Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
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It’s time to elevate your grilled cheese game with this easy-to-prepare and mouthwatering Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
Hello there, foodie enthusiasts! My name is Lisa and I am the founder of Moments With Lisa – a website dedicated to minimalist living. When I’m not decorating our family’s small home, I am cooking-up a storm! Today, my Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich is something I am super thrilled to share with you.

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In our household, we’re all about a good grilled cheese sandwich! We especially love pairing it with a bowl of tomato soup. Lately though, I’ve been trying to think of ways to make our traditional grilled cheese sandwiches a little more interesting. This is when I thought about using pesto! Read more down below for the full recipe details!
How To Make a Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Looking for a grilled cheese alternative? Try out this super delicious Pesto Grilled Cheese that really elevates your grilled cheese experience!
What You Need:
Here’s what you’ll need from the store. The exact amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Kitchen Tools Needed:
Ingredients Needed:
- Artisanal bread
- Butter
- Havarti cheese slices
- Tomatoes
- Jarred pesto

Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich Tips
Butter Both Sides of the Bread
In traditional grilled cheese sandwich recipes, instructions guide you to only butter one side of each slice of bread. This is where we do things a little differently for our Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
We butter both sides of each slice, giving it a rich, luscious flavor. It’s so worth it!

Used Jarred Pesto Sauce
The whole idea behind grilled cheese sandwiches is that they’re supposed to be quick, easy meal solutions. What makes this particular grilled cheese so special is the fact that it’s got a generous layer on pesto – but pesto can be quite tedious to make… and also quite expensive.
You can find jarred/ready-made pesto sauce in the pasta aisle of your favorite grocery store! No, it may not be homemade, but for simple recipes like these, it’s totally worth it keeping in your kitchen!
Of course, if you have a pesto recipe that you absolutely adore, you can definitely use it for this tasty sandwich!

Are There Any Ingredient Alternatives?
Absolutely!
First and foremost, feel free to choose other types of cheeses to make this grilled cheese your very own. We used creamy havarti, but I also suggest Swiss and provolone.
Further, artisanal bread tastes great but it’s not absolutely necessary. Feel free to use bread of your choice – we also suggest rye or challah.
Can You Store Grilled Cheese for Later?
Yes! You can wrap your leftover sandwich then place it in a plastic sandwich bag and refrigerate for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to serve it, add a bit more butter on the outside of the sandwich and fry.




Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
SERVINGS
Ingredients
- 2 slices artisanal bread
- 2 tbsp butter softened
- 3 slices creamy havarti
- 2 tomato slices
- 1 tbsp pesto
Instructions
- Begin by heating a non-stick skillet over medium.
- Butter both sides of each of your bread slices.
- On one slice of bread add havarti and tomatoes.
- On the other slice of bread, spread pesto sauce. Sandwich both slices of bread together.
- Pan fry each side of the sandwich on your heated skillet, about 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
Nutrition

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