Chicken Pesto Grilled Cheese

This ooey, gooey Chicken Pesto Grilled Cheese was a heavenly meal that got rave reviews from the pickiest husband around! 

Shake up the classic grilled cheese sandwich by adding pesto, roast chicken and peppers to your favorite melty cheeses.

Chicken Pesto Grilled Cheese

Who doesn’t love grilled cheese? It’s my go-to dinner when Bill is out of town, though hardly gourmet as it’s usually just a grainy bread and cheddar cheese. When we visited my high school friend in LA after Christmas, she pulled out her panini maker and treated us to a lunch of pesto, chicken and Gruyere sandwiches.

The whole family gobbled  down those delicious chicken pesto grilled cheese sandwiches. I knew it was a winning combination with my first bite.

Tips for Making a Chicken Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I wanted to recreate those marvelous upscale grilled cheese sandwiches we ate with such abandon. Plus I couldn’t resist giving them my own twist. I added some Monterey Jack to the Gruyere plus roasted bell pepper slices for a pop of color.

Use your favorite cheeses or try this with thin slices of roasted ham instead of chicken.

Having no panini maker, I dug out my grill pan and impatiently waited for the cheeses to melt. Boy was the aroma intoxicating as the pesto warmed and the cheese oozed. The hubby asked for an encore, a sure sign these chicken pesto grilled cheese sandwiches were a home run hit.

If you like pesto, check out this Italian Pesto Burger, Pesto Pasta Salad, and these Easy Pesto Palmiers!

And you might like to take a gander at this Mediterranean Grilled Cheese that I whipped up for last year’s grilled cheese month!

National Grilled Cheese Month

Did you know April is National Grilled Cheese Month? Such a wonderful excuse to make loads of gooey, toasted, cheesy sandwiches.  I selected a Pinot Grigio to accompany my spectacular chicken pesto grilled cheese. I adore the fruity undertones of this varietal with hints of citrus, tart apple, and white peaches. Besides grilled cheese, this wine is lovely with salads, rich seafood, grilled poultry, and dishes featuring acidic ingredients like lemon and tomatoes.

For the red wine lovers in your house, a Pinot Noir is another winner. It’s berry nuances and subtle earthy flavors which pair well with roast chicken (it would also be perfectly delightful with my chicken grilled cheese), meaty fish and mushrooms. A medium-bodied dry wine with a smooth finish, it’s a terrific red to have on hand for that unexpected company.

Continue to Content

Print

The Recipe:

Chicken Pesto Grilled Cheese

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Yield 1 sandwich

An  out of this world grilled cheese sandwich with chicken, pesto, peppers and two cheeses!

Ingredients

For each sandwich:

• Two slices bread, hearty whole-grain preferred
• 1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons prepared or homemade pesto (more or less) depending on size of bread slices)
• 1/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 3 slices cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken is a terrific shortcut)
• 2 slices of roasted red bell pepper, optional
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Butter one slice of bread and place it butter side down on a grill pan or saute pan. Spread pesto over other side, then layer with cheeses, chicken (sprinkled with salt and pepper to taste), and peppers, if using. Butter the second slice of bread and top the sandwich with the butter side up.
2. Cook over medium heat till bottom slice of bread is browned and cheese is beginning to melt. Carefully flip and cook till the second side is browned and cheese is completely melted, adjusting burner temperature as needed.
3. Slice in half and serve with your favorite Gallo wine.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1 sandwich
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1172Total Fat: 74gSaturated Fat: 33gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 35gCholesterol: 354mgSodium: 1430mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 89g

HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest