20+ Quick & Delicious Panini Recipes (2024)

Paninis started in Italy and since that time the dish has really grown into a worldwide recipe with a ton of variations.

A panini literally means “small bread” in Italian, and any sandwich made with bread from Italy has come to be called a panini. You can use michetta, rosetta, and ciabatta bread to make delicious paninis. Sometimes a panini is served warm after it has been toasted or grilled.

You’ll find panini recipes on this list that are savory, sweet, spicy, and even vegetarian.

The panini sandwich can be served cold or hot and it will still be just as good either way.

There’s something undeniably satisfying about a warm, crispy panini. The delightful combination of toasty bread, gooey cheese, and a variety of flavorful ingredients makes it the perfect comfort food. Paninis are not just about ham and cheese anymore – there’s a wide array of recipes available to suit any taste, and they are great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Whether you’re a panini enthusiast or just looking to switch up your regular meal routine, these recipes offer a wonderful starting point for exploring the world of savory, pressed sandwiches. Read on to discover new favorite panini ideas you’ll love trying at home.

It doesn’t matter what kind of food you enjoy, these panini sandwich recipes are sure to please any palate.

Check out all the different panini food below and make note of your favorites so you can make your own sandwiches at home.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a panini, then sit back and read through the panini sandwich recipes below to get a crash course.

Source: surlatable.com

1. Eggplant Panini With Pesto

Stay healthy with this eggplant panini recipe with pesto sauce.

The eggplant does a good job of soaking up the pesto and creates a hearty meal that will fill you up for hours.

Adding mozzarella cheese to this recipe helps to give it more flavor, but it’s completely optional so if you want to keep the calories down, feel free to skip it.

Source: simplyhomecooked.com

2. Italian Grilled Caprese Panini

The Caprese panini sandwich brings that authentic Italian flavor to this classic sandwich.

You’ll need some fresh herbs for this panini recipe, basil and oregano to be exact. The mayonnaise will add a sour cream undertone.

You won’t have any trouble getting that grilled sandwich just right either because this recipe has included a step-by-step guide.

If you’re looking to be reminded of your trip to the Italian coast while you are sitting in a restaurant overlooking the sea, this recipe is for you.

The fresh basil and cheese flavors will go perfectly with the heavy bread and fresh tomatoes.

Source: stockpilingmoms.com

3. Bruschetta Turkey Panini

Bruschetta is best known as an appetizer and you can make it into a meal by adding turkey to the recipe.

A lot of people don’t think about using fresh basil with their turkey, but it’s definitely worth including because it helps to bring out some flavor than an ordinary sandwich wouldn’t have.

You’ll be surprised at what little ingredients are needed to make a meal with so much taste.

Source: valentinascorner.com

4. Grilled Chicken Avocado Bacon Panini

There’s something about the combination of chicken avocado and bacon that really brings all the flavors you could want into one recipe.

This panini is perfect for lunch or dinner and you could even bust it out for a dinner party and impress all your guests.

The ingredients for this panini recipe include avocado spread, chicken breast, bacon, provolone cheese, red onion, tomato, and some special sauce.

This is the kind of panini that goes best with a nice warm soup or a small fresh salad.

The savory flavors of the sandwich will go well with a light and sweet soup or salad.

Source: whitneybond.com

5. Nutella Bacon Panini

Nutella is a fantastic snack that surprisingly goes really well with bacon in this panini recipe.

The bacon can really be switched out for a ton of different ingredients if you’d like to make it sweeter and less savory.

You could add some chocolate chips, strawberries, and bananas depending on the season.

A good trick to getting everything to stay inside of your sandwich is to lightly toast all of your bread before adding anything else.

It’s a great way to make sure that nothing falls out as you eat it and also brings more flavor into your panini.

Source: lordbyronskitchen.com

6. Bacon Turkey Panini

If you have a ton of leftover turkey from a previous meal there’s no better way to put it to use than in this panini sandwich.

The turkey panini uses the same ingredients as a traditional club sandwich but with that delicious bacon added into the mix, you can’t go wrong.

The recipe calls for turkey slices, sliced cheddar cheese, lettuce, and some mayo to bring it all together.

This is one of those sandwiches that would be perfect to serve on the weekend with a nice hot soup.

Throw in some avocado in your turkey bacon panini to really balance out all the flavors.

Source: bsugarmama.com

7. Pizza Panini

You can’t have an Italian meal without thinking about some pizza.

Instead of needing to choose between a pizza and a panini you can have the best of both worlds and eat them at the same time.

The best part about this recipe is everything goes together really well so you don’t have to worry about anything tasting out of place.

This is one of those recipes that’s perfect for a quick lunch too.

It doesn’t take a lot of time to make so you can always bust out this recipe when you need a quick snack.

Just like a real pizza, the ingredients can be different for every single person.

Add what you like and experiment to get the best flavors for your pizza panini.

Source: foodnetwork.com

8. Ham, Gruyere, Apple Panini

Some of these paninis have a classic combo of ingredients that you would expect but this recipe really creates a unique flavor.

You’ll get an equally sweet and savory sandwich with this ham, gruyere, and apple panini.

Cinnamon will give just a hint of heat to your tongue, which is perfect for this fall sandwich.

This is one you need to make for yourself to really get it, but even if you can’t make it perfectly like the picture above this is still one sandwich you should try.

It’s perfect for lunch or dinner and with its unique flavor profile, it will definitely be a hit.

It’s a great way to sneak in some fruits into your savory sandwich to get a well-balanced meal.

Source: life-in-the-lofthouse.com

9. BBQ Chicken Panini

This panini has everything you could want in a savory meal.

The bbq chicken panini includes some caramelized onions and a tangy sauce that helps to balance out the bread and chicken.

This is a hearty one that won’t leave you hungry after eating.

If you really want to take this recipe up a notch, then you could smoke your chicken on the grill before adding it to the recipe.

You’ll love how the smoky flavor mixes with the tangy sauce.

Source: dyingforchocolate.blogspot.com

10. Chocolate and Brie Panini

Your paninis don’t always have to be for lunch or dinner.

Sometimes they are going to be for dessert and this chocolate and brie panini will make you forget about all the other desserts out there.

If you’re looking for something sweet, this is your panini sandwich with its chocolate and brie filling.

Some fresh fruit like raspberries would go great on the side of this sandwich too.

Make sure to use a nice crispy bread that can hold up all these flavors or else you may have a disaster on your hands.

The chocolate will just melt in your mouth with the creamy brie, creating that perfect blend of flavors.

Have this panini after dinner to satisfy that sweet tooth you’ve been craving all day long.

Source: fifteenspatulas.com

11. Apple Pie Panini

This one is a lot simpler to make than a regular apple pie.

All you need is some bread and those two ingredients.

This is one of those good night paninis that isperfect for a special treat after a hard day at work or school.

Just be careful when you’re eating this because it can become incredibly addicting.

Since it doesn’t take much time to make you might run into the problem of never being able to stop making this panini.

The sweet flavors are sure to please any taste buds and your family will be telling you to make this recipe again and again.

Source: theliveinkitchen.com

12. Cheesy Veggie Panini

Just because your making a lunch or dinner panini doesn’t mean you have to throw in some meat every time.

A veggie panini with some melted cheese is just as good and is perfect for that vegetarian friend who comes over to your place.

What’s best about this recipe is you can use practically any ingredients you want and it will still end up tasting delicious.

Some good ingredients to use in your cheesy veggie panini would be caramelized onions, bell peppers, and some spinach.

If you’re looking for a little more flavor, then add some sundried tomatoes into the mix too and this will surely become one of your go-to dishes.

This is a great way to get some more vegetables into your diet while still getting some delicious cheese.

Source: happyhealthymama.com

13. VeggieCheddar ApplePanini

Here is one of the vegetarian panini press recipes that you’ll end up making over and over again.

The flavor combos are perfect and you can really taste the apple and cheddar cheese.

Serve this with a side of French fries and you’ll be full all day long.

The sweetness from apples is always a great way to make your food more appetizing for everyone around the table whether they’re meat eaters or not.

Something like this will make for a good afternoon panini to enjoy with the family and you don’t have to worry about anyone’s cholesterol levels spiking.

Source: vanillaandbean.com

14. Veggie Goat Cheese and Mushroom Panini

The super savory flavors of mushrooms and goat cheese together create an earthy flavor profile that almost has an umami taste to it.

This panini throws in some extra veggies too, so you have a healthy meal to eat for lunch or dinner.

Caramelized onions, grilled zucchini, and spinach will add some extra dimensions of flavor that really bring this sandwich together.

An ingredient like balsamic vinegar will bring out the flavors even more and make it taste like something you’d get at a fancy gourmet restaurant (but it can be made in your own kitchen).

Olives are also a great addition to this panini and make sure to create a nice remoulade sauce so you can dip your sandwich.

A nice fresh salad would be best to have on the side too, so you can keep up healthy eating while still getting a ton of flavor.

Source: cuisineathome.com

15. Provolone and Prosciutto Paninis

The sophisticated flavors of prosciutto with provolone really make this panini recipe stand out.

You could easily find this type of sandwich at a restaurant around town but now you can make it at home whenever you feel like it.

If you’re looking for something to serve to guests coming over then this is the best panini idea because it’s easy to make big batches and everyone will want seconds.

You can also experiment with different types of bread to further enhance the flavors in your sandwich.

If you want your food to be fancier then use some ciabatta bread or something like that.

This panini idea has all the taste of Italy without having to go on vacation there.

Source: melissassouthernstylekitchen.com

16. Bacon and Eggs Breakfast Panini

There’s nothing like a good breakfast panini and this one with bacon, eggs, and cheese will surely be added to your weekly rotation.

Eggs are a protein powerhouse so if you’re looking for something to keep you fuller longer then an egg sandwich is what to make.

This one just happens to have some smoked bacon added in which really takes it over the top.

Eating this monster of a sandwich will keep you full all the way through lunch and it will keep you focused too.

There’s a world of ingredients you can add to this sandwich just depending on what you like for breakfast.

Source: cuisineathome.com

17. Prosciutto and Provolone Panini Sandwiches

The sophisticated flavors of prosciutto with provolone really make this panini recipe stand out.

You could easily find this type of sandwich at a restaurant around town but now you can make it at home whenever you feel like it.

If you’re looking for something to serve to guests coming over then this is the best panini idea because it’s easy to make big batches and everyone will want seconds.

You can also experiment with different types of bread to further enhance the flavors in your sandwich.

If you want your food to be fancier then use some ciabatta bread or something like that.

This panini idea has all the taste of Italy without having to go on vacation there.

Source: eatthis.com

18. Italian Panini

If you’ve wondered “what is a panini?” before, then there’s no better place to learn than trying out this recipe.

You’ll have all the classic ingredients of an Italian meal like some onions, cheese, fresh greens, and tasty panini bread.

This is the type of sandwich you can make little versions of and serve it out at a party.

People will go crazy and think you took all day when, in reality, you can get this recipe cooked in no time.

Source: yummly.com

19. Pesto Panini with Mozzarella and Tomato

Another classic Italian panini is the pesto with mozzarella and tomato.

These are Italian ingredients that go together really well when you add in some fresh greens.

The textures of these ingredients will make for an eating experience you won’t soon forget.

You can easily get your kids to try this one because there is so much flavor they won’t care there are fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.

Serve this one with a hot soup on the side so you could even dip your sandwich into it if you really want a party in your mouth.

Source: spicysouthernkitchen.com

20. Strawberry, Turkey, and Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich

You might not have had this exact combination of flavors but who says you can’t go wild once in a while?

The sweet and smoky flavors of brie cheese are sure to be an appetizing meal when paired with fresh strawberries.

Fresh greens are always good for you so when you add them to your grilled cheese panini it makes it that much better.

A classic recipe like this is perfect to have on the weekend where you can sit around and enjoy your lunch without rushing off to work.

Brie cheese will give this sandwich a lot of flavors that are sure to make it one of your favorites.

Usually, you might find some cranberries in this type of sandwich, especially around holidays.

Instead of going with something that is tart, the strawberry really helps to add some sweet flavors to round out the savory turkey and brie.

Source: marlameredith.com

21. Chocolate Peanut Butter andBanana Panini

Here’s one of those dessert panini ideas that you won’t be able to stop making.

The delicious combo of peanut butter, bananas and chocolate is the perfect way to satisfy your cravings.

Adding some fruit to a dessert panini helps make it lighter on calories but still has all those rich flavors you want from something sweet.

This is one of those good night paninis that you’ll want to grab a quick nap after eating.

Serve this one up with a side of hot chocolate to really get all the sweetness overload.

You could technically have this for breakfast too. The peanut butter is high in protein and the banana will add some healthy fruit to the meal.