Pesto Egg Grilled Cheese (Printable)

Buttery toasted bread with melty cheese and herby pesto-fried eggs for a flavorful meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Eggs & Pesto

01 - 2 large eggs
02 - 2 tablespoons basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Bread & Cheese

04 - 4 slices sourdough or country-style bread
05 - 4 slices mozzarella cheese (or provolone, Swiss, or cheddar)
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

→ Seasonings

07 - Salt, to taste
08 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add basil pesto and swirl to combine well with the oil.
02 - Crack the eggs into the skillet. Fry until egg whites are set but yolks remain slightly runny, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Season lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Remove eggs from skillet and set aside.
03 - Butter one side of each bread slice. Place two slices, butter side down, on a clean work surface. Layer each with one slice of cheese, a pesto egg, a second slice of cheese, then top with the remaining bread slices butter side up.
04 - Clean the skillet, then heat it again over medium-low heat. Place the assembled sandwiches in the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula until the bread is golden brown and cheese melts completely.
05 - Remove sandwiches from heat. Allow to rest for 1 minute, then slice and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get that runny yolk experience with an instant flavor boost from the herby, garlicky pesto that does all the seasoning work for you
  • The way the pesto crisps around the edges of the white creates these incredible crunchy bits that people will fight over
  • It takes twenty minutes from start to finish but tastes like something from a breakfast spot that has a two hour wait
02 -
  • Low and slow is the secret to the bread getting golden without burning before the cheese has time to melt completely
  • Do not skip the resting period because those sixty seconds let the cheese set just enough that your first bite is not a scalding disaster
03 -
  • Mayo instead of butter on the bread creates the crispest crust you have ever tasted on a grilled cheese
  • If the pesto is too thick, whisk in a little more oil so it coats the pan evenly
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