Cheese Panini Recipe

If it’s a cheese panini recipe you are after, especially if you are a cheese person, you’re in luck! There are literally hundreds of varieties of cheese available today. Many of these do wonderfully in panini, whether they’re mixed with other ingredients like chicken or turkey – or combined with other sorts of cheese. Here are a few recipes you can try and enjoy if you love cheese panini.

Here’s a lovely simple recipe that combines two kinds of cheese – delightfully sharp Cheddar and buttery, sweet Havarti – with a few other ingredients to make this an easy but really tasty panini. Preheat your grill (preferably a double-sided grill) and butter it lightly, spread it lightly with olive oil, or spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Take eight slices of whole wheat, sourdough, or ciabatta bread and spread four of them with mustard. Shred your Cheddar and Havarti cheese and sprinkle the mustard-topped bread slices with equal portions of both. Slice a ripe beefsteak or heirloom tomato and place a slice atop each cheese-heaped bread slice. When done, place the remaining four slices of bread atop. If you wish, you can butter your panini lightly. When the grill is hot, place each panini carefully in it and, if you’re using a double-sided grill, swing the other side down on the panini. Grill the panini until nice and golden-brown and the cheese is melted. (Make sure to turn the panini over if you aren’t using a double-sided grill.)

Another great cheese panini recipe is one that incorporates chicken breast and cheddar cheese. Get a medium-sized ciabatta loaf; slice it in half lengthwise, and then slice each half into four slices. Spread four of these portions of bread with approximately 5 tablespoons of mayonnaise. Next, get four slices of pre-cooked chicken breast and place them on top of the bread slices that have been spread with mayonnaise. Then grate about a cup and a half of cheddar cheese and sprinkle this on top of the chicken breast slices. If desired, top these chicken breast slices with thin slices of tomatoes and greens such as lettuce or young spinach leaves. Finally, close your panini by placing the four bread slices on top of these slices. Heat your double-sided grill and brush with a little olive oil or melted butter. Place your panini inside and press down. Grill until the bread is golden and the cheese has melted nicely.

Lastly, feel free to substitute other sorts of cheese for the ones we’ve used in these recipes – the more exotic the better! Don’t be afraid to experiment and find new combinations.