Caprese Panini (Grilled Cheese)

This is the season of calorie-conscious comfort food and tailgating for football and luckily, I picked up the perfect tool for both. Recently, I picked up the amazing Caprese panini/grill skillet from Kohl’s to test out and I haven’t put it down since.

Playing around with it, I got inspired to make a “grilled cheese” but with a small twist. I used basil, tomato, and balsamic glaze to give it my own twist on a Caprese salad. Also, I used lite safflower mayo instead of butter to make the outer part evenly “creamy and crispy” with each bite. Try it!

First, slice your wheat bun in half. Then, assemble your Caprese panini with balsamic glaze, thinly sliced tomatoes, a layer of fresh basil, and fat-reduced mozzarella. Add the protein of your choice. I used prosciutto, but I believe it would be perfect with chicken too.

Apply mayo on one side of the sandwich and place on a hot grill with mayo faced down. Cook for a couple of minutes, or until golden brown, add the rest of the mayo on the top of the sandwich, and flip to the other side. After roughly 2 minutes, your grilled Caprese is done!

Serve on a plate, cut in half, and enjoy the Caprese sandwich with your favorite game!

LOVE IT. It adds grill marks to just about anything, so you lock in a flavor and make all your food even more appetizing. Plus, I like that you can also toss it on your grill while tailgating for a smoky or BBQ-inspired treat.

This couldn’t be simpler to make! In 15 minutes or less as you need for the recipe, you will feel like you’ve brought the Mediterranean right into your kitchen.

Do you like this sandwich recipe? Let me know what you think and have you already tried it in the comments below.