This Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese combines it all– a homemade sun-dried tomato pesto, fresh goat cheese, mozzarella, all on crispy sourdough bread. It’s quick to make and great for lunch or as an appetizer for a large crowd.
This Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto was a happy accident when we didn’t have the ingredients we needed for a standard pesto. we are so glad we made it because it really is the perfect sauce for this sandwich.
The rich, tangy sun-dried tomato pesto melts into creamy goat cheese, layered with a bit of mozzarella for that perfect stretch. Each bite is deep, herby, and just the right amount of indulgent. It’s a grilled cheese with real character—and it’s super easy to make for a fancy lunch or cut into crostinis for a crowd pleasing appetizer.
If you love this sandwich, you’ll love this Hot Honey Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese, and this Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese.
Ab’s Tip: Adding walnuts to sun-dried tomato pesto brings out the flavor in the tomatoes and adds an depth of flavor to the sauce.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Easy to make ahead. The sun-dried tomato pesto works on sandwiches, toasts, salads, you name it. Make ahead to save you time and use for whatever you want throughout the week.
- Easy to make and decadent in flavor. Despite only taking a few minutes to make, this grilled cheese has so much rich flavor.
- Restaurant quality grilled cheese at home. This grilled cheese not only looks beautiful- like it could be served in a restaurant- but it’s really so easy. Your guests will think you slaved away all day.
Ingredients:
Sun-dried tomato pesto:
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Using sun-dried tomatoes gives all the flavor of tomatoes without the added moisture that can make your sandwich soggy.
- Walnuts: Walnuts add a richer level of flavor that compliment the tomatoes.
- Basil: Fresh basil add an herby element that brings the flavor profile back to a classic pesto.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty richness to the sauce
- Garlic: A little goes a long way, but adds a nice kick to this sauce.
- Olive oil: Rounds out the sauce, be sure to purchase a high quality brand for it’s rich flavor.
The sandwich:
- Goat cheese: Adds a tangy, creamy element to the sandwich that really makes it a unique grilled cheese.
- Shredded Mozzarella: Helps bring that gooey, melty cheese quality we so love in a grilled cheese.
- Sourdough bread: You can use whatever bread you prefer, but we love a fresh sourdough loaf.
How to make this Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
1. Make the sun-dried tomato pesto by combining walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, parmesan, basil, lemon, salt, pepper and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until combined. Season to taste.
2. Combine softened goat cheese, basil and a drizzle of olive oil together.
3. Scoop pesto onto sourdough bread and spread in an even layer. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and goat cheese.
4. Add oil to a skillet and add sandwich. Cook for about 4-5 min per side on medium to low heat, until cheese is melty and the bread is golden brown. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use alternative pestos. You can easily opt for a basil or green goddess pesto instead of sun-dried tomato pesto if you want a different flavor profile.
- Get creative with add-ons. This sandwich is great on its own or with plenty of delicious add-ons like Caramelized onions, roasted red peppers or prosciutto.
- Crispy bread, gooey middle. The secret to getting the perfect golden grilled cheese with a super melty middle is to griddle it in a pan on high heat, then reduce it to low so that the outsides get crispy but the middle gets nice and melty.
- Toast with butter versus olive oil. You can use either olive oil or butter to toast your bread to give an even crispier richer flavor.
Storage
Make ahead: You make the goat cheese hot honey filling ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Make ahead: You can make the sun-dried tomato pesto ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
This sandwich is best served hot with melty cheese so we do not recommend making that ahead of time.
FAQs
Yes! Goat cheese adds a tangy, creamy richness.
Yes, using an alternative pesto will give you a different flavor profile, but will be equally delicious.
Sun-dried tomatoes are ripe tomatoes that have been dehydrated. This makes their flavor more concentrated, with a sweeter, tangier, flavor profile.
Typically grilled cheeses use a mozzarella, gruyere, cheddar or other melty cheese. But if you mix one of those with a rich cheese like goat cheese, it’s the best.
Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
The Sun-dried Tomato Pesto:
- 5 Sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/4 cup Walnuts
- 1/3 cup Basil
- 1/3 cup Grated parmesan cheese
- 1 Garlic clove
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- Squeeze of lemon
- Sea salt
- Pepper
The rest:
- 6 oz Goat cheese softened
- Fresh basil
- Drizzle of olive oil
- Sourdough bread
- 1/4 cup Shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Make the sun-dried tomato pesto by combining walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, parmesan, basil, lemon, salt, pepper and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until combined. Season to taste.
- Combine softened goat cheese, basil and a drizzle of olive oil together. Scoop pesto onto sourdough bread and spread in an even layer. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and goat cheese.
- Add oil to a skillet and add sandwich. Cook for about 4-5 min per side on medium to low heat, until cheese is melty and the bread is golden brown. Enjoy!
