Press for Flavor: Grilled Sandwich Recipes

Updated August 20, 2008
Credit: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lynn Nesmith

Whether you make your favorite sandwiches using a sandwich press or a heavy skillet, you're sure to love these melty stackers, packed with the best meats, cheeses, and spreads.

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Waffle Iron Turkey Melt Panini

Credit: Jennifer Causey Styling: Lindsey Lower

Waffle Iron Turkey Melt Panini Recipe

This playful turkey melt's abundant crisp crevices and gooey interior will have the whole family wondering, "What can we waffle next?"

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Chicken Cordon Bleu Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Chicken Cordon Bleu Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Recipe

The flavors of classic cordon bleu translate delectably as a raveworthy grilled cheese. Serve with a side of wilted spinach or a salad.

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Grilled Apple and Cheddar Sandwiches

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Grilled Apple and Cheddar Sandwiches Recipe

Upgrade your grilled cheese sandwich by adding a mustard spread and sliced apples.

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Griddled Chicken and Mango Sandwiches

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Griddled Chicken and Mango Sandwiches Recipe

This flavorful griddled sandwich is filled with chicken, arugula, mango, jalapeno, and feta cheese. 

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The Ultimate Grilled Cheese

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Recipe

With only 3 simple ingredients, this truly is the ultimate grilled cheese. Perfect for a tight budget or someone who's short on time, this uncomplicated comfort food sandwich is the perfect any-time meal. Use mayonnaise instead of butter for added flavor and to keep the bread from burning.

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Griddled Banana, Mango, and Jalapeño Sandwiches

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Griddled Banana, Mango, and Jalapeño Sandwiches Recipe

Be sure to coarsely mash the banana; you want to keep some texture there. Serving to kids with sensitive palates? Leave off the jalapeño; the sandwiches will still be great. For a killer brunch, serve with an over-easy egg.

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Prosciutto Panini with Rhubarb Relish

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Emma Star Jensen

Prosciutto Panini with Rhubarb Relish Recipe

These salty-sweet sandwiches are nicely sized for sharing, but you may wind up splurging and eating a whole one. A pie pan topped with cans of food makes a great improvised panini press.

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Grilled Smoked Salmon Panini with Red Onion Ribbons

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Fonda Shaia

Grilled Smoked Salmon Panini with Red Onion Ribbons Recipe

Serve this over-the-top sandwich for lunch, dinner, or as an appetizer at a cocktail party. It calls for fresh and flavorful ingredients, including Dijon mustard, lemon juice, goat cheese, capers, and smoked salmon. Make extras–you'll definitely be craving these again later.

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Fig-Glazed Chicken Panini with Brie

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower, Claire Spollen

Fig-Glazed Chicken Panini with Brie Recipe

Try a cheesy chicken panini with sweet fig jam for a savory-sweet lunch. For sandwiches with great crunch, look for a rustic whole-grain bread boule.

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NYC Melting Pot Reubens

NYC Melting Pot Reubens Recipe

Somehow, all sandwiches taste better when warm. Kimchi gives this Big Apple classic a bit of desirable Asian pungency.

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Turkey Pitas with Tahini-Yogurt Sauce

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Turkey Pitas with Tahini-Yogurt Sauce Recipe

Whole wheat pita pockets cradle turkey cutlets, cucumbers, bell peppers, and a tangy tahini-yogurt sauce.

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Strawberry-Turkey-Brie Panini

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Leigh Anne Montgomery

Strawberry-Turkey-Brie Panini Recipe

Brie, turkey, and strawberries form an unlikely friendship in this pressed sandwich, perfect for a summer picnic.

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Truffle Goat Cheese & Bell Pepper Breakfast Panini

Credit: Dasha Wright; Styling: Linda Hirst

Truffle Goat Cheese & Bell Pepper Breakfast Panini Recipe

The marriage of aromatic truffle, tangy goat cheese, roasted sweet bell pepper, and peppery arugula in these breakfast panini is blissful.

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Chocolate Panini

Credit: Kate Sears; Gerri Williams

Chocolate Panini Recipe

Warm your heart with warm melted chocolate sandwiched between buttery bread. Sprinkle with powdered sugar for a sweeter flavor.

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Salty-Sweet Bacon Panini

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Salty-Sweet Bacon Panini Recipe

Melt-in-your-mouth Salty-Sweet Bacon Panini goes over the top with the paring of salty bacon and sweet apple butter with melty Brie on top of raisin-walnut bread.

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Baby PB&J Bagel Sandwiches

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Baby PB&J Bagel Sandwiches Recipe

Upgrade your favorite childhood sandwich by substituting mini bagels for white bread and toasting it in a sandwich press before serving. Let the top of the press rest on the bagel, but resist the urge to push down on it–you don't want to squeeze out the creamy ingredients.

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Pressed Italian Sandwiches

Credit: Erin Kunkel

Pressed Italian Sandwiches Recipe

These hearty pressed Italian sandwiches are weighted to compress the layers, but we’ve found that stuffing the filled ciabatta loaf into a pack to tote to the beach or on the trail also does the trick nicely.

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Pressed Cuban Sandwiches

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Pressed Cuban Sandwiches Recipe

We made these sandwiches in a skillet, but feel free to use a hot panini press instead. You'll still get the same tasty results.

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Chicken Panini with Fig Jam

Credit: Lee Harrelson

Chicken Panini with Fig Jam Recipe

A creamy blue cheese spread seals the bread, keeping the moisture of the arugula and the flavor of the lemon juice inside the sandwich without getting the bread soggy. Fig jam adds a unique pop of flavor that our users raved about in this top-rated recipe.

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Prosciutto and Smoked Gouda Panini

Credit: Shelly Strazis

Prosciutto and Smoked Gouda Panini Recipe

Use Italian bread for thick, hearty sandwiches, then fill with top-notch ingredients: Gouda and prosciutto. Cook them in a skillet in batches. To keep the cooked sandwiches warm, pop them into a warm oven until you're ready to serve. Pair with chips or a bowl of soup.

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Hot Brown Panini

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Hot Brown Panini Recipe

Serve a Kentucky Derby favorite that calls for bacon, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and your choice of cooked chicken or turkey. The creamy white cheese sauce brings out the smoky flavor of the bacon.

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Buffalo Chicken Panini

Credit: Justin Walker; Styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart

Buffalo Chicken Panini Recipe

That iconic buffalo flavor, straight from the panini press. Customize the hot sauce to your favorite spice level and add blue cheese crumbles to sour cream to create a creamy blue cheese dressing.

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Avocado and Tomato Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Avocado and Tomato Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Recipe

Soft, buttery avocado amps up the irresistible gooeyness of this grilled cheese. Tomato brings a bright, acidic contrast to the richness of cheese and avocado.

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Pear, Pecorino, and Prosciutto Panini

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Barr

Pear, Pecorino, and Prosciutto Panini Recipe

Play with texture in this sandwich. Made traditionally, the bulk of the stacker is smooth and creamy, but you can cook the prosciutto in a skillet to add a crispy bite to the meal. Serve with sweet potato fries or baked chips.

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Grilled Chocolate-Raspberry Dessert Sandwiches

Credit: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lynn Nesmith

Grilled Chocolate-Raspberry Dessert Sandwiches Recipe

While the coals are still hot, add dessert to the grill. Grilled Chocolate-Raspberry Dessert Sandwiches are as decadent tasting as they sound!

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