This post may contain affiliate links. Full disclosure policy

Meet your new favorite summertime lunch – Grilled Caprese Sandwich! With thick slices of ripe tomato and fresh mozzarella, plus fragrant basil and pesto, this recipe takes grilled cheese to a whole new level! A great summer tomato recipe!

Tomato Season – The Perfect Time for A Grilled Caprese Sandwich

Tomato season is here at last! And I couldn’t be happier!

Yes, I know that you can buy tomatoes year-round. However, those out-of-season, out-of-state tomatoes cannot compare to fresh, vine-ripened, locally grown tomatoes.

The first generally tastes like Styrofoam injected with artificial tomato flavoring. The second tastes like…heaven.

So, it’s not surprising that I find as many ways as possible to eat real, locally grown tomatoes during this too brief season. Sometimes I just eat them sliced with a little sprinkle of salt and pepper, or maybe a side of cottage cheese. One of my favorite ways to enjoy tomatoes is in a classic caprese salad – thick slices of tomato layered with creamy buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of good balsamic vinegar. So simple but so good!

Not long ago, I was tucking into a wonderful caprese salad when a thought popped into my head.

“Wouldn’t this be terrific in a sandwich? A grilled sandwich?”

The answer, of course, is yes.

Like the classic salad that inspired it, this Grilled Caprese Sandwich is so simple, but so very, very good.

What Do You Need to Make A Grilled Caprese Sandwich?

Good ingredients make all the difference! Take a moment to look over my recommendations.

Tomatoes: But not just any tomatoes, friends! A nice, big beefsteak or heirloom tomato is the way to go here, something you can slice thick. It should be ripe but not squishy or too soft. Bonus points for tomatoes that are vine-ripened and locally grown.
Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese: This is different than regular mozzarella. The buffalo mozzarella is a soft, creamy, fresh cheese that melts easily and can be sliced thick.
Parmesan or Pecorino Romano Cheese: This is optional, but I decided to kick up the mild flavor of the mozzarella with a little sprinkle of shredded Parmesan.
Pesto: If you’ve got homemade pesto on hand, lovely. But any good brand of jarred pesto will do the trick.
Fresh Basil: Just a few nice big leaves will be perfect.
Olive Oil: Use a good quality, fruity flavored olive oil for your Grilled Caprese Sandwich.
Bread: My bread of choice for this recipe is sourdough. However, any good peasant-style bread with a nice, firm structure that will hold up to grilling is fine. I would stay away from rye bread as the strong flavor would overwhelm the other ingredients.

Tips for Making Grilled Caprese Sandwich

One of the best things about sandwiches is that they’re easy. With the right ingredients, literally anybody can make a delicious sandwich. But grilling sandwiches takes a little more skill and effort. So I’ve got a couple of tips…

Don’t be afraid to be generous when brushing on the olive oil. Make sure you brush oil all the way to the edge of the bread, so you get nice, even grill marks.

Make sure you properly preheat the grill before you place the sandwich on the grate. A hot grill is essential for getting bread that’s crunchy and golden brown.
Keep a good eye on the sandwich when you’re grilling. Don’t get walk away, or check your phone, or let yourself get distracted. A minute too long on the grill can turn your sandwich from delicious golden brown to yucky charcoal black.
Take care when turning over your Grilled Caprese Sandwich. The melty cheese should help it hold together, but there are still a lot of ingredients that could fall out during the turn.
I suggest using a large metal spatula, one that’s big enough so the whole sandwich can sit on it. Slide the spatula all the way under the entire sandwich, and place a finger or two on top as you lift it off the grill. Then give it a quick flip, removing your fingers from the bread at the last moment. If some of the ingredients do fall out, don’t panic. Just quickly scoop them off the grill with the spatula and reassemble the sandwich.

As you can see, I made my sandwiches on my outdoor grill. You can also make them on the stovetop, using a grill pan such as this cast iron model from Lodge that I’ve been using for years. They run around $25 and will last forever.

Grilled Caprese Sandwiches are delicious served hot or cold, winter or summer. Try making them for yourself or your family soon!