Caprese Panini with Basil Pesto Spread

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-03 · Updated 2026-06-03

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A warm pressed sandwich layering fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and basil pesto on crusty bread for a classic Italian-inspired panini. This Italian-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 13 minutes, pairs ciabatta bread, sliced, fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced, ripe tomato, sliced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 1, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 8 min Cook: 5 min Serves 1 Italian cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 large slices ciabatta bread, sliced
4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
1 medium ripe tomato, sliced
2 tbsp basil pesto
1 tbsp olive oil
6 fresh basil leaves
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Spread 2 tbsp basil pesto evenly on one side of each of the 2 large ciabatta bread slices.
Step 2: Layer 4 oz sliced fresh mozzarella cheese, 1 medium sliced ripe tomato, and 6 fresh basil leaves on one slice of the bread. Season the tomato with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper.
Step 3: Close the sandwich with the other bread slice, pesto side down.
Step 4: Heat a panini press or grill pan over medium heat. Brush the outside of the sandwich with 1 tbsp olive oil and grill for 4-5 minutes until the bread is golden brown and the mozzarella melts, pressing gently to compress the sandwich.