This pesto turkey panini recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes and results in an amazing, flavorful sandwich. It features turkey, fresh mozzarella, pesto, and tomatoes on tasty sourdough bread.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- If you are looking for a tasty and easy dinner, this turkey pesto sandwich recipe fits the bill.
- It requires only a few fresh and simple ingredients.
- A panini maker isn't required for this recipe, you can simply use a non-stick pan if needed.
- These panini sandwiches take your basic grilled cheese to the next level with not only melted cheese, but also flavorful pesto, turkey, and fresh tomatoes. It also serves well with many of your favorite soups.
Ingredient Notes
- Sourdough bread - you will need 8 slices of bread for this recipe. We love using sourdough bread, but you can swap it for another type of bread such as ciabatta bread or ciabatta rolls.
- Butter - feel free to swap with avocado oil spray as well. This will be used on the outside of the bread slices to help the bread get toasty and golden brown.
- Sliced turkey breast - we love to get deli turkey from our local grocery store. We are big fans of Boars Head turkey for turkey sandwiches and paninis.
- Fresh mozzarella cheese - we love fresh mozzarella cheese for this recipe, but you could also swap with a slice of provolone cheese if you prefer for a sandwich with melty provolone cheese.
- Pesto - pesto is a typically a blend of olive oil, fresh basil, garlic, parmesan, and pine nuts. You can use homemade pesto or store-bought pesto for this recipe. Our favorite options are the Kirkland Pesto from Costco and the dairy-free pesto from Trader Joes. We find these to be as close to fresh pesto as you can get in the store! We also have a recipe for a dairy-free homemade pesto.
- Fresh tomato slices
- Optional toppings: balsamic glaze, roasted red peppers, sprouts, arugula, red onion, fresh baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, etc.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Equipment You’ll Need
- Panini press, grill pan, or non-stick skillet
- Cutting board and knives (including a bread knife)
Step by Step Directions
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Begin by preparing all of the ingredients you will need to assemble the paninis. Slice the bread and thinly slice the mozzarella and tomatoes.
Step 2: Spread about 1 tsp of butter onto the outside of both pieces of bread (this is the side that will touch the pan or panini press, to help it get golden brown).
Step 3: Lay the bread butter side down while assembling the rest of the sandwiches. Spread about 2 tbsp of pesto onto one of the slices of sourdough and the turkey and mozzarella on the other piece of bread for each of the sandwiches.
Step 4: Place the two pieces of bread together and place on a panini press or a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until the bread turns golden brown and then flip to the other side to cook for another 3-5 minutes, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Repeat for the remaining sandwiches.
Step 5: Once the panini is cooked, separate the two pieces of bread to add the tomatoes, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and any other toppings you desire. Place the pieces of bread back together and cut in half. Enjoy!
Tips & Variations
- We've provided several optional topping ideas to make this the sandwich of your dreams! These ideas include balsamic glaze, roasted red peppers, sprouts, arugula, red onion, fresh baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, etc.
- You can also cook the tomatoes with the panini if you prefer the tomatoes to also be warm.
FAQ
If you have any leftover ingredients, we recommend storing them all separately rather than storing a pre-made sandwich. This is because the sandwich can get soggy quickly. Place leftover tomato or mozzarella into separate ziploc bags or wrap with plastic wrap. You can also freeze the remaining pesto if you won't use it within the next few days.
This recipe can be gluten-free with the use of a gluten-free bread. It is not dairy-free or vegan. It can be vegetarian with the omission of the turkey to make a caprese panini instead.
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If you make this turkey pesto panini recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished product—it makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Pesto Turkey Panini Sandwich
Ingredients
- 8 slices of sourdough bread
- Butter, softened or avocado oil spray
- 12 ounces sliced turkey breast
- 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup pesto
- 2 medium tomatoes
- Balsamic glaze, for serving
- Optional toppings: roasted red peppers, sprouts, arugula, red onion, fresh baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, etc.
Instructions
- Begin by preparing all of the ingredients you will need to assemble the paninis. Slice the bread and thinly slice the mozzarella and tomatoes.
- Spread about 1 tsp of butter or spray avocado oil spray onto the outside of both pieces of bread (this is the side that will touch the pan or panini press, to help it get golden brown).
- Lay the bread butter side down while assembling the rest of the sandwiches. Spread about 1 tbsp of pesto onto one of the slices of sourdough and the turkey and mozzarella on the other piece of bread for each of the sandwiches.
- Place the two pieces of bread together and place on a panini press or a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until the bread turns golden brown and then flip to the other side to cook for another 3-5 minutes, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Repeat for the remaining sandwiches.
- Once the panini is cooked, separate the two pieces of bread to add the tomatoes, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and any other toppings you desire. Place the pieces of bread back together and cut in half. Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe can be gluten-free with the use of a gluten-free bread. Make it dairy-free with dairy-free pesto, no cheese, and avocado oil instead of butter. It can be vegetarian with the omission of the turkey to make a caprese panini instead.
NUTRITION
The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Pesto Turkey Panini." The nutrition is calculated using Trader Joe's Dairy-free Pesto and 1 tsp of butter per sandwich.
The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
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