10 Best Recipes for Paninis and Grilled Sandwiches

Grilled Chicken and Bacon Panini Sandwich — The Spruce / Victoria Heydt

Tired of the same old lunch? Makeover your usual midday meal with our best recipes for paninis and other grilled sandwiches. Crispy, gooey, and comforting, these scrumptious sandwiches are packed with tasty ingredients, easy to assemble between two slices of bread (or waffles!), and guaranteed to fill you up until dinnertime. Whether you use a panini press, a cast iron grill pan, or an outdoor grill, find inspiration here for grilling up lunch.

The Best Indoor Grills of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Indoor grills we recommend on a purple background

01 of 10

Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini

The Spruce

Grill some lean chicken breasts, then use the same grill to craft a delicious panini. It's easy to assemble the simple combination of warm and melty mozzarella cheese, sliced chicken, juicy tomatoes, store-bought Italian dressing, and crusty, toasted bread, and the results are super satisfying.
02 of 10

Grilled Chicken and Bacon Panini Sandwich

The Spruce / Victoria Heydt

Crispy, salty bacon adds a welcome savory component to a tender, warm chicken sandwich. You need only 6 ingredients for this tasty grilled chicken sandwich with bacon and melted cheese. Use a store-bought rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked bacon, and prepared pesto sauce as shortcuts that make assembly a cinch.
03 of 10

Fried Chicken and Waffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich

The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social

Mashup a Southern-style chicken and waffles breakfast with a grilled cheese sandwich and you've got a combo that can't lose. Featuring crispy fried chicken, melted American cheese or cheddar, and a sweet and spicy sauce all grilled between two buttery waffles, this grilled breakfast sandwich will change your brunch game forever.
04 of 10

Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich With Blue Cheese

The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social

There's nothing quite like crispy pieces of fried chicken tossed in a rich and spicy Buffalo sauce. Add melted cheddar, buttermilk ranch, crumbled blue cheese, and crispy, buttery bread to the equation, and this grilled cheese sandwich is even more swoon-worthy. Use a thick-sliced Italian or French loaf, which is sturdy enough to handle these hearty sandwich ingredients.

Continue to 5 of 10 below
05 of 10

Grilled Meatloaf Sandwich

Tieuli Anthony / Getty Images

Crisp ciabatta bread, melted Swiss cheese, and warm, tender meatloaf make an unbelievably delicious grilled sandwich. It's a tasty way to use up leftover meatloaf from the fridge or freezer and makes a rib-sticking lunch or dinner on chilly fall and winter days.
06 of 10

Grilled Cheese With Smashed Spaghetti and Meatballs

The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social

It sounds like a crazy science experiment, but this grilled cheese sandwich with spaghetti and meatballs inside begs to be devoured. Crispy, garlicky, cheesy, and rich, it's an inspired concoction that combines leftover cooked spaghetti and frozen meatballs with the classic grilled cheese sandwich. Who knew it could be so good!
07 of 10

Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Enjoy a gourmet version of a grilled cheese sandwich with this glorious garlic bread rendition. Simply made with cheese and just a few extra ingredients, this sandwich can be enjoyed on its own, or dipped in some marina sauce for that extra tasty zing! It's a fantastic lunch or a good ending to the day when combined with soup or salad.
08 of 10

Breakfast Grilled Cheese With Avocado, Egg, and Sriracha

The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social

Breakfast on the run never tasted so good. This savory breakfast grilled cheese pairs nutty gouda with creamy avocado, a perfectly-cooked medium boiled egg, and a dash of Sriracha hot sauce, all grilled between two buttery slices of whole-grain bread.

Continue to 9 of 10 below
09 of 10

The Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social

Gooey, melted cheese and perfectly toasted bread that is evenly grilled can only be achieved by using a panini press. Quick and easy to make, this grilled cheese sandwich can be savored at lunch, as a snack, or as a side with tomato soup to get that comforting, filling meal for you and your family to enjoy.
10 of 10

Apple Butter, Pepper Jack and Croissant Grilled Cheese

The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social

This grilled cheese sandwich is the ultimate explosion of flavors, providing both sweet and spicy to the mix with pepper jack cheese and apple butter on a yummy, flaky croissant. Perfect at any time of day, it can be enjoyed at breakfast, as a dessert, or treat yourself and pair it with a glass of wine in the evening. You can use frozen croissants if need be.