Quick Meals Italian Caprese Panini

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-06 · Updated 2026-08-06

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 fast, fresh panini layered with ripe tomatoes, melted mozzarella, and basil drizzled with balsamic glaze for a classic Italian sandwich. This Italian-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 10 minutes, pairs ciabatta roll, fresh mozzarella, ripe tomato for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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: 5 min Cook: 5 min Serves 1 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 large, sliced in half ciabatta roll
4 oz, sliced 1/4-inch thick fresh mozzarella
1 medium, sliced 1/4-inch thick ripe tomato
6 fresh basil leaves
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic glaze
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat a panini press or grill pan to medium-high heat. Brush both cut sides of 1 large ciabatta roll with 1 tbsp olive oil.
Step 2: Layer 4 oz sliced fresh mozzarella, 1 medium sliced tomato, and 6 fresh basil leaves on the bottom half of the roll. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper.
Step 3: Drizzle 1 tbsp balsamic glaze evenly over the tomato and basil. Close the sandwich with the top half of the roll.
Step 4: Place the sandwich on the panini press and cook for 4-5 minutes until the bread is golden and crisp, and the mozzarella is melted.
Step 5: Remove, slice in half, and serve immediately while warm.