Sourdough Pesto Grilled Cheese with Mozzarella, Bacon, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes Recipe
This Sourdough Pesto Grilled Cheese offers a savory twist on the classic comfort food by layering fresh mozzarella, aromatic pesto, crispy bacon, and tangy sun-dried tomatoes between thick slices of sourdough bread, then grilled to golden perfection with creamy butter. It’s a delightful combination of flavors and textures perfect for a satisfying lunch or casual dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese
- 3 balls fresh mozzarella (125g each), sliced thin
Spread
- 4 tbsp pesto (homemade or a good quality store-bought like Barilla)
Bread
- 8 thick slices sourdough bread
Add-ins
- 4 strips bacon, cooked and chopped (crispy and crumbled is best)
- 8 sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
For Grilling
- Butter (for grilling, recommended Kerrygold Cultured Butter)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Slice the fresh mozzarella thinly and finely chop the sun-dried tomatoes to ensure even flavor distribution.
- Cook Bacon: Fry the bacon strips until crispy, then chop or crumble them into small pieces for easy layering.
- Assemble Sandwiches: Spread pesto evenly on one side of each slice of sourdough bread. On four slices, layer sliced mozzarella, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and crispy bacon. Top with remaining bread slices, pesto side down.
- Butter Bread: Generously butter the outer sides of each sandwich to ensure a golden, crispy crust when grilled.
- Grill the Sandwiches: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches in the skillet and grill for about 3-4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until bread is golden brown and mozzarella is melted.
- Serve: Remove from skillet, cut sandwiches in half, and serve immediately while the cheese is warm and gooey.
Notes
- Use high-quality sourdough bread for the best texture and flavor.
- If you prefer a vegetarian version, omit bacon or replace with grilled vegetables.
- For extra crispiness, press the sandwich with a heavy pan or sandwich press during grilling.
- Homemade pesto can enhance the fresh flavor but good quality store-bought pesto works well too.
Keywords: sourdough grilled cheese, pesto grilled cheese, mozzarella sandwich, bacon grilled cheese, sun-dried tomato sandwich