Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe (2024)

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This Caprese grilled cheese sandwich recipe is fresh and flavorful; the tomatoes and basil are nestled between the soft and crispy bread and gooey melted mozzarella. I use a secret ingredient that’s not butter to get the crispiest crust on this sandwich!

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe (1)

I think you will like this grilled cheese recipe! I took the classic Caprese salad ingredients and put them into a melty sandwich. Yum. Grilled cheese with tomato and basil is a good idea. 🙂

How to make a grilled cheese sandwich with mayo

Did that grab your attention? I can’t say I make grilled cheese sandwiches very often, but when I heard that mayo can be used instead of butter to create that perfectly golden crisp crust on the bread, I had to try it. Lots of recipes seem to do it (where have I been all this time?), and I wanted to try it. I used Hellmann’s mayo and it worked great.

I’d rather spread mayo on bread than wait for butter to soften, and the results were delicious. There’s no butter in this grilled cheese sandwich recipe, but it’s not needed.

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe (2)

How to make a Caprese grilled cheese sandwich

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Get your two slices of bread ready and spread mayo on one side of each slice. Place one of the bread slices, mayo side down, into the skillet. Place the cheese on the bread, followed by the tomatoes and basil. Season generously with salt & pepper.

Once the bread is browned to your liking (took me about 10 minutes), place the second slice of bread on top of the sandwich mayo-side up. Flip the sandwich and cover the pan for a minute or two to melt the cheese. Remove the lid. The second side of the sandwich cooks a lot quicker, so check it after another minute or two. Cut in half and devour immediately.

And voila… this gourmet grilled cheese recipe ain’t complicated.

Love Caprese flavors? Try these recipes:

  • Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad
  • Healthy Caprese Skillet Lasagna
  • Easy Chicken Caprese
  • The Best Caprese Crostini
  • Balsamic Caprese Pasta Salad

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe (3)

Tips to make the best grilled cheese

  1. Use thick slices of good quality bread. I used a fresh sourdough loaf for this recipe.
  2. Use thick(ish) slices of good quality cheese. I prefer buying a ball of mozzarella fresca for this recipe vs. the shredded stuff.
  3. I mentioned it above, but using mayo makes the outside of the sandwich wonderfully crisp.
  4. Cover the sandwich for a minute or two while cooking it so the cheese gets nice and melty.
  5. Make sure to add salt & pepper (generously) to the inside of the sandwich before putting the top slice of bread on.

Will you try this Caprese grilled cheese sandwich recipe?

What’s your favorite type of grilled cheese?

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe (4)

5 from 3 votes

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe

By Natasha Bull

This Caprese grilled cheese sandwich recipe is fresh and flavorful; the tomatoes and basil are nestled between the soft and crispy bread and gooey melted mozzarella.

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

Servings: 1 sandwich

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Ingredients

  • 2 slices thick-cut bread (I used fresh sourdough)
  • Mayo for spreading on bread
  • 2-3 slices of fresh mozzarella (I bought a ball of it and cut slices about 1/4" thick)
  • 1 medium tomato sliced (use as much as you want)
  • Small handful of fresh basil torn/chopped
  • Salt & pepper, to taste

Optional add-ins:

  • A light sprinkle of garlic powder
  • Red onion
  • A drizzle of balsamic vinegar

Instructions

  • Heat a skillet over medium heat.

  • Get your two slices of bread ready, and spread the mayo generously on one side of each slice. Place one of the bread slices (mayo side down) into the pan.

  • Add the cheese to the slice of bread that's in the skillet, followed by the tomatoes and basil. Season it generously with salt & pepper. Add the optional add-ins at this time.

  • Carefully lift the corner of the bread after a few minutes to see how cooked it is. Once it's nice and golden (took me about 10 minutes), place the second slice of bread on top of the sandwich (mayo side up).

  • Flip the sandwich over (I used 2 spatulas) and cover the pan for 1-2 minutes to let the cheese melt. Take the lid off and check to see how browned the bread is. The second side cooks a lot faster, so be careful not to burn it.

  • Once the second side is browned, take it out of the pan and cut it in half. Enjoy immediately.

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Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe (5)

Hi! I’m Natasha.

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Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a caprese sandwich made of? ›

Top 1 ciabatta slice with half of the basil leaves; top with mozzarella, tomato and sun-dried tomatoes. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and top with the remaining basil leaves and ciabatta slice. Cut in half diagonally and serve.

What is the best melting cheese for grilled cheese? ›

Comté/Raclette/Gruyère

(Raclette actually comes from the French verb “racler” which means “to scrape.”) These are also the cheeses used for fondues and French onion soups, so it follows that they are also some of the best options for gooey grilled cheese sandwiches.

What to add to a grilled cheese to make it better? ›

Sweet Spreads: If you like sweet, you can also spread jam, chutney, or apple butter on the inside. Protein: Bulk up your grilled cheese with turkey, ham, or cooked bacon slices. Pickled: Add sliced pickles or pickled red onions. Seasonings: Sprinkle a little garlic powder or Italian seasoning inside the sandwich.

What kind of mozzarella is used in caprese? ›

Ovolini mozzarella is just one size down from your standard large ball, perfect for when you're making a caprese for just one or two people. It can be made with buffalo milk, cow's milk, or a combination, but inside the states, it will be made with 100 percent cow's milk.

What to eat with a caprese sandwich? ›

This Caprese sandwich is a satisfying meal on its own, but it goes well with all sorts of sides, too. Keep things simple, and serve it with your favorite chips and fresh fruit, or pair it with chopped fresh veggies and a flavorful dip like hummus, baba ganoush, or white bean dip.

Should you use mayo or butter for grilled cheese? ›

The overall verdict? If you want a low effort, high reward grilled cheese, use mayo. But if you want to make an extra special sandwich, use a mayo-butter combo.

Is it better to make a grilled cheese sandwich with butter or oil? ›

Ina encourages using a mix of butter and olive oil because butter adds a rich flavor to dishes while the olive oil helps prevent the butter from burning.

What two cheeses go well together for grilled cheese? ›

My favorite formula for grilled cheese comes from the tv show, Jane the Virgin. The main character says the perfect grilled cheese is made with equal parts American cheese, yellow Cheddar and white Cheddar cheese. Since yellow and white Cheddar don't have much of a difference I opt for ½ American and ½ cheddar.

What makes grilled cheese taste better? ›

Once the sandwich is in the pan, pressing down with a spatula helps achieve even toasting and encourages bread and cheese to meld. But don't be overzealous; this is not a smashed cheese sandwich. Lastly, cut the sandwich diagonally—sandwiches cut this way actually taste better.

How to jazz up a grilled cheese? ›

Adding ingredients like chutney, pepper jelly, tomato jam, or bacon jam can totally change the flavor profile of your grilled cheese.

Why is it called a caprese sandwich? ›

The caprese salad is one form of a caprese dish; it may also be served as a caprese pizza, pasta, or sandwich. The salad is named after the island of Capri, where it is believed to have originated.

Is a caprese sandwich healthy? ›

Mozzarella is packed with protein, too. Traditional caprese doesn't have meat as a protein source, but the protein found in mozzarella will be enough to keep you feeling full and energized until your next meal.

How would you describe caprese? ›

What is caprese? Simply put, it's a simple Italian salad. Caprese is super easy to prepare and made up of only a few fresh ingredients: a generous ball of fresh mozzarella, red ripe tomatoes for slicing, a handful of basil leaves and extra virgin olive oil for drizzling.

What does caprese mean in Italian? ›

As it's called in Italian, Insalata caprese, Caprese salad literally means “Salad of Capri.” Although nobody knows whether or not the salad was actually first made on the Italian island, it likely originated from a dish made in Capri from a different type of cheese, cacio, served with tomatoes.

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