Joy the Baker

Lasagna Grilled Cheese

by 264 Comments

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It’s like… what won’t I put between two slices of grilled bread?

Well.  I won’t put cake between grilled bread.  I promise to never put cookie dough between grilled bread (though… wait, is that sounding good to anyone else?).  I won’t ever smash pie and grilled bread together.  Ice cream.  Nope.

I will, however, try to smash every comforting savory food I can think of into a sandwich.  Yesterday:  Spinach and Artichoke Dip.  Today:  Lasagna. Tomorrow:  I think I just heard someone whisper ‘Taco’ in my ear.  Whoa.

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I can’t deal…  I’ll just eat it all.

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Let’s talk about ingredients.  This is the part where we always talk about ingredients.

Bright tomato and creamy ricotta are the essence of lasagna.  These are critical ingredients.  For added flavor we’re adding fresh basil, salt, pepper and butter.  Mozzarella cheese work as cheesy glue and as an extra layer of delicious!  Let’s sandwich!

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If we’re eating big fat slices of bread, it might as well be really good big fat slices of bread.  This seeded loaf had my name all over it.

lasagna grilled cheese

Ricotta!

I could easily scoop ricotta straight from the container and into my face, but kicking this sandwich up with some extra lasagna-ish ingredients is always a good idea.

Here we’re seasoning our ricotta with fresh basil, salt and pepper.  Easy!  Add oregano and/or crushed red pepper flakes if you’re feeling like teacher’s pet.

lasagna grilled cheese

Let the layering begin!

Bread is topped with mozzarella cheese.  Smashed (I used canned) cherry tomatoes are placed on top of the cheese.  Sprinkle salt.  Sprinkle pepper.  You know!

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Between the tomato seeds and the bread seeds, I can’t see straight.  I love it.

lasagna grilled cheese

Our other half of bread is dolloped generously with seasoned ricotta.

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This sandwich looks so good before grilling that you might want to stop here.

Warming the sandwich can only make it better.  You know what to do…

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One side browns, and then the other.

It’s the order of things.

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It’s natural for the mozzarella to soften and melt.  It’s natural for the ricotta to spread.  It’s natural for the tomatoes is squeeze out of the sides.  It’s natural to eat this sandwich whole while standing over the grill pan.

Ps.  I’m on a grilled cheese bender.  Search results prove it!

Pps.  Add Pickle Fries!  Think about it…

Lasagna Grilled Cheese

makes 2 sandwiches

Print this Recipe!

4 slices of bread that you love

2 tablespoons unsalted butter with a dash of olive oil

1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

salt and pepper to taste

one 14-ounce can cherry tomatoes (you’ll have extra tomatoes left over)

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

extra salt and pepper for seasoning

Lay out bread slices.

In a medium skillet or nonstick pan, melt butter over medium-low heat.

In a small bowl stir together ricotta, basil, salt and pepper.

Top each slice of bread with a bit of mozzarella cheese.  Top two of the bread slices with a few smashed cherry tomatoes.  Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper.  On the remaining two slices of bread, dollop and spread the ricotta cheese.

Combine the sandwich halves and place in the warmed skillet.  Grill on each side until golden.  Remove from the pan and allow to rest for 3 minutes before slicing in half and serving.  Dang that’s good!  

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Connie Cross

    You said “This seeded loaf had my name all over it.” Did you make this bread yourself! I want the recipe!!! Looks wonderful!!! I believe that is the absolute start of this wonderful sandwich idea!

    Reply

  2. Kay Johnston

    Wow! Had these tonight and they were amazing. Thanks so much for your creativity and willingness to share. These are definitely going to become a staple in our lives.

    Reply

  4. Julie

    My ultra picky 9 year old (who hates bread – how unnatural!) is away at camp, so I made this for myself for dinner – using focaccia bread, and also using fresh vs. canned tomatoes. Really, really delicious. She doesn’t know what she’s missing!

    Reply

  5. rita

    super frozen ice cream grilled between two slices of delicious poundcake and covered with raspberry sauce is pretty awesome.

    Reply

  7. sheer

    I just made these last night! They are soooo delicious! I made them with some girlfriends and well all loved them so much. They are so easy to make but really make the grilled cheese 100 times better.

    Reply

  8. Xochi

    I was craving grilled cheese last night, but I wanted something special and I thought, “Joy will have a recipe I can use.” So I totally ran with this recipe (using what I had) and made a grilled Margarita sandwich with a crispy parmesan crust. It was soooo good! Thanks for the inspiration love.

    Reply

  10. Ashly

    Sounds awesome but where do I get canned cherry tomatoes? They aren’t in any grocery store I’ve been in (in Concord, NH). Thanks!

    Reply

  14. Val

    ummm – I hate to be the one to break it to you, but ice cream on rye toast is really, really good… just saying.

    Reply

  15. Chris

    OMG this looks amazing!! I do have to say though I wonder what it would taste like if you add in a meat element? Maybe some italian sausage? hmm. I think I will try this out tonight!

    Reply

  17. mjb

    I ate a havarti & broccoli grilled cheese on Saturday and was proud of myself for how much I was channeling you in that moment.

    Reply

  19. Elsa

    That voice whispering “taco”? Listen to it. If we’re out of tortillas, I sandwich refried beans, cheese, salsa, and any other taco fixings on hand and grill them. Quesawich? Sandadilla? Delicious.

    Also resoundingly succcessful: pizzawich. Mozzarella, parmesan, pizza sauce, and your favorite pizza toppings, all smashed between bread and grilled. Fantastic, especially when the weather is too warm to crank the oven for properly fired pizza.

    Reply

  25. Alison

    I made this as an open-faced sandwich and it was delicious. We were groaning with happiness while we ate them. I now have a new love for ricotta cheese.

    Reply

  27. Chelsea Preedy

    Joy! I just love grilled cheese. When I was growing up, my brother and I would pretend to be “real chefs”. We would get anything out of our fridge that looked tasty and load it up on a grilled cheese. Man, that was so fun. This post reminded me that even with a simple meal like grilled cheese, you really can get creative. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  31. Caroline

    Drooling. I think I ought to give up on planning ahead more than 2 meals – every time I see something you, Joy, SK, or Cozy Kitchen post I want to scrap all my plans and million billion dollars worth of market finds and make whatever’s on the screen immediately.

    Reply

  35. Whitney

    This looks absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I might even try it out tomorrow. I’ll let you know how it goes! :)

    Reply

  36. Wendy

    YUM!! Made this for dinner tonight, stirring leftover pesto into the ricotta. Move over BLT – a new favorite summer sandwich is in town!

    Reply

  39. Suheiry

    Oh, my. This looks so delicious and easy to make. I’m adding this to my list of recipes to try this summer. AND my list of Monday Links on my blog!

    suheiry.blogspot.com

    Reply

  40. Fay

    Sitting at work and reading this makes me immensely hungry. When I finish my night shifts I know what I am having for a wake me up (or maybe send me straight to bed with itis!) breakfast!!! YUMMM!

    Reply

  41. Miss Kim @ behgopa

    Woo..looks so yummy. I love the cheesiness of lasagna.
    And btw…certain ice cream (fruit flavored, like strawberry) in between certain types of bread (sikbbang, usually found at a Korean bakery) is actually tasty! Maybe it’s a Korean thing. But ice cream in between bread rocks! But of course, NOT ALL flavors of ice cream nor types of bread apply.

    Reply

  42. Gina

    I’m another supporter of the cookie dough bread thing, but consider cookie butter too. What brand of tomatoes did you use? I have never seen canned that look this good.

    Reply

  45. gayle

    made these tonight, substituting one pint roasted grape tomatoes for the canned cherry tomatoes. Tripled recipe to make 6 sandwiches, should have used 2 pts tomatoes. But flavors were intense and wonderful. Bonus was reading the new issue of Bon Appetit while eating and seeing Joy in an ad for Canon cameras!

    Reply

  57. Mallory

    Why did I have to look at this link this late at night?! Oh my gosh, I totally want to eat this now. It looks so amazing and delicious. I’m definitely saving this recipe!

    Reply

  58. Jess

    I have a serious dairy allergy and haven’t been able to have cheese for over a year. It’s rough, really rough. Thank you for always providing me with what can only be described as “cheese porn.” I mean that in the least creepy way possible. :)

    Reply

  59. Sarah

    You are a grilled cheese wizard! Also, the mention of ricotta reminds me of a spread that my mom used to make. Pretty sure it was just equal parts ricotta and peanutbutter, with a little honey added for kicks, but man it was good :)

    Reply

  60. Karen McNutt

    How could anyone go wrong with the ingredients listed for the lasagna sandwich? I can’t wait to try this, because I know it’s going to be delicious! What a brilliant idea! You are basically a clever woman with many moments of pure exceptional ideas! I love you!

    Reply

  63. India

    Curious where you find canned cherry tomatoes in LA…?

    Also, I went to Scoops today (all because of your “things to do in LA”) and I want to go back every day! I have a summer bucklist and one of my things was to do something off that blog post – check, check!

    Reply

  64. Abby {munchin' mel}

    okay. so i might just be obsessed with this sandwich. that’s alright, right?? because, seriously… LASAGNA grilled cheese.
    i am making this. as soon as possible.
    thanks for the awesome recipe, Joy!!

    Reply

  67. Cy

    Okay Joy, as usual yummy! But, there are gorgeous tomatoes at the market now! Canned is great for winter when they are sadly, gone. Other than that you are are a genius!

    Reply

  70. Lin

    Oh my this looks and sounds so so good! I would sub Mascarpone for the Ricotta, just because I like it a little better and roasted tomatoes for the cherry tomatoes because I don’t like raw tomatoes. I can’t wait to fix this for my hubs and I! Thank you Joy!

    Reply

  72. Sue from Pleasanton

    Hey, joy, the bread-ice cream thing, untoasted, is done by the Italians who use a rustic peasant bread slathered with lemon curd and topped with vanilla ice cream. When I read the recipe some years ago I just had to try it. It’s totally amazing. Of course, ice cream, and lemon curd are two of my favorite ingredients.

    Your lasagna sandwich looks wonderful! Gotta try that. It’s been too d–n hot here, so I haven’t used the oven at all this summer. Your. Solution. Is. Genius.

    Reply

  73. Amy Watson Smith

    OMG! My mouth literally started watering…and I thought–for just a second–that I could actually smell this! I am going to try this as soon as possible–and am pinning it now!

    Reply

  75. Kelly

    Just when I think that I can’t love your blog more, you do something like this! Much like your podcast says, I think we’d be great friends. If you find yourself in the Seattle area, please let me know and I would be delighted to show you my restaurant and some of my favorite places!

    Reply

  77. Kimby | a little lunch

    “Cheesy glue” and big fat slices of bread definitely got my attention. The fact that you accomplished “lasagna” in a grilled cheese is, well… I’ll let your photos speak for themselves. WANT!!!

    Reply

  87. Hannah

    Oh yum, this looks so delicious! Lasagna and grilled cheese are two of my husband’s favourite foods ever – he happens to be home with the flu right now and I think I need to make this to cheer him up! :)

    Reply

  95. Carolyn

    I think its been said already, but I’m pretty sure you could pull off ice cream squashed between two slices of perfectly slated, buttered, and toasted bread. Stack ’em up! I would eat it.

    Reply

  98. Mallory @forkvsspoon

    I LOVE it when you are on a grilled cheese bender…makes my day. There is a restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio called Melt…the whole menu (which are on the back of old record album covers – love) is grilled cheese sandwiches….it’s pretty much the best place on earth…

    Reply

  104. Adam Mankoski

    I have tried smashing almost everything between two slices of bread in my Panini grill, but this is like sandwich porn!! Thanks. Having it tonight.

    Reply

  108. Kasey

    I want this in and around my face. Seriously.

    Question: Does the ricotta get at all runny, or did you strain it first? I’ve always heard/read to strain it to remove excess liquid, or is this just something fancy people do? Are you fancy too?

    Happy Thursday, Joy!

    Reply

  110. Andj

    Oooohhh definitely making this melty sandwich over the weekend. Also, I plan to use sandwich as a verb going forward. As in, I can’t wait to taco sandwich.

    Reply

  111. Becca From Cookie Jar Treats

    Oh my. This looks really awesome and messy and delicious! What else are you going to come up with?

    Reply

  113. Lynda

    canned cherry tomatoes? I have never run across those! The only change I would make is to roast fresh cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh thyme and use those instead. This looks amazing! Yum!!

    Reply

  115. Jeanna

    Don’t knock the ice cream & bread idea! Someone in Thailand must have caught wind about a dessert called – the ice cream sandwich & ran with it. A few scoops of coconut ice cream between two slices of white bread & a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk. The sweetest women in the world sell it walking down the street, Thais love it & I can’t say I hate it either.

    Reply

  117. Audrey Brown

    Whoa!

    I’ve been racking my brain for a week trying to think of something yummy to stuff a calzone with. This is the answer!!!

    Thanks! :)

    Reply

  122. brooke

    oh my dear.. my husband loves a good grilled cheese sandwich.. he is a vegetarian, and if it involve any sort of cheese, he is on it like white on rice! i think to punch it up a bit, i would probably add eggplant cutlets so i can turn this grilled cheese sandwich of yours into his favorite dish..
    EGGPLANT PARM <3

    Reply

  130. ash

    HEY don’t knock ice cream and bread (: Over here, we’ve got local push carts that sell mini scoops of multi-flavoured ice cream (usually chocolate, strawberry, vanilla and sweet corn for each scoop) encased in large slices of pastel coloured, soft white bread. Sooooooo satisfying.

    Reply

  133. Ellen

    It should be a crime to put something that tantalizing in my face when it is too late to go to the store.
    Or maybe it should just be a crime that my home has no bread and cheese right now. Yeah, that’s the real crime.

    Reply

  134. Julia

    Yummo, one of my favourite things on a toastie (thats what we call a grilled cheese in New Zealand) is Avocado, cheese and black pepper :)

    Reply

  135. Rachel

    Oh this is so happening. a) because it looks delicious. and b) because mozzarella and ricotta are two cheeses I can actually eat; usually I can’t er grilled cheese.

    In other news, cookie dough between bread? Stuffed French Toast. Just saying.

    Reply

  136. Jenna

    I too think you should reconsider your stance on the dessert toasted sandwich – some toasted brioche with roasted strawberries & ricotta (or creme fraiche, mmm) perhaps? Or banana & chocolate chips in a toasted bagel sandwich with some vanilla icecream added in at the end? So many delicious options! You can have a lasagna grilled cheese followed by a dessert toasted sandwich for the perfect meal. Man, I’m so hungry now!

    Reply

  140. Nicole

    I’m here to second the cookie dough idea. This one looks so good, I make a similar sandwich (ok, maybe not similar at all) with fromage blanc, strawberries, basil, and balsamic.

    Reply

  141. Renee @ Awesome on $20

    I’ve been trying to talk my husband into doing a series called “Things English People Put Between Two Slices of Bread.” It’s astonishing. Accompanied by a glossary of all the different words they use for sandwich in Northern England. I hope I can make this happen. It won’t be as beautiful as this sandwich, though.

    Reply

  144. violeta

    cookie dough in between grilled bread sounds good to me too!

    and you won’t put ice cream in between grilled bread?! come on!!! ice cream sandwiches are like one of the best things ever!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  79. […] I am such a HUGE fan of grilled cheese sandwiches! It’s a childhood favorite I enjoy making at home, but also something I like to order when out. If you follow me on Instagram, you have probably seen my Kissaten grilled cheese & tomato bisque combo photos.  When Refinery29 shared photos of this delicious sandwich creation, I HAD to attempt it for myself. Since I couldn’t find canned cherry tomatoes, I used fresh Ho Farms Family Tomatoes, cut into halves. I also bought the seediest loaf I could find at Whole Foods, which proved to be a delicious choice. Original recipe from Joy The Baker. […]

    Reply

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