Best Mozzarella Panini Recipes

PROSCIUTTO AND MOZZARELLA PANINI

Steps:

• Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, oregano, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl to blend.
• Arrange the slices of bread on a flat work surface and spread the vinaigrette on one side of each slice. Divide the mozzarella equally among 4 of the bread slices. Top with the prosciutto and roasted red peppers, then place the remaining 4 slices of bread on top, vinaigrette-side down, to form 4 sandwiches.
• Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Add the sandwiches and cook, pressing them occasionally with a large spatula or the bottom of a small heavy saucepan, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 4 minutes per side.
• Photograph my Andrew Mccaul

MOZZARELLA & PROSCIUTTO PANINI

Steps:

• Put a griddle pan over a gentle heat to warm. Take the bread and make two sandwiches, layering up the prosciutto, cheese, red pepper and basil for the filling. Brush the outsides of the bread with oil.
• Put the sandwiches on the griddle and cook for about 1 minute each side - press down firmly with a metal spatula so they flatten and become golden and ridged by the griddle. Eat while deliciously hot and melted.

PESTO, MOZZARELLA AND TOMATO PANINI

Steps:

• Heat closed contact grill 5 minutes.
• Cut each roll in half horizontally; brush outside of each half with oil. Spread pesto on inside of both halves. Layer each sandwich with cheese and tomato. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• When grill is heated, place sandwiches on grill. Close grill; grill 4 minutes or until bread is toasty and cheese is melted. Slice sandwiches on diagonal and serve warm.

PROSCIUTTO, MOZZARELLA, TOMATO, AND BASIL PANINI

Steps:

• Whisk olive oil, vinegar, and garlic in small bowl to blend; season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Layer prosciutto, mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil over bottom of bread. Drizzle lightly with dressing, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Press top of bread over. Cut bread equally into 4 sandwiches.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Grill sandwiches until bread is golden brown and cheese melts, pressing occasionally to compact with large spatula, about 5 minutes per side.

CAPRESE PANINI (MOZZARELLA, TOMATOES AND BASIL)

Steps:

• Preheat an electric panini maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Brush one side of each bread slice with olive oil.
• Lay the slices, oiled side down, on a clean work surface.
• Spread the top of each slice with 1 Tbs mayonnaise.
• Place the cheese on one slice and top with the tomato slices.
• Drizzle with the vinegar and season with salt and pepper.
• Top with the basil, then with the other bread slice, oiled side up.
• Place the sandwich on the preheated panini maker and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the sandwich to a cutting board and cut in half.
• Serve immediately.
• Serves 1.

TOMATO, MOZZARELLA & PESTO PANINI

Steps:

• Preheat a panini grill machine or a heavy skillet.
• Core the tomatoes and slice tomatoes and mozzarella 1/4" thick.
• Place the bread slices on a cutting board(or work surface). Spread each slice evenly with pesto. Place a layer of mozzarella(about 2 slices) on half of the bread and cover with a layer of tomato. Sprinkle the tomato with a little kosher salt.
• Place the remaining slices of bread, pesto side down, on top. Spread the top and bottom of each sandwich with sotened butter.
• Grill the sandwiches in batches on the panini grill for 2-3 minutes, until the mozzarella starts to ooze out. If using a skillet, place a weight on top(I usually use another heavy cast iron skillet, or use a foil coverd brick, or other flat, heavy object. Cook 2-3 minutes, turn and cook other side 1-3 minutes.).
• Cut the sandwiches in half and serve warm. Enjoy!
• Note:.
• This is also excellent with a slice of roasted red bell pepper in it!

CHICKEN BREAST WITH ROASTED PEPPERS AND MOZZARELLA PANINI

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 8 cups water to a gentle simmer. Generously salt water. Add thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, and pepper. Add chicken and simmer until chicken registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from heat and let chicken cool in liquid. Store chicken in liquid, covered and refrigerated, until ready to use.
• Preheat a sandwich press according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Remove chicken breast from poaching liquid and thinly slice; divide evenly among 4 slices of bread. Spread pesto on top of chicken; top with peppers and mozzarella. Sandwich with remaining 4 slices of bread and place on sandwich press. Close the lid and apply slight pressure; cook until bread is golden and cheese is melted, 5 to 8 minutes. If bread is sticking to the press, continue to cook and bread will unstick itself. If press is generating more heat from the bottom, flip the sandwich halfway through cooking.
• Remove sandwich from press and cut in half before serving.

PANINI WITH PROSCIUTTO, ROASTED PEPPER AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Preheat a grill pan or large nonstick griddle over medium to medium high heat. Build your sandwiches: place 2 or 3 slices of prosciutto on 1 piece of bread. Top with an even layer of roasted pepper and an even layer of sliced mozzarella, top with another slice of bread. Drizzle the tops of your assembled sandwiches with extra-virgin olive oil. Place the olive oil coated bread face down on the grill or griddle and drizzle the opposite side with additional extra-virgin olive oil. Weight the sandwiches down with a tin foil covered brick or a heavy skillet filled with a sack of flour or heavy canned goods. Press the sandwiches 2 or 3 minutes on each side, then serve immediately.

MOZZARELLA AND HAM PANINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Split bread horizontally. Layer one side with mozzarella, ham, and spinach, beginning and ending with mozzarella, seasoning with salt and pepper as you go. Close sandwich. (Mozzarella being in direct contact with bread on both sides will hold sandwich together as cheese melts.)
• Brush a large baking sheet with some of the oil. Place sandwich on sheet; brush top with remaining oil. Place another baking sheet on top (cover bottom of sheet with aluminum foil, if necessary), and press down very firmly.
• Bake panini, pressing down top baking sheet once or twice during baking, until cheese has melted and sandwich is golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Cut into 4 pieces, and serve with Cherry Tomato Salad.

PROSCIUTTO ROASTED RED PEPPER AND MOZZARELLA PANINI

Steps:

• Preheat a grill pan or large nonstick griddle over medium to medium high heat.
• Build your sandwiches: place 2 or 3 slices of prosciutto on 1 piece of bread.
• Top with an even layer of roasted red pepper and an even layer of mozzarella.
• Top with another slice of bread.
• Drizzle the tops of the assembled sandwiches with olive oil.
• Place the olive oil coated bread face down on the grill or griddle and drizzle the opposite side with addition olive oil.
• Weight the sandwiches down with a tin foil covered brick or a heavy skillet filled with a sack of flour (If using a panini maker-- just close the lid-- no need to flip).
• Press the sandwiches for 2 or 3 minutes on each side, then serve immediately.

PROSCIUTTO, MOZZARELLA, TOMATO & BASIL PANINI

Steps:

• Whisk olive oil, vinegar, and garlic in small bowl to blend; season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
• Layer prosciutto, mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil over bottom of bread.
• Drizzle lightly with dressing, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Press top of bread over.
• Cut bread equally into 4 sandwiches.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat).
• Grill sandwiches until bread is golden brown and cheese melts, pressing occasionally to compact with large spatula, about 5 minutes per side.

CHICKEN MOZZARELLA PANINI WITH RED PEPPERS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Flatten chicken breasts and season them with Natures Seasoning and Olive oil. Let marinate while doing the next steps.
• Cut the red peppers into 5 wedges per pepper so they can lay flat on grill or you can substitute sliced sun dried tomatoes right out of the jar instead of peppers. These are ready to put right on the sandwich without grilling if you prefer.
• Slice the red onion into rings.
• Coat the onions and peppers with olive oil.
• Heat up your grill for panini on high. I use the Cuisinart Griddler I just got and it is excellent because it adjusts evenly to the thickness of whatever you are cooking.
• Season chicken with Morton Natures Seasoning and oregano. Grill the chicken breasts first- 2 at a time with top of grill down which will leave perfect grill lines. Take off when done and put on plate.
• Grill red peppers (flat) and next grill the red onion rings. Place on plate.
• Clean off grill. I add a little olive oil or Pam to grill with a piece of paper towel before grilling sandwiches.
• Spread a good amount of the Pesto on the top half of each sandwich.
• Layer the panini. Chicken breast, Red pepper or sun dried tomatoes, Red onion slices, 1 slice of mozzarella cheese - Make sure everything fits perfectly within the size of the bread you are using.
• Top each panini with the top half you have already spread the Pesto on.
• Carefully place the sandwiches on grill (I can fit 2 at a time) and smoosh down if needed. Bread will have lines, cheese will be melted, and the sandwich will be nice and hot and perfect when ready!
• There are other variations to this. My son is not crazy about Pesto -- so he just used Chicken, Mozzarella cheese and Paul Newman's jarred Marinara sauce and sprinkled Parmesan cheese on top of the sauce on his instead and Loved It!
• A Chicken Parmesan Panini!
• Hope you like it!

GRILLED VEGETABLE AND MOZZARELLA PANINI

Steps:

• Whisk vinegar, oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray; place vegetables in 1 layer on sheet. Brush both sides of eggplant and zucchini with vinegar mixture. Spray all vegetables with cooking spray and place under broiler, 7 to 8 minutes, turning once and coating with cooking spray. Lightly brush bottom slices of ciabatta with remaining vinegar mixture. Pile veggies, cheese and basil on 4 slices of bread. Close sandwiches; spray both sides with cooking spray. Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add sandwiches. Place a second skillet on top of sandwiches and press down. Cook 4 minutes, flipping once. Serve.

GRILLED VEGETABLE AND MOZZARELLA PANINI

Steps:

• Brush the vegetables lightly with oil, season with salt and pepper and grill over medium high heat. Allow the vegetables to color well, remove from the grill and cool for several minutes. remove any blackened skin from the peppers.
• Meanwhile, slice the bread open lengthwise and brush the inside lightly with oil. Grill the inside of the bread quickly and remove.
• Assemble the still warm sandwich by alternating layers of vegetables, cheese, basil and then sprinkle on any remaining oil and a few drops of vinegar. Sprinkle on any herbs desired, tightly wrap with sandwich paper and slice into 4-inch lengths.

MOZZARELLA IN CARROZZA PANINI

Steps:

• Saute the minced garlic in olive oil in large saucepan. Add the whole anchovy fillets and chiles or red pepper flakes, season with pepper, to taste. Allow to saute in heat for about a minute, then remove from heat. Pour into a bowl, set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk eggs, seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste. On another plate, place flour, and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet or a griddle over moderate heat. When it is hot, lightly oil the griddle if it is not nonstick. Butter 1 side of each bread slice, then put 4 slices, buttered side down, on a work surface.
• Spread 1 side of 4 bread slices with the anchovy mixture, dividing it evenly. Top with the sliced rounds of mozzarella, dividing it evenly. Top each with a second slice of bread, buttered side up.
• One at a time, dip the sandwiches in seasoned flour, coating well, then the egg bath. Set them in the skillet or on the griddle. Cook, turning once, until the bread is well browned on both sides and the cheese is molten, about 3 minutes per side. Cut in halves or quarters and serve immediately.

PROSCUITTO, MOZZARELLA AND SAUTEED TOMATO PANINI

Steps:

• Cut bread in half, lengthwise. In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper. Brush mixture on inside of bread. Layer with tomatoes that have been Sauteed in 1 tablespoon oil, arugula, mozzarella and prosciutto. Cover with top side of bread. Cut and serve.

GRILLED EGGPLANT, ARUGULA AND MOZZARELLA PANINI

Steps:

• Brush eggplant slices with oil on both sides and place in a George Foreman grill--or panini grill-- cook 4 minutes, remove.
• Brush bread slices with oil.
• On 4 slices, oil side down, arrange eggplant, arugula, and mozzarella, top with 4 bread slices oil side up add 2 sandwiches to grill, close and cook 3-4 minutes.
• Repeat.
• Cut sandwiches on diagonal and serve.

MOZZARELLA, HAM, AND BASIL PANINI

Steps:

• Brush cut side of the bottom bread half with mustard; brush cut side of top half with vinegar. Top bottom half with mozzarella, basil, ham, peppers, and tomato. Top with remaining bread half. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sandwich to pan; top with another heavy skillet. Cook 3 minutes on each side or until golden. Cut sandwich into 6 wedges.

MOZZARELLA, HAM, AND BASIL PANINI

Steps:

• Brush cut side of the bottom bread half with mustard; brush cut side of top half with vinegar. Top bottom half with mozzarella, basil, ham, peppers, and tomato. Top with remaining bread half.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sandwich to pan; top with another heavy skillet. Cook 3 minutes on each side or until golden.
• Cut sandwich into 6 wedges.

PROSCIUTTO AND MOZZARELLA PANINI

Steps:

• Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, oregano, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl to blend. Arrange the slices of bread on a flat work surface and spread the vinaigrette on one side of each slice. Divide the mozzarella equally among 4 of the bread slices. Top with the prosciutto and roasted red peppers, then place the remaining 4 slices of bread on top, vinaigrette-side down, to form 4 sandwiches. Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Add the sandwiches and cook, pressing them occasionally with a large spatula or the bottom of a small heavy saucepan, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 4 minutes per sid