assembly

    • Whether you are making your sandwich cold-pressed or grilled, the assembly process is the same.
    • Spread pesto onto one side of each piece of bread. Layer arugula onto one pesto-covered slice, and basil onto the other.
      Put the sliced tomatoes on top of the basil, and mozzarella slices on top of the arugula, and then put the whole thing together.
    • With your sandwich now assembled, you have three choices. You can (1) Eat the sandwich cold, as is, (2) Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until you're ready to grill or eat it, or (3) Grill it now.

    Grilled Caprese Panini

    • Preheat the grill.
      Lightly brush the outside faces of the sandwich with olive oil.
      Grill the prepared sandwich for 3-5 minutes on each side. (If you use a panini press or waffle iron, it is not necessary to flip the sandwich, as you are cooking both sides at the same time.)
      Allow the sandwich to set for 5 minutes before cutting.

    Easy Homemade Basil Pesto (optional)

    • Put the basil, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor, molcajete (Mexican mortar and pestle), or small blender cup. Drizzle in olive oil.
      Process until the the pine nuts and garlic are the consistency of very course sand.
    • Add the parmesan and work it in, by pulsing once or twice, or by working it with a pestle in the molcajete.
    • Season with salt and pepper to taste.

    Notes

    When grilling caprese sandwiches, a panini press is helpful, and it gives you those cool little ridges and valleys on the sides of your sandwich, but you can easily grill your sandwich other ways:
    • Electric Grill or Skillet - Set the grill to 275°-300°F (135°-150°C) and grill the sandwich low and slow; about 4-5 minutes on each side. Use a bacon/sandwich press or a small frying pan on top of the sandwich to press it down as it grills.
    • Waffle Iron - This is by far my favorite: it gives your sandwiches a funky waffle pattern as it presses it!
    • Grill Pan & Press - Heat up the grill pan and then use a bacon/sandwich press to press the sandwich from the top. Leave the press or pan on top while the sandwich grills.
    • Skillet & Press - Same using as a grill pan.
    • Double Frying Pan - Use a smaller frying pan on top of the sandwich to press it down as it grills in a large frying pan.
    If you just aren't into any of those ideas, just grill it as you would a grilled cheese sandwich.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 660mg | Potassium: 555mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3105IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 389mg | Iron: 1mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Love it? Pin it! If you love this easy Caprese Sandwich recipe, be sure to save it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

    Whole caprese sandwich on a small cutting board. Cut sandwich on a plate in the background. Pin text reads: Grilled Caprese Sandwich

    Thank you for visiting the Good Hearted Woman. Remember to bookmark this site, and come back soon!

    Originally published July 25, 2013. Post has been updated with new content, images, and recipe instructions to improve reader experience.

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is self-taught home chef with a penchant for creating healthy(ish) comfort food recipes, and adapting vintage recipes for the 21st century cook. In her spare time, she writes unfinished novels and songs about cowboys.

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