Panini recipes

Grilled Sandwiches

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I love grilled sandwiches. There's something so comforting about melted cheese, meat, and veggies wrapped in a crisp yet tender crusted bread. They are very easy to make, and the only limit on the kinds of sandwiches you can make is your imagination!

These sammies are called "paninis" in Italy and "croque-monsieur" in France. In Mexico they're called quesadillas. And when filled with these, they're the classic grilled cheese sandwich!

However you make them, and whatever you call them, enjoy these wonderful sandwiches.

Panini Recipes

• Grilled Meatloaf Sandwich
  Ciabatta bread, also called 'slipper' bread because it looks like a slipper, is the base for this updated meatloaf sandwich.


• Brie Apple and Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
  This incredible sandwich is easy to make and has the perfect combination of flavors.


• Chicken Panini Sandwich
  Refrigerated pizza dough, havarti cheese, frozen spinach, and chicken make this delicious sandwich special.


• Flank Steak Sandwiches
  This excellent sandwich combines a marinated, grilled, thinly sliced steak with grilled cheese bread!


• Blue Cheese Pear Sandwiches
  Use your favorite cheese in this delicious and simple hot grilled sandwich.


• Grilled Creamy Roast Beef Sandwiches
  These excellent and rich sandwiches were the result of a fortuitous mistake in the kitchen. We have these often at our house!


• Grilled Ham Gruyere Sandwich
  Gruyere is a type of Swiss cheese; imported from France, it has a wonderful piquant flavor that pairs perfectly with salty and sweet ham.


• Italian Grilled Cheese
  These sandwiches are dipped in an egg and milk mixture before grilling for super crunch and a beautiful crust.

• Grilled Cheese and Slaw Sandwiches
  Melted rich cheese pairs with crunchy cole slaw in these easy and excellent sandwiches.


• Cuban Sandwiches
  Individual French or Italian rolls are used in this delicious pressed sandwich made with two kinds of meat and two kinds of cheese. This is a variation on the traditional Cuban sandwich; Fernando emailed me and said he "was introduced to the Cuban sandwich, in 1960 after Fidel took over, and it does not have turkey or provolone, it consists of French type bread, butter, mustard, Swiss cheese, pickles, honey cured sweet ham, and pork shoulder. A lot of Cubans came to Puerto Rico through Spain mainly because of the Spanish language. By the way, the cost was 0.35 cents." I love hearing from readers - I learn so much!


• Baked Grilled Cheese Pesto Sandwiches
  These sandwiches are so easy! Just assemble them and bake. They turn out surprisingly brown and crisp.


• Monte Cristo Sandwiches
  Traditionally, these sandwiches are fried in butter, but try them in a dual contact grill or panini maker. You can use any kinds of meat and cheese you'd like in this sandwich.

• My Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwich
  Easy, yes. Simple, yes. Delicious? Yes!!


• Grilled Ham and Onion Sandwiches
  Red onions are wonderfully sweet even when they're not grilled. This sandwich is a classic.


• Grilled Salmon Sandwiches
  A creamy sandwich filling made from canned salmon, apples, cheese, and mayo is fabulous grilled on whole wheat or cracked wheat bread.


• Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich
  Sesame seeds, ginger root, and pineapple add wonderful interest and flavor to these super delicious sandwiches.


• Gourmet Grilled Cheese
  Two kinds of cheese and Dijon mustard make this crisp and melting sandwich very delicious.


• Grilled Vegetable Panini
  This recipe is a little more complicated to make; you can purchase grilled vegetables from the deli to use as the filling if you'd like.


• English Muffin Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
  The little crevices inside an English muffin fill with melted cheese in this spectacular yet super easy sandwich.


• Waffle Wiches
  Possibly the simplest sandwiches of all; kids love these crisp and melty sandwiches.

• Grilled Chicken and Apple Sandwiches
  My personal favorite, and one of the best last minute suppers on earth.


• Grilled Tuna Melts
  Tuna melts can be made as a closed sandwich too!

Make sure to try different breads in your sandwiches. Everything from cracked wheat bread, flavored corn or flour tortillas, croissants, pita bread, ciabatta and other artisan breads, and even cracker bread and Boboli pizza crusts can be used to make imaginative sandwiches.

Slice meats and cheeses thinly so they heat through in the time the bread browns and crisps. If you are going to include vegetables in your sandwich, think about grilling or sauteeing them before adding them to the sandwich; that way they'll blend beautifully with the other ingredients. And remember, since these sandwiches are generally very simple, the quality of your ingredients must be top notch.

Sandwiches are found in just about every culture and cuisine.