Description
Elevate your lunch with this vibrant, gourmet grilled cheese. Combining the aromatic punch of alcohol-free basil pesto with the tangy, chewy sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes and melted mozzarella, this sandwich is the ultimate comfort food upgrade. Enhanced with lean shredded chicken for a savory protein boost, this 15-minute meal is perfect for a quick, satisfying lunch or dinner that hits all the right notes. Crispy, golden-brown sourdough meets a gooey, savory center for the perfect crunch in every bite.
Ingredients
4 slices sourdough or crusty Italian bread
4 tablespoons alcohol-free basil pesto
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), drained and sliced
1/4 cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
Lay out the four slices of bread and spread 1 tablespoon of pesto evenly across one side of each slice.
On two slices, sprinkle half of the mozzarella, then layer with sun-dried tomatoes and shredded chicken.
Top with the remaining cheese and the second slice of bread, pesto side facing inward.
Spread the softened butter generously over the outer sides of each sandwich.
Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and place the sandwiches in the pan.
Cook for 3-4 minutes per side until the bread is golden-brown and the cheese is fully melted.
Remove from heat, let sit for 1 minute, slice diagonally, and serve warm.
Notes
Best served fresh to maintain the crispy crust. If you need to store it, wrap tightly and reheat in a dry skillet to restore the texture. Ensure your pesto is certified non-alcoholic. For a vegetarian version, simply omit the chicken.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 8
- Category: Recipes
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 65mg