Sophisticated grilled cheese sandwich with Gouda, Parmesan, pesto and tomatoes! This delicious gourmet sandwich is perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
This tasty sandwich can be ready in just 20 minutes!
Why make this grilled cheese
Grilled cheese sandwiches are one of those classics that you come back to again and again. This grilled cheese is a twist on that classic. It's made with vine ripened tomatoes, basil pesto and two kinds of cheese.
This easy to make sandwich is perfect for a light summertime dinner and can be ready in just 20 minutes!
Another great sandwich using pesto is this pesto chicken sandwich!
Key ingredients
- Good sourdough bread - it adds great flavor and the bread grills up perfectly
- Basil Pesto - make your own or buy at store
- Homegrown or local grown, vine ripened tomatoes
- Sliced Gouda cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese - the combination is perfect
Garden fresh tomatoes
Every year Rod waits and waits and waits for tomatoes to ripen. He really doesn't care for tomatoes you can buy in the store, but he loves garden fresh tomatoes.
We've eaten these twice already this week! It's a good thing Rod has lots of tomato plants (15 plants) with tons of tomatoes still coming! We are going to be eating lots of grilled cheese sandwiches with pesto and perfectly ripe tomatoes!
If you don't have homegrown tomatoes, try to find some from your local farmer's market.
Cheese
For these sandwiches I used a combination of gouda and Parmesan cheeses. You could also use provolone cheese, cheddar cheese or a Monterey Jack cheese.
Serving suggestions
These grilled cheese sandwiches pair perfectly with Creamy Tomato Soup, Homemade Potato Chips and Quinoa Salad. Don't forget to whip up some tasty brownies for dessert too!
Looking for another type of unique sandwich to serve for lunch? Try these Turkey Wraps!
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my delicious recipes!
Pesto Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 slices sourdough bread
- ¼ cup butter (softened)
- ¼ cup pesto
- 2 tomatoes (sliced)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 8 slices Gouda cheese
Instructions
- Butter one side of each slice of bread.8 slices sourdough bread, ¼ cup butter
- Place 4 buttered slices on a cutting board or baking sheet with the buttered side down.
- Spread pesto onto each of the 4 slices. Add tomatoes, Parmesan and Gouda cheeses. Place remaining bread on top with buttered side up.¼ cup pesto, 2 tomatoes, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, 8 slices Gouda cheese
- Preheat a griddle or a cast iron skillet on medium heat. Place 1-2 sandwiches on griddle. Cook for 2-3 minutes until bottom bread is nicely browned. Flip sandwiches and continue cooking for 2-3 more minutes until other side is brown and cheese is melted throughout. Repeat with remaining sandwiches.
Mariah says
I really love this recipe but the cheese absolutely does not melt before the bread is practically burnt. I don’t understand what the other reviews are doing but I followed the recipe by the book and the only way to have the melty cheese is by burning the bread
Kathy says
Hi Mariah,
Try turning your stove down. Every stove is different and yours may be on the hotter side. Also, gouda is a melty cheese, but it may depend on the brand you are using too. It should be nice and soft. Make certain it's sliced thinly too.
Kathy 🙂
Dawn @ The Kitchen and a Latte says
One of my daughters loves gouda and I showed her this so now it is "mom, when are you going to make this?" I am picky with grilled cheese, but this one I am sure I will like! I don't like the traditional grilled cheese, I don't like American cheese.
Will have to try this after my next trip to the store 🙂
Kathy says
Your daughter has good taste! I hope you enjoy this grilled cheese!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
I love anything on sourdough - and pesto grilled cheese sounds so flavorful!! I would be so honored if you would share it (and some of your other recipes too) at our What's for Dinner party!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I'll take the entire stack Kathy! My favorite kind of summer grilled cheese!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Way to amp up a grilled cheese sandwich, my friend! Cheese, pesto and tomato? You can't beat that combo! I could eat this one for any meal of the day and be a happy lady 🙂
Nicoletta Sugarlovespices says
Yummy! This is my perfect grilled cheese! Our tomatoes are finally ripening right now, so we can have a break from eating zucchini and move on to make great things with tomatoes including this wonderful grilled cheese!
David @ Spiced says
This sammich is right up my alley, Kathy! I love that you and Rod have 2 different gardens. I get it, though. There's never enough space, so why not just build another garden? Our garden is somewhere in between. The weeds are giving it a serious effort, but we've still managed to pull a bunch of zucchini and tomatoes out. We've been talking about BLTs lately, but now I want to try this pesto grilled cheese. The gouda + Parmesan combo sounds delicious!
Fred G says
Sounds great. Have to give it a try.
Mimi says
Now this is a sandwich I would eat, cause I'm not big on so much bread. But I absolutely love the ingredients! Pesto rules!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
I can't think of a better tasting sandwich! OH MYYYY!