Pesto Egg Grilled Cheese (Printable Version)

Herby pesto-fried eggs and melted cheese layered on golden toasted bread.

# Ingredient List:

→ Eggs & Pesto

01 - 2 large eggs
02 - 2 tablespoons basil pesto
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Bread & Cheese

04 - 4 slices sourdough or country bread
05 - 4 slices mozzarella cheese
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

→ Seasonings

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

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, then add pesto and swirl to incorporate. Crack eggs into skillet and cook until whites are set with slightly runny yolks, about 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then remove and set aside.
02 - Butter one side of each bread slice. On a clean surface, place two slices butter side down. Layer each with a slice of cheese, one pesto egg, another slice of cheese, then top with remaining bread slices, butter side up.
03 - Wipe out the skillet and reheat over medium-low. Place sandwiches in skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until bread is golden and cheese melts.
04 - Remove sandwiches from heat, allow to cool for one minute, slice, and serve promptly.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The runny yolk breaks into the melted cheese like a secret sauce that actually tastes this good.
  • It's quick enough for a Wednesday lunch but fancy enough to surprise yourself on a Sunday morning.
  • You probably have everything already, and somehow it tastes like you spent way more effort than you did.
02 -
  • Don't go higher than medium-low heat for grilling the sandwich, or the outside will burn before the cheese inside even gets a chance to melt.
  • The runny yolk is non-negotiable—overcooked yolks turn rubbery and you lose the whole point of this recipe.
03 -
  • Medium-low heat is your friend—it gives the cheese time to melt while the bread turns crispy, not charred.
  • If you're making these for two people, cook both eggs at once, then build and grill both sandwiches together so nobody's eating cold bread while waiting.
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