Easy Turkey Pesto Panini Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Deanne Frieders · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

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Making a Turkey Pesto Panini is a great way to change up your lunch game or prepare an easy weeknight dinner. This recipe pairs flavorful pesto with juicy slices of turkey and melty provolone cheese. The result is a delicious, easy-to-make sandwich that leaves you satisfied without being overstuffed!

Turn this turkey panini into a meal alongside broccoli salad with craisins and some simple potato chips. And if you love sandwich recipes, also try my ultimate grilled cheese!!

Easy Turkey Pesto Panini Recipe (1)

Why you'll love this pesto turkey panini recipe

  • Four simple ingredients are all you need to make a flavor packed turkey panini. It's the perfect meal for busy nights when you've been on the go, or when you're serving dinner on the tailgate of a truck!
  • This easy recipe is one of my quick meal go-to's and these turkey panini are about as simple as you can get.
  • Even better, they can be grilled ahead of time, eaten at room temperature and they'll beat a boring sandwich any day of the week.

When I set out making this recipe, it was sheer luck that I had all the ingredients on hand. Only later did people tell me it reminded them of Starbucks turkey pesto panini.

One difference between mine and Starbuck's is that theirs uses roasted red peppers. I could use them too, but then one of my farmers won't touch the sandwich.

So I leave 'em off....

And the best part is you don't have to leave home for this turkey pesto sandwich and no fancy panini maker is required!

Only four ingredients required to make this sandwich

Easy Turkey Pesto Panini Recipe (2)

store-bought pesto - Pesto is a mixture of olive oil, pine nuts, and usually basil. If you want to make homemade pesto, go for it. I'm totally fine with the store bought version. Tip: use your leftover pesto to make this caprese orzo salad with pesto.

ciabatta rolls - these are usually square rolls at my grocery store . You can use slices of bread, French rolls, or whatever you like here.

Deli turkey - if you have leftover Thanksgiving turkey leftovers or even leftover chicken breast, feel free to substitute it here.

provolone cheese - If you’re not a fan of provolone, use whatever cheese you like on your panini sandwich - cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, monterey jack cheese.

You get the idea. In my world all cheese is good cheese!

How to make a turkey panini

Easy Turkey Pesto Panini Recipe (3)

Spread about a tablespoon of pesto on the top half of the inside your roll.

Add deli turkey, then a slice of cheese. Top with the other roll half and cook on your stovetop.

You don't need a fancy panini sandwich maker for this delicious creation, either!

I use a grill pan with a weighted sandwich press, but you can even weigh the panini down with a pan and something heavy on top, like canned tomatoes!

Cook over medium heat until cheese is nice and gooey and the outside of the bread is toasty!!

Easy Turkey Pesto Panini Recipe (4)

Additions

Fresh tomato slices, red onion slices, or jarred roasted red peppers are all nice add ins.

These turkey pesto paninis are great right off the grill or cooled and packed in a lunchbox!

What to serve with a turkey pesto panini

Serve this up with some Broccoli Salad with Cranberries!

Check out my Easy Lasagna Cups,Chicken Avocado BLT Wrapand my Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich!

If you make this turkey pesto panini recipe, leave a recipe rating or comment below. I'd love to hear from you!

Easy Turkey Pesto Panini Recipe (5)

Turkey Pesto Panini

Deanne Frieders

Transform simple ingredients into a flavor-packed turkey and pesto panini!

4.43 from 7 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Sandwich Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 493 kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 ciabatta rolls
  • 4 Tablespoons. store bought basil pesto
  • 4 slices provolone cheese
  • ¾ pound deli turkey breast sliced

Instructions

  • Preheat grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Spread about a tablespoon pesto on the inside of one-half of your roll. Add deli turkey, then a slice of cheese.

  • Top with the other roll half and cook in grill pan, using a weight or another pan to add some weight to smush the bread slices (that's the technical term, right?)

  • Cook sandwiches until cheese begins to melt and outside begins to become a light golden brown crusty. Cut into half and serve.

Notes

These can be preassembled and refrigerated ahead of time.

A panini maker isn't needed; you can make these in a skillet or cast iron pan. Place another pan and a heavy canned item on top to compress the sandwich.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 493kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 28gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 1747mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8g

Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisFarmGirlCooks or tag #thisfarmgirlcooks!

Easy Turkey Pesto Panini Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the key to a good panini? ›

Panini Like a Pro
  1. Start with the right bread. We recommend using a bread that can take the heat. ...
  2. Bring the heat. Be sure to get your grill nice and hot before putting your panini on—it'll make for better grill marks.
  3. For maximum crunch. ...
  4. Keep the goods contained. ...
  5. No panini press?
Jul 26, 2018

Can you make paninis ahead of time? ›

Got a crowd coming over? Prepare the panini ahead of time and grill them right before you're ready to serve. If you must reheat panini, a toaster oven is best – about 8-10 minutes at 275 degrees.

How to make a panini at home without a press? ›

Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Place sandwich onto the hot pan. Place another heavy pan onto the sandwich, then add two heavy cans to the top pan. Press down on the cans to compress the sandwich.

Is a turkey panini healthy? ›

Pros: Turkey is low in fat and lower in calories than many other meats. Three ounces has about 90 calories and three grams of fat. It provides a variety of B-vitamins and the antioxidant selenium.

What is the best bread for paninis? ›

Use Half-Inch Thick Bread To Make A Panini

These include ciabatta, focaccia, rye, French, and sourdough. But no matter which bread you use, your slices should always be about a ½-inch thick. If you use slices that are thicker than that, you'll taste way too much bread when you bite into your panini.

Do you butter a panini before cooking? ›

It's the grilling! Grilled bread is the hallmark of panini – make the most of it by brushing olive oil or melted butter on top for a crostini-like crunch. Or, to save a few calories, Columbus Foodie recommends spraying butter flavored cooking spray, another great idea.

Should you use mayo or butter for paninis? ›

But when it comes to panini, mayo is simply better than softened butter. For one, there's no putzing around while the butter softens. And two, the browning is so much better.

What oil is best for paninis? ›

One of the hallmarks of a great panini is the signature crispy crunch of the bread when you bite in. In order to make sure that you get the crunch you crave, brush olive oil or butter on the outside before toasting. That will help to brown and harden the bread for a delicious bite.

Can you put aluminum foil in a panini press? ›

While there is nothing wrong with putting aluminium foil in a sandwich press, we've found that it can stick to certain breads. If you want to protect the plates and make the cleaning job easier, we recommend using baking paper instead.

What can I use instead of a panini press? ›

Put your sandwich in the skillet and then place the second skillet on top of the sandwich, pushing it down a bit. Then, place a heat-safe weight, like a filled tea kettle or saucepan, on top of the second skillet to apply pressure. Let the sandwich cook for about 4 minutes, or until it's golden brown and toasty.

Can you use parchment paper in a panini press? ›

Tortilla and panini presses

Just use parchment paper! Wrap your sandwich in parchment paper when using a panini press to keep everything neatly inside and avoid messy cleanup. And when using a tortilla press, parchment paper will ensure your dough doesn't stick, giving you the best results every time!

What goes well on a turkey sandwich? ›

A fantastic sandwich with sliced turkey, guacamole, toasted whole wheat bread, fresh tomato, lettuce, bean sprouts, yellow mustard and light mayo. For cheese lovers, Colby-Jack makes a great addition as well.

Can I eat turkey every day? ›

Your body can't store protein, so you need to consume it every day. As long as you don't eat too much turkey, it is a healthy way to get the protein you need. It's also a good source of beneficial vitamins and minerals like magnesium and niacin.

How to tell if sliced turkey is bad? ›

The first step in determining whether your lunch meat has spoiled is to examine its color. Has it changed in any way? If the meat has taken on a pale gray, brown, or yellow hue, it's probably not safe to eat. It's also time to toss it if it's grown any mold.

What makes a panini special? ›

It is almost like the American grilled cheese, but has much more inside. A panini press is used to mash the bread flat so that it stays thin when serving. Any type of meat or vegetable can be used in a panini. They are usually made with Italian bread or sourdough, but you can use any bread that you prefer.

What should I look for in a panini grill? ›

Helpful Advice on How to Buy a Panini Press
  1. A Floating Hinge. It is not as complicated as it sounds. ...
  2. Adjustable Thermostat. Often, the best commercial panini press should at least have an adjustable thermostat. ...
  3. Surface Area. ...
  4. Removable Plates. ...
  5. User-Friendly. ...
  6. Time-Saver. ...
  7. Warranty. ...
  8. Other Cooking Functions.

What are the characteristics of a panini? ›

A panini is a grilled sandwich with Italian bread, such as ciabatta. It's usually served warm, filled with deli meats and cheeses, and cut horizontally. Paninis are notable for their crispy exteriors, warm interiors, and grill marks.

Why are my paninis soggy? ›

Avoid making a sandwich with warm ingredients.

If your sandwich includes cooked ingredients, let them cool completely before assembling your sandwich. Warm ingredients tend to give off condensation (which can make bread soggy), so cold or room-temperature ingredients are your best bet for sandwiches that will keep.

References

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